Learning From The Past, Peering Into The Future

This past week I've had the opportunity to explore two historic sites in my hometown. The first impressions of the sites were that parts were very run down. There were spots that looked bad at first. It was only when I was made to see the potential that I could really see the good. I discovered beautiful wallpaper, elegant wood paneling, and a solid cement structure. I also saw a unique fire door that separated one building from another one.

It was fascinating to discover even in the vacant classrooms a sense of all the children that passed through the hallways. It was nice to see the old cloakrooms right beside the classrooms looking as they must have looked when children hung up their coats. I learned that the school had 100 kids in each classroom. That information wowed me as I contemplated how the teachers must have ruled the school. There had to be some discipline with that many kids. When I look at how schools are today, I do wonder what happened. If you had that many kids in one classroom today, it would be chaos.

The convent I visited also interested me. It wasn't as run down as the school but still had some issues. I liked the small chapel and the meeting rooms. I can imagine some good uses for the building. I imagine a meeting area that is bigger than the current one over at the borough hall. I imagine a place for workshops and other events.

There is a lot to learn from the past. Respect for the community is one lesson that sadly gone by the wayside. It was taught at the schools and took the form of pride. Yet I don't see that nowadays. When I peer into the future I see a bland robotic state. There is no sense of accomplishment here. The statues and memories of yesterday are being torn down and forgotten. No one wants to remember any more. I guess that is why I cling so much to the past. I want people to know and understand their past so they can move confidently into the future.