In the course of a year, the Times Observer publishes dozens of stories about students in this county who exhibit excellence and achievement, as well as the programs that brought them that opportunity.
Last week, one story stood out.
At a time when there is great debate and gnashing of teeth over the direction this school district may take in the wake of a huge budget shortfall, the story about the design and manufacturing enterprise class at Youngsville High School was a welcome respite and illustrative of some of the many good things that are going on here.
In this class students set up and operated a successful manufacturing business. While accomplished on a much smaller scale than many enterprises in the private sector, the methodic steps they took under the direction of their teacher, Arthur Anderson, were exactly the same as those taken every day by enterprises whose names you might find in the daily stock listings.
What these students have learned is that, yes, it can still be done in America. Free enterprise still works if you have the tools and you know how to use them, if you have the imagination and drive to make them work.
We can all moan and groan about the decline of the capitalist system, but this small knot of students and their mentor are proof that the formula can still work.
Thanks to Arthur Anderson and the school district that provided his services, at least a dozen or so young people have been given a set of tools they can put to use right out of the gate.
Let's just hope that Mr. Anderson's position is not one of the 60 or so that the school board is contemplating eliminating over the next several months.
The lesson these youngsters are learning is too important to cast aside.