Chapter 114
3/30/2006
Ch 114 Life is an Education Greek Columns
The boy exited from his school bus on this street with his 8th grade Yorker Club class trip and excitedly entered the NYS Education Department Bldg where the tour of the natural history & science museum was about to begin. He was amazed by the huge dinosaur skeleton. A little later (47yrs) he would be making daily trips here exchanging paperwork with the offices inside for the Regents, Counsel, and Professional Corps & Licensing Sections. Yes, that boy was me. I used to enjoy walking around the city looking at the sights, but now I get to do it for fun. Is that wrong? Oh sure, it’s not the Grand Tetons.
This grand old building (1912) no longer houses the museum. That is at the end of the Empire Plaza where I catch some fiche (archived appellate court briefs) to copy (also State Library). The Ed Dept mission is to Raise the Knowledge, Skill and Opportunity of All the People in New York. Same as mine!
I always feel like my real home is Virgil but I have to remind myself I’ve lived here twice as long and this area and city is also my home. In the late 60’s this is the hill I’d race up 90 miles an hour in my Vette after getting loaded at Ralph’s, then Gaspberrys on Madison, trying to beat my roommate in his 390 Ford Torino to the Mike’s Neba Roastbeef stand in Westgate Plaza before it closed at midnight. Stupid!
Everyone in NYS has been affected by the people in this building. High school syllabus, college accreditation, teacher certification, professional engineer’s license and many other functions occur here.
http://www.op.nysed.gov/regsp99.htm