Thursday, March 12, 2009

Postcard from the Recession

The little guy is off to school at 7:55 AM and had just enough time to pose with his latest first grade civics project - a "patriotic" poster. He had to choose three symbols (you can see them here) and then compose a paragraph that identified and explained each one. He is particularly proud of his Statue of Liberty, which, he reminded his parents was a gift from the French.

Tonight the entire family will attend the OUSD board meeting where they assume the board will vote to close his elementary school.

Sigh.

The ripple affect in this canyon community will be sad and scary.

The Los Angeles Times has been running a series of op-ed essays under the banner "Postcards from the Recession." Sunday, Susan Straight wrote from Riverside, suggesting that the people out there are our canaries in a coal mine. Yesterday Gustavo Arellano reported from Anaheim. Today Lisa See explores the effects on the Westside (L.A. that is). Rebel Girl has been using the essays in the classroom where, she notes, the attention of the students is unusually rapt.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

What an adorable boy! I am so sorry to hear about the little guy's school, RG--very sad news.

Wouldn't it be great if the teacher followed this assignment with one to create a dissident's poster?

Anonymous said...

I hate to see what is happening to my former home state. Everyone understands how the "California model" that started with the Reagan Revolution has undermined this country. California got a head start and is now in horrible shape.
Yes, what a nice little boy. Wonder what will happen to him. That simple faith, so soon to be dashed.

Anonymous said...

Nope, Limber Lou's faith won't be dashed. He's on solid ground wherever he goes to school.

Anonymous said...

How sorry I am to see this school close. Tell Louis that it's the teachers who matter, and they will see him at his new school.

Roy's obituary in LA Times and Register: "we were lucky to have you while we did"

  This ran in the Sunday December 24, 2023 edition of the Los Angeles Times and the Orange County Register : July 14, 1955 - November 20, 2...