I have a ton of work to do before I go out of town so I don't have time to defend my position. I can't give a short answer so I won't give any answer. If this thread is still active in 8 days, I will respond then.

I'm really suprised that GER and I are the only people (on this board) that think this is a good idea...

I think we have a new photo assignment for Blue Echoes. I'm going to buy www.SaveSARCSafetyVillage.com at Go Daddy right now. Donations, anyone?

Feel, free, Perplexed. It's not going to change my mind, obviously, because I see the value of a Safety Village in general as minimal. I've never seen the one at SARC so I don't know if its up to current trends in safety village construction or use. I was just surprised to hear that a) we already had one and b) we want to replace it.

This thing just smacks as wasteful spending. I understand that we might get $$ from Kiwanis to build the thing. But make no mistake, it's going to also cost PD capital dollars, and PD O&M costs in perpetuity.

We want professionals to teach children about everything else, so why not in this situation? If it provides a fun, caring atmosphere and allows kids to interact with those professionals that kids should learn to respect (I believe that respect can be even stronger with actual face-to-face interaction, not just being 'told' to respect them) these professionals and the jobs they do to protect us. At the same time, learning about safety issues that could ultimately save lives <yes this statement will be portrayed as 'drama' by many, but I really believe it to be true>.

BUT, if we already do have a Safety Village at Spring Road, why not look into improving/expanding it? Why does it have to be rebuilt and placed in Maryknoll Park? Now that this has been brought up, I feel this is more of the argument here. If it already exists, why reinvent it?

quote:

Originally posted by GlenEllynRing:
BUT, if we already do have a Safety Village at Spring Road, why not look into improving/expanding it? Why does it have to be rebuilt and placed in Maryknoll Park? Now that this has been brought up, I feel this is more of the argument here. If it already exists, why reinvent it?

I think this is an example of the governmental mindset I rememeber described in the movie Contact, after the first space/time machine crashes.

Why buy one, when you can buy two for twice the price?!

quote:

Originally posted by GlenEllynRing:


BUT, if we already do have a Safety Village at Spring Road, why not look into improving/expanding it? Why does it have to be rebuilt and placed in Maryknoll Park? Now that this has been brought up, I feel this is more of the argument here. If it already exists, why reinvent it?

That's a good suggestion GER, although I'd argue that the face to face, professional teachers, etc. can be accomplished through classroom visits, assemblies, etc.

I would guess that the PD is attempting to make Maryknoll (paddle courts notwithstanding) the center of all "kiddie" activities - splash pad, mini golf, safety boondoggle village, zip line playscape.

quote:

Originally posted by middlein87:
I would guess that the PD is attempting to make Maryknoll (paddle courts notwithstanding) the center of all underutilized "kiddie" activities - splash pad, mini golf, safety boondoggle village, zip line playscape.

I provided the missing adjective.
You're welcome.

quote:

I'd argue that the face to face, professional teachers, etc. can be accomplished through classroom visits, assemblies, etc.

I certainly don't know if this type of Safety Village system is better than having school visits (i.e. I don't know of any studies or have any statistics to back this up), but I'm guessing that they were started so that kids could be more interactive with the safety issues at hand.

A visit from someone in this capacity at the school? When I was in school, this spelled one thing, B-O-R-I-N-G. Having access to a miniature village and learning at the same time, now that spells F-U-N and is probably retained better than a kid falling asleep in a classroom being 'taught' these important issues by the same professionals, or a teacher.

quote:

Originally posted by GlenEllynRing:
A visit from someone in this capacity at the school? When I was in school, this spelled one thing, B-O-R-I-N-G. Having access to a miniature village and learning at the same time, now that spells F-U-N and is probably retained better than a kid falling asleep in a classroom being 'taught' these important issues by the same professionals, or a teacher.

Yes, because above all else we must keep the little darlings entertained! All that booklarnin' can be so hard and B-O-R-I-N-G!

quote:

underutilized "kiddie" activities - splash pad, mini golf, safety boondoggle village, zip line playscape.

Do we truly know how underutilized these things are? Do we know how many school kids have used the current Safety Village at Spring Road? Do other school kids use this Safety Village? Where are the numbers to back-up these areas being 'underutilized,' or is this just a fabrication to support a cause? Just curious...

Also, leaving my yoga class last night at HealthTrack, there were a healthy-amount of mini golfers using that facility. We use it every summer and have a good time there. Even though I was skeptical at best when this was announced for this property, we've tried to make the best of it and have had fun there with friends and family.

quote:

Yes, because above all else we must keep the little darlings entertained! All that booklarnin' can be so hard and B-O-R-I-N-G!

I couldn't have said it better myself...what's wrong with some fun when teaching something like this? If it saves a kids from burning up in a house fire or getting killed on some railroad track somewhere, I'm all for it.

