I am always extremely upset when a school is closed and then rebuilt in a new development or not at all. I grew up in a blue-collar neighborhood. My dad was a construction worker. He was proud to have built schools in the 50ies. When we drove around, he would say "hey! there is a school around that corner, and I worked on its construction", he was proud of it. We lived across the street from one of those schools, it really gave life to that area of town. I learned to bike in the school yard, I learned to read and count there. The teachers were neighbors, their kids were my friends, most kids could walk to class. I voted for the first time there. Taking that away from people is not right.
Thanks, Francoise. And demolishing a good school for the reasons they did. . . Hills elementary was such a school you described. Center of the community. I loved sitting in the little kindergarten chairs during the caucuses.
I am SO sorry to hear the school has been demolished. I hate it when these old rural buildings are lost. Thanks for this great read. And I love your sense of "emergency" with the balloons!
Ah, the school . . .It was, of course, the central meeting place for Buggyland. We had the caucuses there, voted there, many things. It was the one rural school in the IC district.
Yes, the balloons were a real emergency. Thanks for reading.
Mary, your writing is insightful, real, and lovely. You know how when you finish a good book, you hold it to your chest and sigh? That's how I feel after reading your essays. Thank you.
This is a really good story!
I am always extremely upset when a school is closed and then rebuilt in a new development or not at all. I grew up in a blue-collar neighborhood. My dad was a construction worker. He was proud to have built schools in the 50ies. When we drove around, he would say "hey! there is a school around that corner, and I worked on its construction", he was proud of it. We lived across the street from one of those schools, it really gave life to that area of town. I learned to bike in the school yard, I learned to read and count there. The teachers were neighbors, their kids were my friends, most kids could walk to class. I voted for the first time there. Taking that away from people is not right.
Thanks, Francoise. And demolishing a good school for the reasons they did. . . Hills elementary was such a school you described. Center of the community. I loved sitting in the little kindergarten chairs during the caucuses.
I am SO sorry to hear the school has been demolished. I hate it when these old rural buildings are lost. Thanks for this great read. And I love your sense of "emergency" with the balloons!
Ah, the school . . .It was, of course, the central meeting place for Buggyland. We had the caucuses there, voted there, many things. It was the one rural school in the IC district.
Yes, the balloons were a real emergency. Thanks for reading.
Mary, your writing is insightful, real, and lovely. You know how when you finish a good book, you hold it to your chest and sigh? That's how I feel after reading your essays. Thank you.
Thank you so much, Susie. That’s exactly what an author hopes for.