Guest columnist Norman Coady: The savior that is People’s Institute In this file photo, student’s at the People’s Institute participate in a Fourth of July parade in 2016. Gazette file photo Published: 5/5/2021 1:44:50 PM People’s Institute is housed in a big brick building on Gothic Street in Northampton. For most of the day, the only outward sign of its purpose is the yelling and laughter of the 2 to 5 year olds taught inside and let loose to play in the back. But if you happen to find yourself down on Gothic Street at 8:30 in the morning or 4:30 in afternoon you will witness the flock of cars that cruise in with their hazard lights on to dispatch and retrieve their children. There’s the one kid in the morning being gently coaxed into school with the soothing words of an administrator. In the afternoon there’s the packs of kids flying out the door, down the steps, leaping into the arms of their parents or guardians, backpacks overflowing with projects.