Reality Check

My sister turned me on to another blog awhile ago. It is all about parenting/Detroit.

A recent post struck a nerve. Maybe it’s because (as Aaron would say) I am more emotional these days. Maybe it’s because I know so many teachers and understand the impact that school/education can have. Either way…it struck me.

How sad...how truly depressing this is…especially since the school has only been closed for a few years. That this could happen in such a short time…what an incredible waste of resources. Now, I don’t know maybe this school was condemned or had some structural issue that caused it to be abandoned. Either way, I find it ironic that just yesterday when I picked up my absentee ballot and began doing research to prepare to vote…one of the issues on the ballot is a school bond referendum. Lexington wants to build something like five new schools to the tune of $300 + million dollars. I know the economy in Michigan sucks and everyday it seems like so many people are leaving the state to find jobs…moving to places like Lexington where we have to build new school to keep up with the population growth (800 more new students this year alone). I get that.

What is so hard to swallow, is the idea that we can just let this happen to an area – a whole downtown. Detroit is such a fun city, with so much potential. But, rather than spend time and money to restore this city to what it once was, we take the easy way out and abandon it…build more subdivisions and cut more trees. I hate it. When will we realize that this isn’t the answer? I don’t claim there are easy answers to what are a host of reasons behind this problem, but surely just leaving isn’t the answer either.

I was struck the other day too when Aaron (that’s right, my husband) was chatting with his brother about politics and the upcoming election. Soon the conversation turned to taxes and what did my husband say…“taxes aren’t bad, they’re what fund schools and government programs.” I nearly fell out of my chair. Here I thought he was at least a little conservative – certainly more so than me. I am still shocked.

I am also still in shock about his decision, or at least indifference, to the decision to cut cable. Well, earlier this week on my way home from work, I get a call from him…“I am on the couch, looking at a blank screen and drowning my sorrows in M&Ms.” Sad. So, we ate dinner, watched a movie, I read and he graded papers. That doesn’t sound like a wasted night to me. We’ll see how today (especially Saturday College Football) goes…