I F)j9RE FILE
PHILLIPCO
City: Southfield
Kudos: Special Ed's 'Can-Do' Guy
Phillip Cohen, 63, principal since 1988 of the
Washington Careers Center, a Detroit public school
for 300-400 special-needs students ages 16-26, retired
June 11 after 38 years in education. He known as a
principal who knew and cared about every student
and who instilled a "can-do" attitude that stayed a
lifetime. Cohen has two children and two grandchil-
dren and is a member of Congregation Shaarey
Zedek, where his wife, Sharon, is librarian.
Why special
education?
"When I came
to Detroit in the
late 1960s, I didn't
know Detroit
from Adam.
When I applied at
the district, I told
them I wanted to
teach in a Jewish
school. I still
remember the
looks they. gave me. Then they told me that school
wasn't available and they placed me at Murray
Wright High School with the special education
program."
What's the atmosphere at your school?
"There's a tremendous feeling among the staff,
students and parents. I don't think of this as spe-
cial ed. Throughout the school, there's a feeling of
CI can do it!' and 'I like where I am.' Our motto is
`We can compete.' The students take part in every
Special Olympics event available. We compete in
the DPS basketball league. We send the best to
technical vocational schools and to higher-level
classes. Our seniors have a prom, picnics, gradua-
tion — it's very meaningful."
When you retired, you had more than 400 sick
days left. Will the adjustment be difficult?
"It will be difficult. I get up early and usually
I'm. the first one at school. But after 38 years, it's
time." ❑
— Keri Guten Cohen,
story development editor
REPORT A DOER...
Know a Doer — someone of any age doing interest-
ing, meaningful things in their life outside of their
job? Share suggestions with Keri Guten Cohen, story
development editor, at (248) 351-5144 or e-mail:
Reagan And His Critics
here is a scene in the film
The Way We Were in which
the death of Franklin D.
Roosevelt is announced to
Barbra Streisand's wealthy in-laws
and their smug friends.
They respond with jokes and
expressions of satisfaction, and
she turns on them in a righteous
fury.
I hate to say this, but I noticed
the same sort of reaction to the
death of Ronald Reagan in a large
part of our com-
second half of the 20th century, just as FDR was
in the first half. Not only for what he accom-
plished in his own term in office, but in the way
his ideas affected the policies of his successors.
But Reagan has been out of office for only 16
years, and it still may be too soon to make such
sweeping judgments. After all, it took about that
long for perceptions to change on Harry Truman's
stature as president.
GEORGE
When he left office in 1953, he was belittled
CANTOR
and
widely disliked. Only a decade or two later
Reality
were
his accomplishments recognized, his pugnac-
Check
ity and plainspoken demeanor seen as virtues.
On the other hand, Woodrow
munity.
Wilson was venerated after his
It is, of course, axiomatic that
term ended. Only in later years
most Jews will vote Democratic.
did historians reassess him as a
Their parents voted Democratic
segregationist, a Red-baiter who
and maybe their grandparents,
trampled on civil liberties and a
too, unless they were still too
leader whose refusal to compro-
busy dodging the Cossacks.
mise led to America abandoning
Among most dedicated
its international role in the
Democrats, there is also a firm
1920s and 1930s.
belief that if you scratch a conser-
So who can tell where Reagan's
vative you'll find a stupid, selfish
ranking will end up?
bigot. If they had any brains or
For those of us old enough to
compassion, after all, they'd be
remember the 1970s, when it
liberals.
seemed that the country was
Reagan's political success was
diminished, confused and lost —
based on being dismissed as a
with Watergate and oil shortages
lightweight by people like that.
and inflation and defeat in
They insist that they saw the
Vietnam — he was plenty good
conniving, pietistic, B-movie
enough.
President Reagan
actor beneath the mask of the
There were certainly missteps.
decent, caring man. Republicans,
Jews find it hard to forgive
apparently, don't bleed.
Reagan's 1985 visit to a cemetery in Bitburg,
What puzzles me all the more is that many of
West Germany, where 49 Waffen SS members
these people are at the income level that benefited were buried. But these missteps detract only
most from Reagan's fiscal policies. While they
slightly from his overall accomplishments.
describe themselves as economic conservatives
I have cast votes in 10 presidential elections.
and social liberals, I also notice a lot of them do
Some of them were unenthusiastic, as the better
their best to avoid the tax burden that supports
of two bad choices. Some were regretted almost
the social programs they hold so dear.
as soon as I pulled the lever or poked the chad.
Many commentators remarked that Reagan will
I'm still not sure whether I voted for a great
go down as the dominant political figure of the
president in Reagan. But I know I voted for a
good man. ❑
George Cantor's e-mail address is
gcantor@thejewishnews.corn
Shabbat Candlelighting
"When my mother left her shetl, she promised to continue keeping mitzvot. Now, when I light can-
dles with my granddaughter, I see it as preserving my mother's legacy."
— Rachel Kapen, West Bloomfield
Candlelighting
Candlelighting
Friday, June 18, 8:55 p.m.
Friday, June 25, 8:56 p.m.
Shabbat Ends
Shabbat Ends
Saturday, June 19, 10:07 p.m.
Saturday, June 26, 10:08 p.m.
kcohen@thejewishnews.com
To submit a candletighting message, call Miriam Anzzalak of the Lubavitch Women:s- Organization at (248) 548-6771 or e-nail. manzzalak@juno.conz
6/18
2004
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