Manteiga Wrong Again...As Usual

When you grow up and live life with a last name like mine, you’d better be ready for a few slings and arrows.

The old favorite is: On Christmas Eve, the reindeer land Santa’s sleigh on top of an outhouse. Santa yells, “No Rudolph! I mean the Schmidt house.”

My Uncle Jack Schmidt was never too amused when someone said, “You don’t know Jack.”

With the above in mind, we must say publisher Patrick Manteiga doesn’t know cousin Squat.

In this week’s La Gaceta, he once again showed his bias and attacked the local Republican Executive Committee for selecting an east county “housewife,” Tina Pike, over a Temple Terrace "Hispanic," Mel Jurado, for state committeewoman.

Patrick must think marriage and living in Temple Terrace confers ethnicity. If Ohio native Melody McNeeley Jurado, wife of Rodrigo Jurado, is Hispanic….well….Moby Dick is a guppy.

Pike, on the other hand, is half Philippine. Her father is actually from the Philippines. Her mother is actually from Ireland. I guess Patrick thinks only Hispanics/Latinos add diversity. I’ll bet Philippinos and Irish believe they’re a part of Tampa’s diverse culture.

Mr. Manteiga must be best friends with my other cousins, Crock-of and Full-of. His slimy Republican mole must be cousin Dumb.


Learning For Everyone

A friend on mine, former Erwin Tech principal and current Brewster Tech principal Mike Donohue created the phrase and educational philosophy, “Learning for Everyone, Whatever It Takes.”

For years, Erwin has led the state as the most productive technical/vocational school.

To some, Donohue is and has always been a loose cannon, not always following the party line. He has always managed, though, to generate “buy-in” to his philosophy. His faculty and students are always productive.

My point here is: Each school in the district can be great. Each principal must believe greatness is possible and perhaps think of education apart from traditional. And, each principal cannot be afraid to rock the boat on occasion.

As for my friend Mike Donohue: When he plays golf, Mulligan is his middle name. When he drinks a beer, he hangs out with Pati O’Furniture.

posted by admin @ 5:13 PM