Save Abbottston Elementary School

Many of you don't know that when my wife and I set up the "Weekend backpack program" with the various Baltimore City Public Schools we actually visit these schools, some close by while others are located in various neighborhoods of the city.  Some of these neighborhoods are downright deteriorated and cause us a little concern when traveling through them.  But then a remarkable thing happens when we finally locate the school that we are looking for as we note alternative homes for the children they serve.  Abbottston Elementary School is one of these schools where the children find an environment of warmth, care and education in a smaller setting.

The school system should take a long and hard look at this wonderful school and meet with the Principal and all of the teachers and talk with the students as Abbottston is a welcome place for the community and has achieved a high educational standard that many other schools have not achieved.
Many years ago in Montclair, NJ we experienced the same situation where the township experienced a shortfall in their budget and decided to close down a smaller school that worked very well with a smaller population.  There were meetings in the community, but the township wanted to use the sale to cover up this small short fall and I stood there at one of the meetings and warned them that they would regret this decision and would have to pay considerably more in the future.  They failed to heed our warnings and the school was closed causing the children to be distributed to various sections of the township creating a hardship for those who were accustomed to learning in a smaller school.
They missed the warmth and friendships of the staff of teachers and their friends as they were moved into the other schools of that township and I personally think it hurt them.

One of the wonderful things that I noted during our visits to the Southwest Baltimore, Northeast Baltimore and within our community is that most of these schools provide a place of safety for the children who attend these schools.  It is important to know that we who have walked through the halls of these schools see teachers who care for the students and show them respect and pride in their accomplishments.  Some of these schools are not beautiful and need repairs, but the love that is shown in these schools is fantastic.  Closing down any school in Baltimore City in a way condemns a fragile neighborhood and changes the environment in which these children live.  Abbottston is one of these schools that should be kept open.  Their enrollment is increasing.  Their students educational performance is high.  Their attendence is significant and they have the support of their neighborood, which we learned yesterday when we supported a group protesting the closure of the school.  Don't make the expensive mistake Montclair made years ago as these children need this environment now and in the future.  These are schools geared to build hope and God knows we need hope.