In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,

My mother used to recite this to me when I was little. She'd memorized John McCrea's WWI poem at Cal during the 2nd War. Her best friend's brother had been killed on the U.S. San Francisco during the Battle of Guadalcanal. She did not like children going off to fight.

She hated war, but believed in duty. Break faith--drop that torch--and those that gave the last full measure shall not sleep.

Four Hundred thousand men were killed or driven insane in the muddy trenches of Flanders. Only 4 miles of territory changed hands after four years of fighting.

For the first time ever, in 1915 the poppies in Flanders grew red. Some thought it was from the blood. In truth it was because "artillery fire disturbed the soil and brought to the surface additional poppy seeds that otherwise would have remained deeply buried and dormant."

I know that because I went to St. Helena High School's Website: WWI RESEARCH INSTITUTE : http://ww1institute.org/.

It's the brain child of Dr. Frank Mazzi-a town treasure. He's the poster child for a hip teacher who makes a town better with energy, enthusiasm and class. He's just one of the new wave of teachers nurtured by Dr. Zoll and Alan Gordon that has revitalized St. Helena schools. Yes, like them, he's paid above the "state average."

Many mock the School Board's attempt to make St. Helena Schools "World Class." Spend time around a Dr. Mazzi and you might whistle a different tune.

I had him on my radio show two weeks ago. He told how children take a Zero Period (starting an hour before school) to do a project on WWI. The goals were "to study the significance of United States participation in the war, interview Mr. Frank Buckles, the last surviving United States veteran of that war, and film a documentary on 'The Forgotten War'."

Mr Buckles is 108.

People from all over America have sent diaries, helmets, binoculars, etc. to Dr. Mazzi's kids. St. Helena High has become a repository of artifacts. It's been featured on TV and Newspapers. Most important, it is Ground Zero for a movement to get a monument in the Washington Mall to honor the 116,000 soldiers who died, and 5 million who served.

You didn't know that WWI vets are not honored on the Washington Mall? Neither did I.

These kids have learned great stuff about the Zimmerman Telegram; the sinking of the Lusitania; Black Jack Pershing's visit to the tomb of the Marquis de Lafayette on July 4th; an Ambulance Corps which featured drivers like John Dos Passos, Ernest Hemingway, Somerset Maugham, and Robert Service. The web page is filled with letters and diary entries, like what happened 5 minutes before 11am on November 11th, 1918 and what happened 5 minutes after.

In some respects the brouhaha regarding St. Helena Schools is about classes like the WWI project. Toss in the Ag Program, new culinary science classes (earth to table, rather than "just add water"); updated vocational classes, and of course the brand new K through 12 International Baccalaureate program and you begin to get the drift.

Change is not easy. Revamping California Public Schools is a daunting task. But we elected some board members willing to take it on. And now some disgruntled employees and certain parents want to recall them for raising standards. Helicopter parents are scared. They can't hover and call the shots. This professional approach frightens them.

Take it from one who put three kids through these schools. They have vastly improved over the past five years.

Remember the letter complaining of huge turnover in these schools? Raising the bar with new, young, energetic teachers was the goal. It also saved money. The budget is balanced. Now let's not put down our veteran teachers. They are invaluable-but not all embrace change. Though Hall of Famers both, we know Nolan Ryan and Rickey Henderson performed at vastly different levels at career's end. It's true in any business.

Change is scary. Change is painful. Bringing in well trained professionals to raise standards can be uncomfortable-but it's vital for kids-that's why McCrea's last stanza rings true even in St. Helena:

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Visit the website: http://ww1institute.org/. It's pure poetry