What Tha?

So the other day my little girl (who just happens to be in the first grade and is discovering the wondrous world of the written word) and I were driving to the local Publix when she spotted a fairly large commercial land for sale sign. As we zipped by the sign she tried to read it and asked me what zoning meant. I told her that the property for sale was zoned commercial meaning that someone could buy it and build more stores. She was horrified at the thought. She told me that it would be wrong for someone to buy that land to build more stores because the squirrels and birds would have to find a new home. She said we had enough stores already. I thought to myself what tha?

I was the one that was actually horrified, just how was she forming such an opinion? When I quizzed her a bit, she told me that no one was telling her those things, that was just what she thought. Of course I was not satisfied. Finally she told me about some pictures a teacher at her school showed her class. Pictures that showed what little squirrel's and birds homes looked like before stores were built on land they called home; poor things. My six year old daughter loves her teacher and her school. How am I supposed to tell her that whoever told her such nonsense is full of bull? Besides, what business does any teacher responsible for 1st graders have in promoting their own values?

What this teacher failed to discuss was the fact many new developments have extraordinarily positive impact on their communities. The Publix store in question probably generates close to a million dollars a week in sales and more than likely employees a minimum of 250 people while the shopping center in total probably generates close to 1.8 million in revenue employing 400 or more folks. Not to mention the sales taxes collected. What's more, the little squirrels and birds only have to fly about 500 yards and they are in the country side. If anyone has any really good ideas on how to communicate such positive things to a six year old. I'm all ears.

I'm going to do my best to make sure that my little girl grows up with a well rounded idea of the world. Teachers should make that easier, not more difficult.