Opinion
Sunday Night
MaryHelen Swanson, editor
From the days the settlers crossed the wilderness of our new nation, people have wanted a good education for their children and finding a place for that to happen was always a priority issue. As soon as a few families turned their covered wagons into little houses on the prairie and created a community, they wanted to open a school. Finding a teacher never seemed to be that difficult, so what was left to make this education equation work was a building. They called it a schoolhouse, although it also served as the local place of worship, a place for community gatherings, town board meetings, jury trials, etc. They even held the Saturday night box social in that building. Because they were serious about educating their children, the community members pulled together to provide lumber, labor and love to construct the schoolhouse. Everyone took pride in being a part of the project, from the muscled farmer who wielded an ax, to the banker who donated shingles, to the farm wives who prepared lunch for the exhausted workers. Working together was the key to accomplishment and soon a building was erected. In no time, the village schoolhouse was a source of pride for all. Many a child sat on freshly-hewn benches, scribbling on a slate with a piece of chalk doing ìfiguresî and reading from a ìprimerî to get a good start on the life-long process of learning. Families sacrificed to buy the things their children needed for school because they knew that education was important. Today is no different. Our communities want good schools where the children get a good education. We take pride in doing our part to make it happen and we put our confidence in the school officials to assure us that what we are getting for our money will be the best possible solution. At times we differ with the leaders who put before us plans for new buildings and new programs. And in the past year, people in both North Branch and Rush City have said no to new school building projects. Itís not that people donít want what is best for the students; I have not heard one person say they donít want quality facilities for todayís learners. I think it is often a matter of money, especially when our communities have a high percentage of seniors on fixed incomes and a large group of boomers heading in that same direction in less than a decade. I think thereís a little bit of hesitancy to change, perhaps even a bit of stubbornness. But for the most part, people are really watching their budgets now and increases in taxes are scary. In Rush City, I believe it was difficult for people to accept the demolition of a building that wasnít much more than a quarter of a century old. When you reach the age of double fives, 36 years is not old. We have no idea what old is here in Minnesota. You want old, check out Greece or Rome or even Boston and Philadelphia. Thatís not to say that if a building is unsafe, or unable to be used for the purpose it is intended, that we must not consider something new. And when you add the desperate need of more space for more children, youíve got the makings of a referendum. So, our districts are not off base when they come to us seeking new facilities for our children, and yes, for children not yet born or from those families who have not yet moved into our communities. When we build a school, itís a reminder of the past and the struggle the pioneers had to provide an education for their children, and a look to the future and the education of children who might be vacationing on the moon some day. Itís for our children, our grand-children and for children weíll never know. But these children, whether part of our lives or not, will grow up into a world that will be taking care of most of us. I donít like the phrase ìchildren are our future,î no, they are their own future, but weíll be a part of it. Already Iíve encountered that future when the nurse at the clinic who gave me a shot was the same giggly little girl at my daughterís slumber party. Or when the brave firefighter who came to my rescue was the cute kid I taught in kindergarten Sunday school class. Those carefree kids with smudged faces and dimples are now sporting beards and bearing children, paying taxes and making our world work. The future is never that far away. Rush City residents are being asked to go to the polls again to vote on another package that includes a significant school building project. This time they are saving the old round school for better uses. A new addition will serve the children we already have and those who will fill the new homes near the roller rink, at the new golf course and in the areas surrounding the town proper. Take a look folks, Rush City is finally growing.
If you decide that this project looks good, find out more about it. Read the well-prepared booklet you got in the mail last week. If you want more answers, attend the public meeting this Saturday, April 20 at 9 a.m. at the high school or next Tuesday, April 23, 7 p.m., also at the high school.
People with answers will be on hand, so ask away. Call a school board member, call the superintendent, call a building committee member - any or all of these - if you still want to know more about the upcoming referendum on April 29. (Phone numbers in mailed brochure).
Even with the economy teetering on a balance beam, I encourage you to vote yes for this building project. Iím going to. My own children are grown up so it wonít be for them that I do this. My taxes will go up so itís going to impact my life. Iím going to hear from those on fixed incomes and Iím sympathetic to their situations. Itíll be tough.\ But I guess if I have to pay more taxes for anything, providing a quality education in a suitable facility for children, anybodyís children, is the best reason. The information you need to make your decision came right into your home in a medium-sized white envelope. If you read it, you cannot say you didnít know what the referendum was about. It will be your choice, of course, and you will have your own reasons for your yes or no vote. If you vote yes, I think you will have made a wise choice. The children and their educational needs arenít going to go away. And as for the roof on the high school, itís going to be replaced this summer whether you vote or not, itís just a matter of how much financial help we want from the state.
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