|
|  |
North East Ohio Network
1025 hits
| Mar 21, 2004 10:20 am |
|
Regionalism |
MaryBeth Matthews
 | |
ReGina's comments about the importance of 'ownership,' as it relates to the growth and prosperity of a regional economy, echoed my own thoughts. This area spends a lot of time and money trying to attract the "creative class" in the hopes that they will bring economic salvation. These efforts might be better spent growing our own artists and entrepreneurs. People who have their roots here, (home and family) are the people less likely to move away.
In order to instill a sense of ownership for this community, it is important that our young people develop a relationship with the artists and entrepreneurs in our community via mentoring, and direct community partnerships with the schools. These types of programs are being done successfully on a small scale in some schools through out the region, I have witnessed firsthand how influential they can be, to the point of changing (perhaps even saving) lives.
This has been my area of focus as an educator in Cleveland, but it is just a small part of a much larger picture.
As we look towards economic revitalization, we also must remember that it goes hand in hand with educational reform. We cannot attract businesses to the region without a trained workforce. The regions largest school district is hemorrhaging students. Cleveland's student population numbers over 70,000. The district's graduation rate is only 38%. Realize, that means 62% of those 70,000 will not receive a high school diploma. That is HUGE. The implications are staggering.
Those who discuss revitalizing the region, without considering Cleveland's education crisis are like physicians trying to treat the symptoms while ignoring the cause. Private Reply to MaryBeth Matthews (new win) |
|
