Beam Misses the Free Throw

We know we’ve ragged on Alex Beam before, but it’s good fun every now and again to take issue with columnists – it’s their purpose in print. If everyone agreed with them every time and they weren’t at all controversial they wouldn’t be adding the color we expect from their presence in the papers. But after McGrory searched for some kids to beat at their own game, and today when Beam derides school children for pushing for Basketball to be made the state sport (and everything else they’ve been a part of making the state this-or-that in past years), we feel it’s about time for the Globe columnists to start picking on someone their own size and leave those kids alone.

Beam asks: “Shouldn't these children be studying for the MCAS? Let's leave politics to the pols -- they've certainly done a fine job so far.” Yes they should be studying for the MCAS, however important that testing is – lots of varied opinions about that. But with the increase of standardized testing comes the loss of some important lessons in civics and government. Sure, making the cranberry the state berry may not be a contentious issue, it may take up only a small, albeit existent, moment of legislative time, it serves a greater good in teaching kids about the legislative process through something they’re invested in. Bostonist was there when our second grade class began the fight to remove the arrow through the pilgrim's hat on the Massachusetts Turnpike sign. Three years later the signs were changed and the image of the Native American and Pilgrim relationship may be more politically and historically correct.

It’s fair if Beam isn’t a C’s fan, truth be told the Celtics aren’t on the top of our list either. Nice of him to put forward this season the argument for Baseball is certainly heard – but however serious the claim Pittsfield may have to inventing the game certainly hasn’t taken the Hall of Fame from Cooperstown, NY. Our depressed towns west of Worcester -- Holyoke and Springfield would benefit from volleyball or basketball, respectively, if there were any economic benefits to reap from making a sport an official state sport. Bostonist doesn’t really have an opinion on this one way or another – we’re just happy to know that the children of Massachusetts are doing something other than just preparing for some standardized test. They might in fact be learning some civics. Besides, the corn muffin may be dull – but there’s a whole chapter devoted to the various “Arms, Great Seals, and Other Emblems of the Commonwealth” which honors the Boston Cream Donut as official donut emblem of the Commonwealth, and Boston Cream Pie as official desert. The Baked Navy Bean commands the title as the official bean of the state, the bean of Beantown. If you want to know what the official polka is of Massachusetts, well, find a third grade class and ask them – while you’re at it find out if we can do something for the Johnny Cake.

Picture: A certain editor of a website about Boston just before he started petitioning the legislature to remove the arrow from the cap.
This post was aided by the keen with of Anna Staniszewski and her passion for Massachusetts laws and ordinances.