MaryAnn McKissick: More resources for kids, less parking lots

Pedaling past Luther Burbank Elementary School on East Alexander regularly, I observed its unfolding recent construction. I thought the rough digging of its adjacent field meant students would realize direct benefits to their education: A new stellar gymnasium to promote health fitness? State-of-the-art cafeteria kitchen facility? Permanent new classrooms to alleviate future student crowding? Perhaps, preparing the field for students to plant a community garden and learn local agricultural production from field to table?

None of the above is the purpose of this project. The result will be a humongous huge additional PARKING LOT! Thousands of square feet of earth-decaying blacktop that will shelter hundreds of cars for mere minutes twice a day.

It has not been long ago that We the Taxpaying People approved funding to construct new sidewalks along East Alexander in front of Luther Burbank so that children and parents could walk safely to and from school.

All of this expansion will not teach one iota to children, the eldest of whom is about 10, leaving driver’s education an impossibility. The exception, however, is reteaching the golden rule “If the government pays, you must play!” to a new generation of bureaucrats.

This story was originally published June 23, 2016 at 4:55 PM with the headline "MaryAnn McKissick: More resources for kids, less parking lots."