Re:Building: It doesn't (just) take a millage, village - A Re-Telling...same old story(?)

Setting the stage: I already did this on your behalf, a few days ago here (see 10/9), in developing the backdrop, the behind-the-scenes of what it really takes to stage a debate. Or here, today, what it takes to bring about a "neighborhood school" - the brick-and-mortar type, where many students around the world still assemble to get their core curriculum disseminated, even where there are still "assemblies" held and where, of course, many still are allowed to bring things for "show and tell" (topic of an upcoming post😔?), a version of which you are about to experience from both sides, in the form of a re-telling of a "Dickens" of a tale, as well as illustrations, word pictures that might bring to mind a study of contrasts. But first, let me once again set the stage, frame of mind, so that I might have "your undivided attention" (common intro for teachers and public speakers)...

"Don't tell me" Or, in other words, simply put, "Don't tell me, I want to guess" A (pre-emptive) commentary on what one already knows someone else is about to say, especially because of how often they have said so in the past. Arguably, it could be argued, debatable, that it would make for an interesting start of a debate...or even presidential press conference...open, closing down an argument before it even begins...

"Asked and answered!" A type of objection, in which the same attorney asks the same question but has already received an answer (that they don't appreciate)...one that I have heard adolescents say in my office to their (objecting parents) and one that I once again think would make for an interesting (pre-emptive) form of a 'pre-response', this time from the president or the candidate in the debate about to be asked a question...

"Show, don't tell" A technique in various kinds of texts (old school type), books, that allows readers to experience the story through actions, words, thoughts, feelings...describes the scene in such a way that readers (or those tuning into a debate) can reach their own conclusion...

"The stage is re-set": for the re-telling of a Dickens of a Tale...as in...

"The Best and the Worst": ...of times for two high schools situated just over 21 miles apart (21.1 to be exact), and "about 27 minutes in light traffic"...One might argue, it's debatable these days, they (the two schools) find themselves 'on the opposite side of the tracks', as in situated in disparate communities, hard to compare, as the communities supporting them have experienced the 'rise and fall' of different financial times, (mis)fortunes...Technically, the schools can be reached without crossing any tracks, but the point of the argument still is not lost on me...or you. But for today's purpose, I highlight the relative experiences of these two (un-named) schools only to illustrate the point captioned in the title of today's post: that is not as simple as passing a millage, a bond to build a "neighborhood school". But let me, once again re-set the scene, take you/us back to how it (they) began. Which eventuated in one high school, starting out with only a few grads the first few years, becoming part of a hall of fame, athletically and in some areas of academics, whereas the other finds itself in what's being called these days, "hall of shame" (local newscasters), with plenty of blame casting. They both started with a strong message and messengers, to the respective communities, such as...

"If you build it": While resonating "Field of Dreams", a call to plow the fields to make way for a baseball diamond, an envisioning which caused a lot of doubt casting by the farmer's family and friends which, of course, ended up with the type of ending which brings many of us back at the beginning of every baseball season, for inspiration, sparking the imagination, new hope for our local club. In one local community, the call was not only to build new athletic fields but a brand new high school, "born out of necessity", to meet the needs for a growing community, which initially saw only a few graduates walking across the stage, and athletic teams that were the "doormats" for their respective division they found themselves in, but now "bursting at the seams"...and once "the laughing stock", "cleaning up" on the competition, after they beat their rival neighboring school in football, not only got the last laugh (when they became state champs the first time) but also "laugh all the way to the bank" as the rivalry game pulls in thousands of fans, necessitating extra stands. Meanwhile, on the other end of town, harkening back to better times, when the superintendent made a massive appeal for the residents to spend a massive amount of capital to retain students and families, let alone attract new community members, after being turned down a few times, a concession was granted to finally tear down an aging high school (originally constructed 1951)...eventuating in many bids, by design, a beautiful edifice and facade that garnered lots of attention,  architectural notoriety, awards, culminating in...

"Nice house, nobody home": a meme which in this context has come to mean, beautiful facility with a welcoming entrance but not enough entering...and many leaving out the back door (apparently)...as I myself not only overheard but read yet another appeal to parents from yet another superintendent "bring your child on school days...not just on count day...otherwise we can't teach them, stay open for business..." (well, pretty close to those words, as in "we have a major problem with truancy...it's your responsibility as parents..."). This, followed by consolidation of schools due to declining enrollment, from year-to-year and throughout the grades (translated: low graduation rates). Add to this, the increasing options for parents who are willing to act big time, as in drive their students elsewhere, as in "schools of choice" and over on the other side of town, you can see "portables" arriving on the scene to handle the overflow...

"Location, location, location"..."Too little, too late"...😔😕😖?! 

"Open once again for bids" On this beautiful building, its contents, which houses a few remaining scholars..."vacancy" here, "no vacancy" over there...

A Tale? Or same old story, one where initial promises and great expectations are first (re)built, and then either realized or dashed, depending on...This, even before we conceive of what constitutes an "effective core curriculum"..."educational excellence"..."performance over time"...

"Time will tell": Come on back for the continuing debate...