Well said, Mr. Masi. My sentiments exactly.

Mr. Masi, I would like to believe that after reading your letter, the student you write about will realize that her time will be better spent helping those who are facing a devastating loss rather than worrying about a few days of school. It is our students and young adults who are so caring and helpful in a time of crisis. They are wonderful at organizing with their friends in an effort to help with the clean up. I think your letter will spur many people of all ages to find ways to help in this disaster.

Again, you're bashing the student who wrote the letter and not discussing the issue. The letter had nothing to do with the disaster, and yes, I believe it is a disaster. The letter was dealing with the short notice of the cancellation of the days. Many seniors were planning college visits for those days. While they still can go on the visits they now will be coming home to 2 days of make up homework and class work that they missed. I also don't feel that a teacher from the high school should be bashing a student in a public forum because if the student did that, she would be disciplined.

Alright Masi! You are the man!

It is astonishing to me that you consider yourself an educator in a public high school setting. That you have the gall to belittle one of your students in a public forum shows that it is you and those following in your words who are the problem here. Your background of education seems diffuse, for if you understood the basic concepts of literature and language, especially that of English, you would see it to be apparent that this student--a student who should be trusting you, not being made a target by an ADULT, if that's what you truly are. She was voicing her opinion with regards to the hurricane. She was not demeaning it as a natural disaster. It was, that was apparent. She was not the only student to think the same ways. My point is, instead of wasting time criticizing and attacking one of your own students, use it to your advantage. You have failed your students by doing this--it is not a lesson to all as you attempted to convey, it is an attack on one. So use this time for humility, and remove yourself from the public education environment. Leave her alone. Thank you.

I would hope CHS teaches their students assertiveness and also acceptance. This young lady was asserting herself. I want my daughter to learn to speak up first and then manage the outcome. I think we all forget how hurtful words can be and for an adult, no less a teacher, to take that public route against a student, is disturbing to me. Since nothing is due yet, therefore nothing is late, this young lady can't be making excuses rather she is being proactive and not reactive. AS the adults in this community I think we need some more responsibility in how we treat one another. Words are hurtful. I would take sticks and stones sometimes rather than the words. This is a time of stress and we should join together to help one another find some peace. Please.

Oh boy, life is full of problems and our school system is failing big time if the small things lead to people attacking other people...Everyone has to learn to be flexible...students teachers parents and yes everyone....Life is not a bowl of cherries were we can get everything we want in life.......so have a good day reading this...

Well said, Mr. Masi. We all have the right to voice our opinions. As a senior in high school, I have learned that there will always be people who have something to say about you, good as well as bad, and that it is just another part of life. It cannot be helped that we live in a world where most think of only themselves unless having a concern for others is more appealing. It is not the fault of any teacher that a student would react this way to such a situation. Sensitively to these types of occurrences is something that cannot be simply taught in a classroom. There are just some who are set in there ways that go to school and listen, but never really learn and I myself am one of them. After posting her opinion on an open forum such as this she should not be surprised that others would voice there views on the subject. The only person she has to blame for receiving such criticism is herself, and if she is unable to handle it she should never have written her letter in the first place.

The people affected by the hurricane may not have been critizied, but her problems were highlighted in the letter as she was only concerned about her own inconveniences rather than those more drastically affected. The school district decided upon a course of action that best solved the problem of meeting the 180 school day requirement. She was critizied on a personal level because she brought her personal life into the situation by describing how it inconvinced her. Of course some see taking days away from spring break as a better solution but even then it would still interfer with people's plans. Yes, it would allow more time to react, but the school district saw an opportunity and took it. With regards to children volunteering for victims on their days off, although it may sound like a great idea, I think we all know most high schoolers would have ended up enjoying 3 days of relaxation rather than helping hurricane victims. If you would you like to be concerned about something, be concerned about how fragile our society can be when faced with a storm like Sandy, not how precious days off are to students who choose, emphasis on choose, to take on a heavy course load in high school.

<amd," Maybe if the school children had off Thursday and Friday they could volunteer to help hurricane victims". Really, you think that's what they would do? Considering the authors concerns were school work and writing college essays, I don't think helping anyone was on her radar. Don't shoot the messenger when someone rightly points out that lessons of empathy are just as important and something many of us could use. And to make it about the "short notice", this was addressed immediately upon returning to school. I wander how our students used the 3 unexpected days off they just had? I'm sure had they not cancelled there would have been just as much criticism as to why the teachers need to take off when there was no longer a convention to go to. Mr. Masi, thank you.

