波士頓市長疫情匯報 3/9

 

讀者投書: 波士頓考試學校訟案 另一種看法

給老虎家長們補補課

讀者：陳明鏡

繼成功控告哈佛大學的收生標準有歧視華裔學生之嫌，同一群在近二、三十年移民美國的華人，竟撤回對耶魯大學的類似歧視華人的指控，不過事情並未有因此而停止，他們下一個目標，竟然是波士頓學校委員會。

私立大學收生自有其標準，而且沿用多年，特別在民權運動之後，有所謂平權行動，把一定比例的學額撥給有色人種，特別是黑人及拉丁裔，因為他們在過去，普遍受到有系統的歧視，不要說入讀學校，就算連乘坐巴士或在餐廳用餐，也受到種族隔離政策的打壓。平權運動不但惠及黑人，其他有色人種如亞裔華人，也得到平等的對待。

如說這些由平權運動的努力，而爭取得來的平等待遇，以哈佛大學為例，對亞裔入學有一定的比例對待，也被說成是種族歧視，而在所謂”中國病毒“的政治宣傳下，在紐約街頭及地鐵站遇襲的華人，不知這群口口聲聲說人家歧視的家長，是否有同樣的氣力，為在種族歧視及仇恨下的受害人抱不平。

就波士頓而言，由於疫情關係，公立學校三間考試學校暫時停用過往以公開考試及校內成績錄取學生的辦法，改用郵區號碼配額方法加過往考試成績，作為臨時實施的招生方法，限期一年，結果有華人家長認為是種族歧視，狀告波士頓公立學校。

重新以公開考試成績，作為入學準則，在疫情高企的時刻，是不可能實施的要求，相信華人家長，亦不願把子女送到考生聚集的試場，在那裡進行兩三個小時的考試，暴露在極高感染風險的環境裏。正是這個用郵區編號，作為分配入學的方法，也是以學校成績作為準則，波士頓社區就有三十多個團體支持的，而且是為期只限一年，到疫情退卻後，應會恢復公開考試，華人家長無須反應如此激烈，應瞭解到這是權宜之策。

入讀考試學校的目的，無非是讓孩子有受更高挑戰性課程的機會，好讓能應付比較艱深的功課，為將來升學作好準備，而並非是進入名牌大學的直通車票。一些老虎家長平時已逼令子女補習，上小提琴或鋼琴課，望子成龍，已逼得他們透不過氣來。人們倒要問，硬要入讀名牌大學是這些老虎家長的意願，還是他們子女的個人選擇呢？

須知名牌大學要取錄的不是書呆子，更不是考試機器，而是一個全面，對社會有責任感的積極參與者，心智成熟，而不是在父母虎威下生活的寄生蟲。無論考試成績有多出色，對社會週邊的事物毫不認識，對週圍的人群毫無關愛，這樣的材料，會被哈佛大學取錄而成為他們的學生嗎？

究竟是誰剝奪子女的教育機會，是哈佛大學的平權行動，還是老虎家長的教育子女的方式，是考試學校的臨時收生辦法，還是指控公立學校歧視的家長呢？這些問題是值得我們華裔家長好好的反思一下。

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Expansion through June of Targeted Free COVID-19 Testing Sites

 Baker-Polito Administration Announces Expansion through June of Targeted Free COVID-19 Testing Sites

3/09/2021

• Office of Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito
• Executive Office of Health and Human Services
• Department of Public Health
• Governor's Press Office

BOSTON — Today, the Baker-Polito Administration announced an extension of the “Stop the Spread” COVID-19 initiative, which provides free COVID-19 testing in communities across the Commonwealth. The program, which was set to close on March 31, has been extended through June 30, 2021.

Building on Massachusetts’ nation-leading COVID-19 testing program, state-sponsored testing will continue to be available to all Massachusetts residents at no cost to them through June 30, 2021 at more than 35 locations. Testing is one of the important public health tools, in addition to contact tracing, complying with public health mitigation measures such as face coverings, physical distancing, staying home when sick, and good hygiene, to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Since the state began this free virus testing in July 2020, more than 1.8 million tests have been conducted at “Stop the Spread” locations as of March 3, 2021. Meanwhile, the total number of COVID-19 virus tests conducted state-wide at all testing providers since the pandemic began is more than 16.8 million.

The Stop the Spread initiative is a data-driven effort to reduce the prevalence of COVID-19 in communities across the Commonwealth. All state residents may visit the locations even if they do not reside in the town or city where the testing is being conducted.

