Kids learn how neighborhoods change

When Dawn Jones first considered her home neighborhood, she thought it was a "real ghetto." But, after weeks of study, she also began to see that lots of good things happened there.

The 14-year-old freshman said, "My community is a ghetto. Most of the young people that live in the community stay out until 2:00 in the morning. There are only about five high school kids on my street that actually go to school every morning."

But, she added, "My community isn't all bad though. The kids are extremely respectful. No matter how they act, they have never been disrespectful in any way."

Dawn is one of the Soldan High School freshmen who studied the neighborhoods as part of a "History and Community" program. The study, co-sponsored by the St. Louis Public Schools and the Missouri History Museum, also included elementary school kids.

The program shows kids how people in the neighborhoods make them what they are. And also those same people can make them better.

Freshman Ashley Cage focused her study on her old north side St. Louis neighborhood. But, she also compared that with her new south side neighborhood. Her family moved into a new house there just six months ago.

She said she liked both neighborhoods although the north side one was pretty noisy. "The south side neighborhood is a lot quieter at night. I like to relax when it's quiet," she said.

Fourteen-year-old Chapel Haines said he was most interested in learning how people can change their neighborhoods for the better. For instance, he said, if people continue to throw trash, "I learned how you can go to the city government to get the problem fixed."

Late in May, Soldan held a Youth Summit, which featured visits from city officials. Mayor Francis Slay was among those who talked to the students. This helped the students understand the link between them and their government.

Last fall, the "History and Community" study had the kids focus on how their families fit into their individual neighborhoods. Then, they studied the past history of the neighborhoods and how they changed over time.

One of the first projects was for students to draw a map of their neighborhood. They put in key features, such as a church, park or school that help hold a neighborhood together.

Not many of their neighborhoods were anchored by large shopping areas. A couple did have a couple "corner stores." And one had a "plaza-like" collection of new stores.

Since Soldan High School is a magnet school, the kids were describing neighborhoods all over St. Louis. Not many of them lived near the high school.

Not only were neighborhoods different. The kids' attitudes about them also were different.

(Toward the end of their study, kids had to write personal descriptions of their neighborhoods. For excerpts from some descriptions, click here.)

Dawn, Ashley and Chapel said they spend much of their free time in their neighborhoods.

Ashley said much of her time in spent at her church. She said she goes to church on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays and "sometimes on Saturday if I'm singing in the choir."

Dawn saw Fairgrounds Park as one focus of her neighborhood. "We're just down the street from Fairgrounds Park," she said. She said she "stays at home" most of the time.

Chapel said he also mostly "stays in my own community." There is a small park in his neighborhood where he often meets friends. But, if he wants to play basketball or baseball, he goes further to the larger Fairgrounds Park.

Both Chapel and Ashley said their music activities take them further afield in St. Louis.

Chapel has been in the school band for four years. This summer, he plans to play again in the band which marches in the VP Fair in downtown St. Louis. This summer would mark his third year in the parade band.

Ashley said she's planning to attend band, debate and track camps this summer.

Both kids are hoping they can qualify for band scholarships to help pay for college.

But, they aren't planning to make music a career. Chapel wants to go to medical school and be a surgeon.

Ashley and Dawn both want to pursue careers in business.