It seems like not that long ago when I used to ride my bike all over town, without a care in the world. Life was simpler then. Days were spent working hard at school, playing sports, and going to church with family. I smile when I reminisce about school dances and playing manhunt outside when the sun went down. As teenagers, we lived for Friday night football games and meeting friends at Michael’s Diner afterwards. Our town burst with pride for the blue and white.
Neighbors were friends and friends more like family. We talked about the important things, the everyday trials and joys of life. More importantly, though – we talked. Everyone knew everyone’s business, without the help of social media.Back then, discipline wasn’t a bad word. You were frightened to enter the principal’s office and twice as scared to go home when you messed up. Our parents and teachers disciplined us, not to punish us, but to shape us into better people and to teach us to work harder for the things we wanted. Sure, life wasn’t always easy but there was never a lack of love and support in our homes and in our schools. For generations, our parents and grandparents pulled together and did what was best for their families, their community, and for the future of Daniel Boone.
The Daniel Boone School District has been anything but simple or easy over the past few years. The district is involved in an unwelcome financial situation with a school board that seems to be apathetic towards the teachers, administration, and the community. Where is the compassion and cooperation we once knew? There are still folks who care about this area and the students who are educated in the Daniel Boone School District. Look no further than the rally to keep Birdsboro Elementary open, or the Angela Hohl blood drives where neighbors come out in droves to support the cause. Recently, graduates hosted a fundraiser for the daughter of a Daniel Boone alumnus who was diagnosed with Leukemia. The outpouring of love and support she received is a true testament to what Daniel Boone stands for. It warms my heart to see students, teachers, and community members working tirelessly to raise money for cancer patients at Relay for Life. You can feel the passion for our community at school board meetings where teachers and residents plead with school board members to keep important programs in our schools. Although times have changed, this is still a wonderful community to live in and a great place to raise a family. This town has given me so much over the years, including a core group of friends that are proud to be born-and-raised ‘Booneys.’ With difficult times ahead, my hope is that we can return to the school district of years past. It means getting back to our roots – our hometown pride and responsibility for our families and our neighborhoods. It will require an investment in our children, by not only teachers and the school board, but also by parents at home.
We need to instill values and accountability in the younger generation, raising them to have compassion for other people and to give back to their community. Like country music artist Eric Church sings, ‘Give me back my hometown, cause this is our hometown.’
-Bret Stamy, Douglassville