The statewide 7-day average of percent positivity for COVID-19 of individuals tested as reported on Monday, March 8th, was 1.67%. 

Residents of the state may visit the following website to find testing locations: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/find-a-covid-19-test. Additional information about COVID-19 testing, including why testing is important and what you should do if your test is positive, can be found at www.mass.gov/GetTested.

Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC Strongly Supports Confirmation of Vanita Gupta for Associate Attorney General

 Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC Strongly Supports Confirmation of Vanita Gupta for Associate Attorney General

WASHINGTON, D.C. — March 9, 2021 — Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC expresses its strong support for Vanita Gupta to serve as Associate Attorney General as she appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee today.

Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC President and Executive Director, John C. Yang, issues the following statement:

“Vanita Gupta is a trailblazer in the civil rights community and has spent decades working to advance the rights and dignity of all Americans. If confirmed, Vanita would become the first Asian American and woman of color to serve as Associate Attorney General. This would make her the highest-ranking Asian American at the U.S. Department of Justice in its history. 

It is meaningful to see a child of immigrants step into such an important leadership position in the Biden-Harris Administration. Advancing Justice – AAJC has witnessed Vanita’s tireless dedication for the last three years as the head of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. We have worked side-by-side with her and can attest to her commitment to the protection of civil rights, such as protecting our right to vote, fighting for everyone to be counted in the 2020 Census, and protecting affirmative action. Previously, while leading the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, she enforced federal voting rights laws and fought discrimination in education, housing, and employment. We are confident that she will lead with courage and empathy, and her decades of experience as a civil rights lawyer, Justice Department official, and civil rights leader make her the right person for this incredibly important role.

As the nation reels from the white supremacist attack on Congress, and Asian American communities face unprecedented levels of hate incidents amidst the pandemic, we urge the Senate to confirm Vanita Gupta as Associate Attorney General to help lead the Justice Department during this critical time.”

麻州州長: Site Readiness Program announcement

 Today, Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito will virtually join Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Mike Kennealy, MassDevelopment President & CEO Dan Rivera, Pittsfield Mayor Linda Tyer, legislators and other local leaders to make an announcement relative to the Site Readiness Program. 

Baker-Polito Administration Declares March “Massachusetts Maple Mont

 Baker-Polito Administration Declares March “Massachusetts Maple Month”

State Officials Tour Sugaring Houses in Western Massachusetts, Encourage Residents to Buy Local Maple Products

Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides and Department of Agricultural Resources Commissioner John Lebeaux visit Stonegate Farm Sugarhouse in Conway. For additional photos, click here.

WORTHINGTON – In celebration of Governor Charlie Baker’s declaration of March as “Massachusetts Maple Month,” Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Kathleen Theoharides, Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) Commissioner John Lebeaux, local officials, and representatives from the Massachusetts Maple Association today toured maple sugaring houses throughout Western Massachusetts to raise awareness of the Commonwealth’s many maple producers and to encourage residents to purchase locally-produced maple products.

“Maple sugar producers have long been a unique and important part of the Massachusetts agricultural sector, and our Administration is proud to continue to support the industry,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “By declaring March as Massachusetts Maple Month, it is my hope that we bring awareness to the industry and encourage everyone to buy locally produced maple products this season.”

Today’s tour included a stop at Stonegate Farm Sugarhouse in Conway, Paul’s Sugar House in Williamsburg, and Justamere Tree Farm in Worthington. Secretary Theoharides and Commissioner Lebeaux toured the sugaring houses where they learned more about each farm’s individualized operation. On Friday, MDAR Deputy Commissioner Ashley Randle was joined by other state and local officials at Sweet Water Sugarhouse in Royalston, for a ceremonial sugar maple tree tapping to celebrate the “kick-off” of maple month.

“For generations, maple syrup producers have provided the Commonwealth and beyond with delicious products for us all to enjoy,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides. “Through the purchasing of maple syrup products made right here in Massachusetts, we are greatly supporting producers, their families, and local businesses, which has a lasting impact on the state’s regional economies.”

“After a particularly long and hard winter, the naturally sweet taste of the Commonwealth’s first seasonal crop of the year is the traditional delicious indicator that spring approaches,” said MDAR Commissioner John Lebeaux. “Massachusetts Maple Producers continue to innovate and deliver internationally renowned quality maple products, maintain their woodlands, and reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.”

