When we think about the years that pass by on the path around the Falls, or just about any place else, there are some that tend to have special significance.
Fifty years is special. It was 50 years ago that the Mustang was introduced.
One hundred years ago marked the start of World War I. The conflict pulled nations from across the globe into the fight, and more than 9 million lives were lost.
One hundred fifty years ago, President Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address, commemorating the previous year’s Battle of Gettysburg, the largest battle ever fought in North America. The opening line was, “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”
While the line is very familiar, some may not know the math. That converts to 87 years when one understands that a score is 20.
Another combination of years that used to have special significance was 62, the year that people could begin to collect Social Security and retire. Sixty-five used to be the age to collect full Social Security, but that is gradually inching upward. Seventy is the age when a person is eligible to collect the maximum Social Security benefit. People in that window spend a fair amount of time figuring what’s the best time to access the benefit. It can be a roll of the dice.
Sixteen is the magic number of years to get a driver’s license, and for many people, it seemed like that day would never come. Parents might have felt that magic date came too soon.
The other magic age for a number of factors is 21. It’s Wisconsin’s legal drinking age, but that magic threshold has moved up and down over the years. At one point Wisconsin attracted a number of young adults from neighboring states because of a lower age limit for certain beverages.
Twenty-one used to be the legal voting age, but that number has dropped to 18, but that change has not brought many people in from neighboring states. Twenty-one is generally considered to be the age of adulthood and opens many doors for independence in legal matters.
Putting that in perspective, it was an adult lifetime ago on Aug. 1 when this observer stepped into the role of superintendent of the Oconto Falls School District. Whenever a relationship like that is being considered, there are questions that are bantered about in the interview. One of the questions that was raised was, “What is one of the biggest concerns for the school district?” The response was quick, “Buildings.”
The district had just gone through three unsuccessful referendums in the previous 18 months asking the electorate for approval for doing something about facilities. Each of those referendums went down to defeat. Less than 15 months later, another referendum was supported to build a new elementary school and put additions on two existing buildings. That was the first of three successful referendums to improve the district’s facilities.
Now, a lifetime later, the district is again going back to the voters to request support of further work, this time mostly outdoors. Coincidentally, there have been three unsuccessful requests for voter approval to do something about outdoor facilities, and none of these met with voter approval.
There seems to be lots of general support for the effort this time around. Perhaps some people are thinking: This is something I want to see in my lifetime.
I certainly would concur with that perspective. The community has much to be proud of, not the least of which is support for the next generation, however many years it takes to count as a generation. It’s not really about what’s in it for me or for my kids. It’s about sending a message about a community’s support for the education system as it prepares that next generation to take its rightful place as it enters adulthood.
Lincoln began his address with a reference to the forefathers who put together the foundation for a great nation. We, too, pay tribute to all those who came before us to build the educational opportunities we have provided for our young people. It’s now time to take the enterprise to the next level. Remember, your vote matters on Tuesday.
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