THE LAST FREMONT SCHOOL BELL
TOLLS FOR THEE AND ME

by jim richmond

I drive by Fremont School two or three times a day, and its students and parents walk by my apt daily. Happy together.

With the trees and shrubs coming out now, the School -- one of the oldest in the Battle Creek system -- is elegant, stately, beautiful -- and small.

It is one, if not the only, socially, economically, racially and inclusive elementary schools left in the BCS District.

So next month, it will close. And its students stuffed into busses to another larger elementary school next fall.

Perhaps, I was misguided to think small schools, small classrooms are what we wanted for our children? For their success. For their futures.

In the end, as in so much, money talks.

Educationally? I'm not so sure this was such a wise, thoughtful decision. For the Fremont children.

So soon the last school bell will ring at Fremont.

Nunc Lento Sonitu Dicunt, (Now this bell, tolling softly for another, says to me.)

And indeed the bell tolls for me, for thee, and for our children.