“Residents and visitors are more enthusiastic than ever for ‘Made in MA’ products, as they continue to rediscover our farms and open spaces this year,” said Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism Executive Director Keiko Matsudo Orrall.  “These locally-made maple syrup products by farmers and local businesses underscore our My Local MA campaign to put your money where your heart is, right here in Massachusetts.”

According to the United States Department of Agriculture’s 2017 Agricultural Census, the Commonwealth is home to approximately 300 maple syrup producers that serve as stewards of more than 15,000 acres of woodland. The annual production of maple syrup is more than 70,000 gallons, which is worth over $5 million to farmers. Maple sugaring profits allow many farms to stay in business year-round by serving as a secondary crop and a secondary source of income. As one of the region’s unique agricultural foods, visitors come from all over the world to buy products during the sugaring season. Farms, restaurants, bed and breakfasts, country inns, and other tourist businesses share in this income, which primarily flows into small towns and farm communities.

 

Maple syrup has been consumed for centuries in North America, and is one of the first agricultural awakenings of spring. Tree tapping in Massachusetts can start as early as late January and continue through April, though March is officially the kickoff of Maple Month. Importantly, the temperatures at night must be below freezing and during the days, above freezing for the tree sap to flow. Furthermore, weather, soil, and genetics of the tree can affect maple syrup flavor.  

 

In the past five years, the Baker-Polito Administration, through the Department of Agricultural Resources, has awarded $316,440 in Agricultural Energy grants to maple producers throughout the state. These grants have been used to offset the costs of installing updated, environmentally friendly equipment, including high efficiency evaporators, heat recovery and reverse osmosis equipment.

 

Please visit Massachusetts Maple Producers Association (MMPA) to learn more about the maple sugaring process. Go to the MassGrown website and click on maple for a complete listing of maple sugar houses

塔夫茨大學波士頓健康科學校區新冠疫情更新 上週共5人確診

塔夫茨大學新冠肺炎疫情波士頓健康科學校區更新(截至03/05/2021)

•              從2020年8月3日起，總計403,922人次的檢測已在塔夫茨大學全部四個校區完成(波士頓中國城，波士頓芬威/傳教山，梅德福/薩默維爾，格拉夫頓)

•              截止至03/05/2021，波士頓健康科學校區中：

o             17位確診病例被隔離

o             30位密切接觸者被隔離

o             186位患者已痊愈

•              過去7天內，波士頓健康科學校區中：

o             4名學生檢測為陽性，1,441名為陰性（0.28%陽性）

o             1名工作人員或教職人員檢測為陽性，745名為陰性（0.13%陽性）

•              自從8月3日開始檢測以來：

o             波士頓健康科學校區內，108名學生檢測為陽性，2,131名為陰性 （4.82%陽性）

o             波士頓健康科學校區內，39名雇員檢測為陽性，1,005名為陰性 （3.74%陽性）

•              平均檢測處理時間保持在24小時內

Tufts University COVID-19 Boston Health Sciences Campus Update (as of 03/05/2021):

• 403,922 tests have been administered by Tufts University on all four campuses (Boston’s Chinatown, Boston’s Fenway/Mission Hill, Medford/Somerville and Grafton) since August 3rd, 2020
• As of 03/05/21, for the Boston Health Sciences Campus:
• 17 individuals are in isolation
• 30 individuals are quarantined
• 186 individuals have recovered
• In the past 7 days for the Boston Health Sciences Campus:
• 4 students have tested positive and 1,441 have tested negative (0.28% positive)
• 1 faculty/staff member has tested positive and 745 have tested negative (.13% positive)
• Since testing began on August 3rd:
• 108 unique students on the Boston Health Sciences campus have tested positive and 2,131 have tested negative (4.82% positive)
• 39 unique employees on the Boston Health Sciences campus have tested positive and 1,005 have tested negative (3.74% positive)
• Average processing time remains less than 24 hours

紐英崙客家鄉親會慶天穿日 驚悉客家人源起尚無定論

紐英崙客家鄉親會遠距同慶天穿日。

                  (Boston Orange 周菊子麻州報導) 紐英倫客家鄉親會今(2021)年慶祝「天穿日」，特地安排「客家人的起源及大遷徙的歷史」演講，臺灣國立聯合大學客家研究學院院長林本炫旁徵博引講述，讓不少客家鄉親驚嘆，「難不成以前的客家緣起認知錯了」?