I was not happy when Patch turned off the comments on the students LTE because I was appalled and had some comments to make. Thankfully Mr. Massi's letter was well thought out, empathetic, and in my opinion very appropriate. Better than any words I could have added. Now I see what is most likely the parents of this student crying on Patch the teachers not fare. He did not single anyone out but took this opportunity to try and give this student and others a moment of pause to think about the gravity of this situation. He also complimented the students and said that he knows most know the difference, and I agree as you can see from the comments from student Turtle lover. So lesson to be learned, 1. Don't send a letter to the editor then get upset if others don't agree. 2. Don't get offended if others think of you as selfish. 3.The student could have just contacted Governor Christie privately and not Patch but if you think his response to her would have bin kind, or polite, then she also doesn't know or understand our current governor either. Thank you Mr. Masi I for one think you letter was appropriate.

@Paul, Huh? "the parents of this student crying on Patch the teachers not fare" That makes no sense - especially since the only crying was by Dick Masi. He cried tons of moral indignation because a student publically disagreed with a decision of the school. Goodness, his students must be afraid to speak their minds around him. He reminds me of the late Chuck Dorner.

Face it; the student put together a well-reasoned argument, which is something you would want to see from students in a democracy. So Paul, how did you help the victims of the hurricane?

So in your recent rebuttal AMD....And I quote "If you are going to BCC, then it's not necessary. Obviously the author of the letter has higher ambitions"
So I guess that all kids going to BCC doesn't have higher ambitions? I guess kids who don't have the money to pay for a four year college just aren't aspiring for higher ambitions? Just because your two children are perfect is not a reason to bash the kids "only going to BCC". You ARE the true definition of a helicopter parent!

Hey, here's a tough fact of life;

Things happen. These things are not in your control. Right now we have a 4 person family plus one dog living in our house.. which already had a three person family and a dog in it.

They are from North NJ - they have no power, their schools are still closed.

I'm pretty sure they didn't plan on living with us for the past week (or until) they get power back.

Nothing in life is guaranteed, not even the staple two days off in November for the teachers conference.

Adapt, its one of the best lessons you can ever learn.

Sorry I am dyslexic so making the occasional spelling mistake has been something I have had to deal with my entire life. As well as people who feel that pointing it out makes them superior. No one said students should not have an opinion. What I said was they need to understand that if they make the decision to voice it in a public forum be prepared for responses and criticism that they may not like as well as having their spelling and grammar pointed out to them too I'm sure....LOL

When I first read Olivia's letter, I assumed she was going to take a little heat. The one suggestion I would give her is, do not comment back on other's comments. Most people use fake names and can become very ignorant being incognito. And to her credit, she has not. I know this girl personally, and she is a very good student, and does a lot of volunteering in our community. She surely has a right to voice her opinion. This disaster affected many lives, and hitting so close to home, makes us all think different. If she posted this letter 3 days after Katrina, the San Fransusco earthquake, or the midwest tornadoes, no one would be giving her any grief, because it didn't directly affect us. She has a legitimate point. Many students will miss these days because of planned events, I can only imagine that these school days will be more "babysitting" than teaching anyway, so basically they are only to fulfill the calendar requirement. Perhaps a better idea, would be to have teachers, such as Mr. Massi, to use these days helping seniors with their college questions, essays, and ambitions. Mr. Massi's letter made some excellent points, my thoughts are that he probably should not have directed many of his comments at the other writer. But, while we all have different opinions on this topic, I'm sure everyone is in agreement that this storm is definitely a disaster, and not an inconvenience. However, it surely has caused many inconveniences.

Let get things straight amd. I no way sought to "bash" Olivia for taking a heavy course load, only to point out that she volunteeraly took on said courses. I know first hand what it is like to visit colleges because in one week I visited three across the tri-state area. Although you may not think so, I payed attention at these visits and I too have taken on multiple tough courses. There are four AP classes on my scheule and I understood I would be working hard when I took on those classes. You also have the audacity to "bash" someone else's spelling. I just see that as a desperate attempt to belittle those who have differing opinions than your own. Your setting a very good example for you daughter amd. Please do keep posting responses to let your message better sink in.

Yes, school should be open next week. Face it, you can't handle criticism and now it has turned into a bunch of heated comments. Wouldn't it be a perfect world if we could all dictate. Well, we can't. School officials made a decision. Not everyone will agree, but it is the decision. Just like the Governor rescheduled Halloween. Just like parents you make decisions that your children don't agree with........that is called "life". It was very selfish and inconsiderate of you AMD to have your daughter send her opinion to the patch. It saddens me that this is your concern. There is soooo much devestation, that this issue is so trivial. You as an adult should have explained that to your daughter. I have a Senior child who is carrying a heavy course load, has visited colleges, and has completed the college essay over the summer. My child in no way has complained about going to school next week. My child had plans. Get over yourself and get your daughter over herself.

