Glass City Jungle

There has not been a lot of attention in the main stream local media about Scott High School and whether the decision made is going to be to renovate, build a replacement or do nothing. For those of you interested in what’s happened recently, an article written on June 3rd in the Toledo Journal is a recommended read for some of the background information. There is also an updated report on the Urban Coalition website as to a OSFC committee meeting that took place on June 19th.

More information on what the exact decision will be is expected soon…As an update after I posted this article I received an email that shares an article written in the Midwest Urban News along with another link asking the question:

“Why is there so much concern for the Seneca County courthouse, resulting in many articles in the Blade, while there appears to be very little, if any, concern for a historic building and institution right here in Toledo that is on the chopping block.”

It’s clear that in other parts of the nation they are facing a similar situation when it comes to the decision to build new or renovate, Innovative Trends in High School Denver School Tries Reinvention as Reform, the additional commentary was included in the email:

Morning Edition, June 20, 2008 · Manual High School in Denver has had a roller-coaster history. The city’s oldest high school has enjoyed many prosperous and lively periods followed by years when achievement plummeted and families fled the school. Walk through Manual High today, and there are few signs of the failures that led the school district to temporarily close the school down in 2006. Today, it looks better than most 50-year-old high school buildings. (Scott is over 90 years old.) Inside, teachers have plenty of computers and interactive white boards. The halls are quiet and calm — there are few signs of the tumult this school has been through. But Manual is in transition, and its future is on the line. It has a reputation throughout the city as the school that was so bad, it had to be shuttered. (Surprisingly, this is not a predominate black school.)

Scott Graduation 2008
Date: Wed, Jun 4, 2008 Midwest Urban News
By Woodberry
A notice at the bottom of the 2008 Scott graduation program at the Stranahan Theater stated the following:
“To preserve the dignity of the occasion, members of the audience are asked to refrain from approaching the stage area while taking pictures”

Right. They might as well have told a drowning man not to holler for help as family and friends swamped the front of the stage with 21st century camera technology flashing as they captured forever the memories of seeing their loved ones take another step forward in what has been a tortuous journey. The Bulldogs roar was in the house as it should have been, and the roar for the 73 graduating boys and 71 girls, signaled both an ending and a new beginning. The graduation sent a clear message to many, that the school that has suffered the most neglect and disrespect, has turned out 144 class act students who have more than their share of academic achievements. This graduating class is a battle ready group that has overcome everything thrown at them and their school, but yet have managed, with the help of dedicated parents, teachers and friends, to overcome all obstacles and are ready for the next journey.

This 2008 graduating class has sent a clear message that they will succeed in spite of the delays in creating a new and clean environment for them to learn in. A clear message saying that in spite of the almost 100 year old building, antiquated computer programs and sports facility, and in spite of the lack of a higher quality honor system…they can achieve. They also sent a message to those that should be in the front line of offense in the fight to save Scott, that they should now come forward and repay the debt that all Scotters share.

All that is lacking now to insure that this celebration will continue far into the future, is for more of us to step up to the plate and put a dog in the fight to save Scott High School. With more help we can move it back to the top in academics, sports and civility. We all should realize the struggle that these kids have faced daily in a school that has been labeled as a feeder system for welfare, failure and incarceration.

When you look at the names of the people in high profile places that have benefited from a Scott Bulldog education, one wonders how they can sleep at night. How can they, who have moved on up, ignore the conditions at Scott and not bring the power of their office and position to make a difference at the school? It’s as if they would have you believe that they just arrived and were elected or successful out of the clear blue skies, while ignoring the foundation that they received from Scott. By their lack of visual and financial support, it’s as if they do not care that Scott is in a battle for the future of the urban community. (The school was named after former editor of the Toledo Blade Jesup W. Scott) At the many meetings to discuss the future of Scott, there were probably more ex-Bulldogs at home watching Oprah on one day than those that attended the meetings that have been held for 3 years.

We all owe a debt of gratitude to the graduating class of 2008 for keeping hope alive, and we all owe a debt to the parents, that for whatever reason kept their child in a school that has been severally neglected.