             客家會會長宋玉琴會後與鄉親商量後，將於3月13日邀2019年行政院客委會客家終身貢獻獎得主朱真一，以「客家台灣人的血緣(源?)」為主題，再辦一場講座。

紐英崙客家鄉親會會長宋玉琴主持活動。

             駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長孫儉元，波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮，波士頓僑務委員蔣宗壬這天也都應邀出席「天穿日」，並致詞。

             孫儉元坦言，在台灣也有客家朋友，聽過一些客家習俗，但還是第一次聽到「天穿日」。他稱許女媧補天的不忘本，慎終追遠精神，也感謝客家會一直支持經文處。礙於疫情，他到任後，至今還未親見客家鄉親，盼面晤機會早日來到。

             孫儉元還敦請客家鄉親經常上經文處的臉書逛逛，在臉書上搜尋Taiwan in Boston就可以找到。

波士頓經文處處長孫儉元致詞。

           潘昭榮是第二次在網路上和客家鄉親見面，他也期盼疫情早日結束，年中或年底就可以見面聚會。

             林本炫的演講，從客家源流的常見說法講起，一連舉證了不下10名學者的研究，最終表示，客家緣起迄今仍無定論，學者專家們仍在探討中。

在林本炫的講談中，他例舉的學者及說法，包括:

廣東中山大學教授羅香林在1933年出版的「客家研究導論」中，提出客家人是中原正統漢人，華夏貴冑，為避北方戰亂，五次南遷，落腳廣東、福建、江西的說法，而這說法又源於1808年的徐旭曾「豐湖雜記」，以及清末太史賴際熙於1921年9月在香港創辦崇正總會，聯絡客家人，考證客家流。

波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮致詞。

                  1994年，梅州市家應學院房學嘉在「客家源流探奧」一書中，質疑羅香林使用客家人族譜的方法，稱歷史中南遷的中原人數量很少，史料中找不到客家人遷回中原尋根的紀錄或口頭傳說，並根據田野資料提出客家人的「南方主體說」新主張。

             福建師範大學教授謝崇光也在「客家源流薪探」一書中稱，修譜家族多為抬高自己地位，特別重視遷移史的編撰，藉以炫耀，與正史多有不符之處，如根據比較可靠的近代遷移資料，客家基本住區的閩粵贛邊區先民，主要來自江淮地區。他因此主張「客家」是文化概念，不是種族概念。

國立聯合大學客家研究學院院長林本炫闡述客家人緣起

            陳支平則在他出版的「客家源流新論 – 誰是客家人」一書中用比較法指出，客家人和非客家人並無差異，只是經由移民過程，人們抵達一地後，根據人數多寡所決定了同化力量。在明代以前的史料文獻中，看不到有關「客家」這特定名詞的記載，以源自中原而自豪的世家大族，其私家文獻也沒有「源自中原某某客家」的記載。

             華東師範大學王東教授的「客家學導論」認為羅香林認為客家人起源於唐末五代，犯了很大錯誤。客家的「客」應該是他稱，最早應是明代才出現。

出席者稱讚這場講座很精采。

             中央大學羅肇錦教授從語言比較上指出，客家語言的底層不是北方中原噢，而是南方彝畬瑤苗語，學習了北方書面語之後，慢慢形成的後期南方漢語，再以彝語和哈尼族語的「客」就是「山」，來表達他們的生活環境周圍都是山。因此南方漢語保留較多上古漢語，也更能朗讀漢語典籍，和受到阿爾泰與影響的北方漢語有了差異。

             羅肇錦稱，日治時代也沒「客家人」這稱呼，應是1949年國民政府抵台，「外省客家人」透過雜誌的宣揚和民間社團的傳播，逐漸建立的說法和新認同。

Yien Lee展示"千年客家"這本書。

           師大施添福教授則稱，直接源頭應是19世紀中葉，西歐傳教士一方言主義所鑄造的「Hakka客家」標記。此外英文拼音的「Hakka」是廣東話「客」的發音。客家源流上溯到唐宋或東晉，很可能是望文生義。

             台灣學者楊聰榮和高怡萍的研究稱，清朝的州志鎮記都沒有客做族稱的記載，直到近世客家認同抬頭，東南亞客家人才在會館名稱上加上客家兩字。

             林本炫的演講內容，引發許多問題，史先澍，林岱等人紛紛發問或提出個人看法，Yien Lee還拿出一本湯錦台寫的「千年客家」，表達另一種看法。

             這場原訂一個小時的講座，後來延長到將近2小時，會末仍然照原定安排，放映了一段客家美食影片。