Short-Changing America's Youth

Columnist William Blackburn laments school trailers and their effect on the psyche of America's youth.

1 minute read

September 7, 2007, 10:00 AM PDT

By Mike Lydon


"As parents, we always want the best for our children, and being educated in trailers in the richest country in the world is not what I consider the best we can offer to our future. After visiting these mobile units during a recent open house and seeing firsthand where my son would spend his days, I found that they weren't as bad as I thought -- but still not ideal.

Though the class was beautifully decorated and the teacher seemed qualified, I still left feeling that this was not the best we could do. There are administrators and other parents who will champion these mobile units and say our focus should be elsewhere, such as improving test scores. But I disagree. We are too accepting of lower standards. You see, it's not just the mobile units that disturb me, but society's unwillingness to place emphasis on the education of our youth."

Thanks to Tom Low

Tuesday, September 4, 2007 in The Charlotte Observer

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Wastewater pouring out from a pipe.

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage

Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

April 13, 2025 - Inside Climate News

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Black and white photos of camp made up of small 'earthquake shacks' in Dolores Park in 1906 after the San Francisco earthquake.

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees

More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

April 15, 2025 - Charles F. Bloszies

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20 - Streetsblog USA

Close-up on BLM sign on Continental Divide Trail in Rawlins, Wyoming.

BLM To Rescind Public Lands Rule

The change will downgrade conservation, once again putting federal land at risk for mining and other extractive uses.

April 20 - Public Domain

Calvary Street bridge over freeway in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Indy Neighborhood Group Builds Temporary Multi-Use Path

Community members, aided in part by funding from the city, repurposed a vehicle lane to create a protected bike and pedestrian path for the summer season.

April 20 - Smart Cities Dive