Problems in Our Backyard

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Originally appears in the Summer 2016 issue

by Jennifer Cody, John Katunich and Mark Kissling

(Note: While co-written, this article purposefully uses Jennifer’s singular voice since she was the driving force behind this place-based education adventure.)

“Mrs. Cody!!! Did you hear the news?!?!” Abby burst into our fifth grade classroom full of excitement on the morning of November 10, 2015. “There was a meeting last night! They voted against the development!”

Abby was referring to a local and controversial planned residential development that our class had been studying, and her excitement was contagious. She caught me off guard, though, as I was not aware that an important meeting had been scheduled.

“Are you sure?” I asked, knowing the Ferguson Township Board of Supervisors was scheduled to meet the following week and take a final vote on the development. “Yes!” Abby responded, “My mom told me. She saw it on the news last night then it was on the radio this morning.”

It turned out that Abby was talking about how the Ferguson Township Planning Commission had voted not to endorse the proposed development. This was an advisory vote and not the final word, but it still felt like an important victory.