WHY have so many schools outlived their usefulness? I can see "things change" but it seems that school buildings are near the top, in things that have become outgrown or outdated. Was it poor planning in the first place, or poor geographic location or population explosion. I suppose there are more "variables" involved here than in other situations. In Newark, some have been sold, some converted to offices, some torn down with other school buildings taking their place.
Where I grew up, it was a "captive" community on all sides, no room for expansion. I imagine that had a lot to do with it. not a great explosion of students, so no need for expansion. Locally, I hated to see the demise of "neighborhood" schools. I think it has had an effect on the quality of education they have received. There was a "relationship" established in the smaller schools, more of a family atmosphere, and I think that was good. I know in my old school I have often heard teachers comment on how their goal was to get the student to "think" and to learn, "how" to learn and think independently, they "primed" the educational pump of a student. That can only be accomplished in a smaller, friendlier educational environment.
I can envision LARGE classrooms with many students, being taught by a giant computer screen, and each student having their own smaller screen, with a "teacher" who is no more than a "monitor."
"Hey, I was in that class, who did you have for 8th grade English."
"Well, let me see, I think it was CONENGONE from Portland, Oregon, via, TRANSCOM VI from the GHL Starfire Satellite, and I think it was beamed through a GH4 Proctor screen in room Seven of Building 12. We had a class reunion last year, and 487 out of the 500 attended. Now, who are you?"