Yeah, and it is a far better use of a school day to take a trip to the fun safety village, instead of, say, actually learning how to read, write, or do math.

I doubt they are adding any hours/days to the school year, to add basic lessons every kid should learn in their home.

Hey, maybe the safety village might be the solution to the horrendous overcrowding in our schools. With careful scheduling, we could arrange to have 1 class at the safety village at all times, thereby freeing up that classroom for that time. Heck, if we have one class en route and another heading back to school at all times, that frees up 2 more classrooms. Damn, where's my $100K+ administrative position?!

Plus, we know how the PD likes to help out its fellow taxing bodies. Maybe they could incorporate a couple of classrooms into the safety village, further relieving school overcrowding. It's a no brainer win/win! Only shortcoming is it doesn't require cutting any trees.

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Yeah, and it is a far better use of a school day to take a trip to the fun safety village, instead of, say, actually learning how to read, write, or do math.

Yeah, and those trips to see great art, great scientific achievments, learning about our solar system, the natural history of our Earth were just trash. I wish I could have had those days to sit in class and make up for all that I didn't learn!!! I think I would be a truly better human being if I hadn't been subjected to such a waste of my time in our public school system.

quote:

Originally posted by GlenEllynRing:
Yeah, and those trips to see great art, great scientific achievments, learning about our solar system, the natural history of our Earth were just trash. I wish I could have had those days to sit in class and make up for all that I didn't learn!!!

I guess we disagree in terms of how relevant we consider various activities to what we consider our schools' functions.

I personally see a connection between (a limited number of) field trips to art/science/space/natural history museums and facilities, and what I consider to be the core educational function of our schools.

Also in my opinion, the type of material suggested as available at a safety village impresses me as much closer to what I expect to be taught in the home and other community settings. At best, it is a luxury, and I tend to recommend against adding luxuries until I'm convinced we have the basics nailed down.

Obviously you differ.

Heck, while we're at it, why don't we take field trips to church and the doctor's office? We can cut down some trees to build the required facilities...

quote:

Obviously you differ.

Yes. I do think it is great that you took/take the time to teach these types of things in your home to your children, and in a perfect World, I think these things should be taught by parents. The stark reality is that there are plenty of parents (not just in Glen Ellyn) that really DON'T have the time to devote to their kids for teaching opportunities such as what is taught in Safety Village. This is why I think we should be teaching such things in this 'Safety Village' setting.

We aren't going to be able to get these parents to change, and I for one would rather live in a Village/State/Country/World where kids are taught better respect of these people that hold these important roles in our society, and also having them ALL learn the basics of safety in the home and in their environment for the safety of themselves and others is just a win-win in my opinion. <birds twitter>

But I do think this situation boils down to 1. Why are we creating another Safety Village when one already exists? Where are the facts that support building a bigger/better facility? If these facts can be supplied and it shows there is a need, then I would support it, but if there are no facts to support this project, then I would also be on the list of non-supporters of this project, simply for it being too much 'fluff' and just another project for someone to do and put on their resume as an accomplishment, and at our expense.

quote:

Originally posted by Amy:
The only question I have is: What happened to the little Safety Village that was behind Spring Ave Rec Center? Isn't that enough? Do we really need to go to such expense to teach safety? I'm with Fan - the "Do we really, really, really need this test?" is a good one. I'd say no - at least not one that costs this much. Aren't kids supposed to be able to use their imagination? Heck, on the Today show earlier, a child psychologist was talking about what to do with your kids over the summer so you don't feel like a cruise director or teacher. She talked about cardboard boxes being selected by some organization as the best toy ever. So, have the kids paint a box that looks like a fire station, a police station. Have them draw RR tracks on the cement with their sidewalk chalk. That might cost a few hundred dollars to keep up for the summer!

For the record, my kids never attended Safety Village - we try to teach them all that stuff when we go for walks and bike rides . We've done so for ages...

Obviously Mr. Dr. Amy does not teach by example.......

quote:

Originally posted by GE Fan:

It's kind of like the AMG-55 that I want. It's really nice, I really want it, but it doesn't make sense.

For once, I must disagree Fan.

quote:

Originally posted by Fish:
Obviously Mr. Dr. Amy does not teach by example.......

Don't get me started about that bike helmet thing. He makes me nuts about that!


BTW, is the water at Holes and Knolls now normal or does it still look like that blue toilet water????

quote:

Originally posted by GEM:

quote:

Originally posted by GE Fan:

It's kind of like the AMG-55 that I want. It's really nice, I really want it, but it doesn't make sense.

For once, I must disagree Fan.

Which part? Do I need it?

I already told you you did, it's what all the young power attorney's are driving. But I know you would be getting it for the advanced safety features.