Andover Townsman, Andover, MA

News

A meat-and-potatoes (actually, risotto) visit from the governor: More on Patrick's visit to Andover's two public high schools

By Bethany Bray
Staff Writer
Published: September 18, 2008

After visiting with culinary students at Greater Lawrence Technical High School on River Road, Gov. Deval Patrick felt like going to sleep. And we mean that in a good way.

Knowing that Patrick would be stopping by last Thursday, Sept. 11, culinary students at the tech school went online to find out what his favorite meal was, and spent days planning and preparing osso buco, a dish of stewed veal shanks.

"These kids can cook! And they presented it with such pride," said Patrick, after finishing lunch. "Although I never eat this much in the middle of the day. I'm ready for a nap."

Besides the veal, the students served him risotto, asparagus and a dessert plate of delicate, bite-sized chocolate and fruit confections.

"Mercy" he said, when a student set a plate of osso buco in front of him.

Patrick visited Tech and Andover High School Sept. 11 to receive feedback as part of his Readiness Project, a 10-year strategic plan initiative to reform the education system in Massachusetts. (See story, Page One.)

A forensics class was learning how to take fingerprints as Patrick walked in. The somewhat awed students gave the governor a gray Tech polo shirt, a copy of the school uniform students wear every day. "Please stay in Massachusetts after you get your skills training. We need you here," said Patrick to students in several classrooms he visited.

Before his lunch at the technical school, Patrick went on a student-led tour through the Andover technical school, meeting students in automotive, health and biotech classes.

Later in the day, Patrick returned to Andover High School, meeting with a science class and the marching band.

He was peppered with questions in Laura Hajdukiewicz's anatomy class.

Asked whether education or the economy is more important, Patrick answered that they both are, because they're connected. Massachusetts' economy is mostly run on expertise, so the two are very linked, he said.

One student, who hoped to go to Australia, asked what Patrick thought about studying abroad.

"I'm a great believer in studying abroad and traveling," Patrick said. After college, Patrick landed in Cairo, Egypt, he said, and hitchhiked down the Nile, later working for a United Nations project in Darfur.

"It was the most empowering experience. I had a whole host of challenges I had to figure out," he said.

Brendan Hudak, a self-described "major peace advocate," asked if Patrick could do anything to more quickly remove U.S. troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. Patrick answered that, as governor, his contribution lies more in domestic policy.

"So, like making wages higher for teachers?" Hudak said, glancing at Hajdukiewicz.

Photos