Editorial: Education ... teamwork turning grant into opportunity for kids

Congratulations to Bonita Springs educators.

Elementary- and middle-school and YMCA officials have teamed up to take a single state grant and turn it into five years of after-school programs for 30 to 50 students.

The youngsters say that if not for the program, they would be doing nothing — watching TV or playing games on computers.

Leaders of the program, working with a $1.1 million grant from the aptly named 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, say they will focus on group activities dealing with math, reading and science, with an emphasis on fun and hands-on learning rather than lectures.

Terrific.

Public funds smartly spent.

Just one question: Do such educational projects always have to talk about “disguising” learning? Maybe someday when we lose that double standard about education — as something valued yet something loathsome — we will make even more progress.

For now we celebrate the efficient steps forward registered by the after-school program at the schools and YMCA.

Outstanding Citizen Award

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