Amd, before you correct me and say I do not care about my school work, I misspelled voluntarily as "volunteeraly".

Well said Mr. Masi. People should be more concerned with helping their neighbors who didn't fare as well than with having to go to school.

Well Ric, Friday evening I dropped an SUV's worth of supplies off at Fountain of Life Church in Burlington, which is a local shelter for victims. Yesterday I helped a friend start demo on her home which was completely flooded and had to be gutted. Today I am going to drop off round 2 of supplies to Fountain of Life, where I will later volunteer this week to help the victims, who are now homeless. Perhaps you should look in the mirror, and take 1/25th of the time you spend on Patch and go do something more valuable with your time.

Ric - why are you vehemently attacking those who are expressing their point of view by asking them what they have done to assist those affected by this terrible tragedy? What others have done is clearly not the issue.

Although it is a shame that this student is experiencing some stress due to the change in the school calendar - as others have pointed out, this is a valuable life lesson for her and other students in the same situation. Also, it is an opportunity for this student and young people in general, to learn to count their blessings and be grateful for what they have. Our world would be a much better place if everyone could look beyond their own immediate needs and do more to help others. Sadly, our society, especially our youth, has become more and more "me me me" oriented.

The student who wrote the Letter to the Editor was brave for expressing her opinion, and I commend her for that. But, I do suggest that she take a moment to reflect on those who are dealing with much more serious problems than college essays and visits - life and death situations. That is reality, and that is life.

Ric - it sounds like you have a personal vendetta against Mr. Masi - he signed his name Richard, why are you calling him "Dick"?

Mr. Masi raised very valid points, points that many readers here agree with, as you can clearly see by the comments. No one is saying that the student doesn't have the "right" to air a complaint, Ric. And citing the First Amendment? Really Ric?

What people are saying is that the student's "complaint" seems trivial when compared to the suffering and loss that many in our region have experienced.

And I do hope that you realize how hypocritical you sound by valiantly "defending the student's First Amendment rights" yet trying to impede Mr. Masi's.

Have a wonderful day, Ric!

AnnoinCinna. Your record is perfect - you are wrong again. I have never met, talked or had any contact with Dick Masi. By the way, Richard Nixon went by Dick. And he was a great president despite the campaign against him.
By the way, goodbye you have not made a relevant point and I am bored.

Proud mother of a HS student that work their but off the three days they did not have school. Plus helped collect donations and take them to LBI this past Saturday !

Oh wow @AMD. I take offense to your semi bashing BCC. I have a 2012 grad going to BCC and loving it. He will transfer to a 4 yr coll. when he has taken all of his LA and graduate from Drexel, V'nova or where ever else he wants to go with a college degree same as your daughter. Only difference is that i can pay cash and not be have to mortgage the farm or have my kid in debt from student loans.
Since your daughter is so smart and in AP classes as you have pointed out in most of your posts...let her use her brain, prioritize her schedule, her work and figure out how to get the work all done. We as parents do this 24/7
Why didn't she use her time wisely while she had the 3 days off? As a parent and student in the school system for at least the last 11+ years it's pretty obvious that both you and your daughter should have known that that the time would have to be made up during the school year. What better time to make up the days than during the cancelled convention, since AC was annilated from the storm. Yes, it is inconvenient to some who had plans to travel. That is life. Adjust. It would also be inconvenient during spring break or at the back end of school in June for others.
Perhaps your daughter should have spent her summer vacation completing essays like a lot of seniors for early admissions to the school of her choice. Instead of cramming at the last minute.

@Ric. Before you ask me what i have been doing to help the victims of the storm. I am a 27yr veteran claims adjuster for one of the largest insurance carriers in NJ pulling 16hr days and handing out checks left and right. Need I say anymore? The damage in Cinnaminson is childs play when compared to most of the other areas that i have been to within the last 5-6 days. I am also a victim of flood damage to my shore property. The water went in the front and out the back of my house and left nothing to be salvaged. I have been taking care of other peoples problems while neglecting my own. That is what i have been doing to help the victims of Sandy.
You go Mr. Masi. You hit the nail right on the head!!!! Sandy is a huge disaster of unprecidented proportions which affects such a wide spread area. Not only NJ. It will take NJ as a state years to shovel out, recover and repair all of the damage that was caused. Over the last 27yrs i have handled claims and traveled into areas all over the country due to storm damage and have never seen anything like this before! Particularly in NJ.