| It had been thirty-five years. Thirty-five long years | | | | student. She was saying, "Now Mrs. Sanders is going |
| since I last walked into my former school, Amelia | | | | to help Earhart build a library.... What do we say to |
| Earhart Elementary on the south side of Chicago. The | | | | her?" I don't know what I'm getting myself into, I |
| school that nurtured my hopes and dreams. The | | | | thought, but somehow, we'll make this a reality. The |
| school that taught me to reach for the stars. The | | | | children looked up at me, bright-eyed and smiling. |
| small school that couldn't afford a music teacher or a | | | | "Thank you!" they answered, beaming at me. I |
| library, but had served as a friendly, protective | | | | looked at all the glowing faces with their neat school |
| environment during my younger years. That was | | | | uniforms, and could feel the pride shining from their |
| before we left for the sassy, arrogant, aloof | | | | eyes. This was a place where they felt appreciated. |
| eighth-grade crowd at Northwood Junior High in | | | | Understood. Cared for. "Thank YOU!" I said to them, |
| Highland Park. | | | | moving on to the next room. Respect was a tangible |
| And yet, here I was - driving one and a half hours in | | | | part of the atmosphere at Earhart... from the |
| early morning traffic - to see the principal, Patricia | | | | "Children of the Week" photos by the office bulletin |
| Walsh, and offer my services to help Earhart create | | | | board to writing assignments showcased on the |
| a library for the first time. Earhart is now a K-8th | | | | hallway walls. |
| grade school, instead of a K-6th school as it was in | | | | The hallway was longer than I remembered. An |
| my time. I had just read about Earhart Elementary in | | | | addition had been put on almost ten years ago, so |
| a recent Chicago Tribune magazine section because it | | | | more grade levels could be added. My school now |
| represented a success story, with some of the | | | | housed almost 300 children up to the eighth grade. |
| highest test scores of all Chicago public schools. Yet it | | | | The halls were built too narrowly, so lockers couldn't |
| operates without a basic library! | | | | be installed. The gym also wasn't build to proper size |
| I read the story and thought, 'this was MY school.' | | | | specifications, so there are no basketball competitions |
| How could I stand by and not do anything? One | | | | at Earhart. Even the window ledges in the new |
| would think a school would automatically have a | | | | classrooms were made improperly - jutting out too |
| library, just as you'd expect to find bathrooms in | | | | far, which makes it extremely hard to open windows. |
| every school. But school libraries aren't inherent in | | | | Still, the school brings out the best in students. With |
| Chicago schools. What could be done? I had to call | | | | the concerted teamwork of the administration, |
| and find out. | | | | teachers and parents, the children are making exciting |
| Driving into the parking lot, I recognized the back of | | | | progress. It's time to do more... and get funds for a |
| the school building, the large asphalt parking lot - once | | | | library, I resolved to myself. The Board of Education |
| almost entirely our playground - and the modest | | | | won't help. I wrote to them, and they politely |
| homes nearby. Surprisingly, I found myself blinking | | | | explained that other priorities are more important |
| away tears. A surge of happy memories flooded my | | | | than this library. But maybe I could round up some |
| mind. Double-dutch jump-roping. Long-lasting | | | | former Earhart alums. And maybe some businesses in |
| friendships. My first crush. Poetry readings in class. | | | | the area might be willing to contribute and be |
| Singing in class with a teacher strumming the | | | | awarded a plaque in the library for their donation. |
| autoharp. I remembered the route I took back and | | | | Chicago schools have physical problems that must be |
| forth to school. | | | | addressed first. Yet, one would think that with a |
| I walked toward the front door, now locked for | | | | highly rated school, it would get some consideration in |
| security purposes, and the tears were threatening to | | | | light of its achievements. |
| flow. I was buzzed inside, and greeted by a tall, | | | | I've learned that school politics don't work that way. |
| friendly male guard, who opened the door for me | | | | The word is out in ourcommunity, and we've been |
| and led me toward the principal's office. My feet | | | | gathering used books. Children's books on any |
| automatically knew the way. The kindergarten room | | | | topickindergarten through eighth grade -- are always |
| to the left. The large former gym to the right. And | | | | welcome. Together, with enough handand caring |
| there it was -- the principal's office. Tears started | | | | hearts, I believe we can do whatever we set out to |
| suddenly flowing down my cheeks and my voice | | | | do. |
| suddenly left me. I was speechless. As Patricia Walsh | | | | Just like my hero, Amelia Earhart, who went after |
| came from her office, I managed to choke out a | | | | her dreams, I know Earhart can achieve its goals, no |
| "hello," while extending my hand in greeting. | | | | matter how tough they seem. Earhart Elementary |
| It was a wonderful homecoming. Miss Walsh was | | | | School has a goal to support our future... to help the |
| genuinely kind and delightful. She showed me from | | | | children of today become the leaders of tomorrow. |
| room to room, introducing me as a former Earhart | | | | We can't let them down. |