DUFFER NEWS
January 1, 2000

There was no Duffer News reported to the Duffer news room. Christmas Eve and New Years Eve wiped out our Friday games.  Beak had a letter published in the Sun-Times on Christmas Eve.  If you missed it, there is a copy of the letter at the bottom of this page. The Duffer SODs, DODs and GODs were very busy.


SOD (Son Of a Duffer) News
Coach Granato's Rivermen were busy with some thrilling games.  They won 3 and lost 3 while we were taking it easy.  2 of the games were decided with shoot outs and only one was decided by more than 1 goal.
Visit the Rivermen web site at:  http://www.rivermen.net/


Ken Lopatka gave a ring to the Duffer Referee.  I know it is very unusual for a hockey player to marry a referee but our referee is a very attractive female.  She said Yes!  The Date is TBA

DOD (Daughter Of a Duffer) News

Cammi has been busy beating the Swede's and Russians.  She has averaged over 2 points per game in the Christmas tournament in Lake Placid.  Get the details at:  http://www.usahockey.com/natteams/women/99christmas.htm

 

You have to love high school hockey.  Where 14 year olds are bouncing off of 18 year olds and you get more recognition for crashing into the boards, than scoring a goal.  (Mike is the good guy with the white hat.) You can find many more pictures at: http://www.oocities.org/Colosseum/Base/9522/dgs.htm
GOD (Grandchild Of a Duffer) News

Beak's grandson, Mike played 3 hard fought games at the Edge Ice rink where his high school team was invited to play in the Chicago Blackhawk Charity Holiday Tournament.  Downers Grove South carried an 11 game unbeaten streak into the tourney.  They are in first place in their league and the Sun Times ranked them 3rd in the State.  They Tied Glenbrook North in the final minute, then they lost to Fenwick later that evening.  They surprised Culver Academy 2-2 the following day.  Culver went on to the semifinals by beating Fenwick 6-0 and Glenbrook 4-3.  New Trier won the tournament, to keep their #1 ranking.

Little GOD News

   

Mike's little brother, Jeff, had a wonderful experience on December 23 when he played at the United Center.  He is pictured above on the red line (left) and taking a shot (right).  Jeff scored 6 goals in 2 Christmas Tournament games.
You can find more pictures at: http://www.oocities.org/Colosseum/Base/9522/UCjeff.htm

Beak's letter to the editor:
 

Letters to the Editor
Chicago Sun Times
401 N. Wabash
Chicago, IL 60611

Dear Editor,
        I just started my one week of holiday unemployment, followed by 1 week of vacation and I didn't think anything could get me to sit down and type a letter.  I have been teaching in the Chicago Public Schools since I graduated from college in 1962.  Back then, there was a severe teacher shortage and the CPS leaders didn't know how to think "Global".  They solved the problem by welcoming people like me from Downers Grove and all of the other suburbs, to work in their system.  Is it possible that an old solution could work again?
        The story on page 2 of Sunday's paper, "Schools to recruit overseas" makes me want to laugh or cry, but then again it made me angry enough to write you a letter.
? I want to laugh at the near sighted vision of the "global thinking" of the present CPS leadership.
? I want to cry because of the cost of the recruitment of foreign teachers.  The money that will be spent on over paid recruiters flying around the world eating expensive meals and staying at costly hotels could be better spent on supplies, computers and class size reduction.
Maybe they could give me 3 weeks of paid vacation after 38 years of service.  (I'm sure they will have to offer more than 2 weeks of paid vacation to the new foreign recruits.)
There are many qualified certified teachers that are banned from teaching in Chicago because they live outside of the city limits.  Most of the qualified suburban teacher candidates take jobs as assistants in the suburbs because there are many more applicants than there are positions.  If you really need teachers, all you have to do is go to any principal in the suburbs and ask him for all of the resumes that are filed in the circular file every August.
        Gery Chico and Paul Vallas have done a fine job with the school system, but they should realize that there are thousands of qualified English speaking teachers only 10 or 20 miles away. There would be no travel or over night costs for the recruiters.  I would be happy to help recruit! Can you really welcome people from outside of the United States borders while you have a ban on U.S. citizens that live outside of the city limits?

Science Lab Teacher

Greg Lopatka