This is a spin-off from a recent string about education in Fresno.

Now, I didn't attend Fresno schools, and I spent a few years in a private school, so you all will have to correct me if this is already into practice:

I mentioned a proposal I wrote for a sustainability class last year about a school curriculum which would incorporate living examples from the community into what is being taught in the classroom. The assignment was this: I was to design something (whether it be a building, a park, a model, a gadget, a drainage swale, a brochure) which would inspire people to embrace sustainable values. Here is the premise behind my project: the more kids know about what makes their community different, unique, or even just how it works, the more they will develop a sense of pride in their hometown. If we raise a generation of kids who are proud of where they come from, perhaps they will have more incentive to come back and pour their expertise back into the community, thus stirring up the economy even more. It's a wonderful cycle, which I have read in a few articles that many great cities have mastered. We all know that Fresno can be kind of a vacuum for sucking people back into it after they have left. And usually they come back against their will, or because it is the easiest option, and so on. Why not change their reasons? Make Fresno natives proud to move back to their city?

Here is a more detailed explanation of this curriculum:

1) English classes: Reading local authors (ex. David Mas Masumoto), short story/essay/poem assignments based on places/events in the community, putting on plays by local playwrights (ex. William Saroyan), etc.

2) History classes: learn about the history of Fresno (or whatever valley city we are talking about)--or even more specifically, the history of the community (such as the Edison community, or the origins of the Tower District for Fresno High) as well as the cultural background, develop a good knowledge of places on the local and national register of historic places

3) Geography classes: learn about where cultural districts are located (Chinatown, Armeniatown) and where community districts in general are located

4) Biology (Ecology): learn about the native animals to the area (San Joaquin kit fox, California red-legged frog [both endangered!!], California tiger salamander, Fresno kangaroo rat, etc.) as well as native plants...learn that the Valley was actually grasslands prior to urban development rather than a desert!!

5) Art/music: learn about local artists, paint/sculpt/photograph local monuments, do concert reviews of local musicians...

6) Civics/government: learn how the local city government works, attend City Council meetings, conduct mock planning commission/city council meetings, keep track of local current events relating to local government decisions, etc.

That is a basic overview of the proposal which I wrote about a year ago. In speaking with a few people in the education field, they said that although it would be very hard to incorporate into the classroom considering the rigorous standards, it could be possible if the teacher was willing and/or open-minded to a new method of teaching. I like to think that it is inspired by my alma mater's motto of "Learn By Doing".

It would be so neat if even one of these things got into the curriculum. I know that my mother was such a huge influence in my love for the valley--her amazement and love of Fresno (especially downtown, and she's not even a local!) spread to me and that's why I am back.