I loved growing up in Springfield. My life began in East Springfield on Beaufort Circle, with my coming of age happening when my family moved to the Bradley and Bridle Path roads neighborhood in the East Forest Park section of Springfield.
That was a real “Leave it to Beaver” time, when dads went off to work and most moms were “homemakers.” They usually wore dresses, seldom slacks, even when doing housework.
There were no leash laws at that time so the family dog would follow you around the neighborhood when you went out to play or gather at the local schoolyard for a pick-up game of baseball or basketball. There was some bullying back then, but it was settled with a few shoves and an occasional bloody nose. No cyber bullying existed at the time, thank God.
My Springfield educational experience began at the East Forest Park Nursery School (what preschools were called back in the day). Then on to White Street School, when in the first grade, a schoolmate and I missed the bus because we were shooting marbles in the schoolyard.
We ended up walking home. Can you imagine today, two 6-year-olds walking over two miles unaccompanied down Sumner Avenue?
Next came Arthur T. Talmadge School in third grade. This school was brand new, and I could smell the fresh paint when I started there. Junior high (grades 7-9 back in the Stone Age) was at John J. Duggan Academy, as it is now known. We planted a time capsule in 1960 to be opened in the year 2000.
I remember thinking, ‘Jeez, I’ll be 53 then.’ Ha! What I would give to be 53 now!
Finally, my Springfield education ended with three years at Classical High School, “the best school in the solar system,” according to its renowned former principal, and nationally recognized educator, William C. Hill. His favorite quote, from German philosopher Immanuel Kant, was, “No one has the right to do that which, if everyone did it, would destroy society.”
Who could argue with that? And 95% of my graduating class went on to higher education, a tribute to the teachers, students and administration of Classical High School as well as the Springfield public school system.
I bring up my journey through the Springfield public school system because I was fortunate to have teachers who were dedicated, creative and cared for their students to the extent that my experience had a positive outcome. Today’s teachers face challenges that didn’t exist years back: social media distractions, after-effects from COVID-19 remote learning and challenges to teachers’ classroom authority, all of which make teaching a stressful profession.
I applaud those educators who are inspired to take on work that gets a lot of criticism when students underperform, but not much praise when improvement is achieved.
One of those successes is the Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership created a decade ago to help eight underperforming Springfield middle schools. In a 2024 article in The Republican headlined “Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership a game changer for city schools, now a model for others,” Carolyn Robbins described the success of this program — a joint effort between the Springfield public schools, the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Springfield Educational Association.
According to the article, Springfield schools have “reversed course on former negative trends, with high school graduation rates now up by 37%.” Also, completion of advanced coursework increased, and a majority of schools have experienced “substantial progress” since the pandemic.
Colleen Curran, co-executive of the partnership, stated: “There’s no such thing as ‘one-size-fits-all’ when it comes to education.”
This philosophy to “think outside of the box” has no doubt led to the program’s success.
Another Springfield strongpoint is its effective governance.
The city has a School Committee and City Council that appropriately reflects the demographics of this diverse city. Mayor Domenic J. Sarno is the longest-serving chief executive in Springfield’s history. He helped bring the city out of a financial crisis when it couldn’t even qualify for junk bond status. Its present “AA-” rating is the highest in the city’s history.
Sarno is a commonsense politician who puts the city he loves before political dogma. And Springfield is ably represented in the U.S. Congress by longtime U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, the ranking member (and former chairman) of the powerful House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee.
Whether you are a Democrat, Republican, or Independent, there is no denying that Neal has tirelessly represented the interests of the 1st Congressional District. Both Sarno and Neal’s effective representation make for a powerful argument against term limits.
Whether you are talking about its many green spaces, cultural offerings, or entertainment venues, Springfield has much to offer its citizens, as well as tourists.
Being situated at the crossroads of interstates 90 and 91, and with the recently renovated Union Station, Springfield is a transportation hub many metropolitan areas of comparable size would envy.
Having spent more than 50 years as a Springfield resident, I have always felt it had a small-town feel, but with big city offerings.
As our nation prepares to celebrate its approaching semi-quincentennial, I believe Springfield is well positioned for the next chapter in its renaissance.
Columnist Andrew D. Hayes of East Longmeadow writes twice a month.
