Issue 345, August 9, 2026
“When I was your age, I walked five miles to school… uphill both ways.”
-An eternal parental exaggeration
As buses start rolling and backpacks fill the sidewalks again, the familiar rhythm of the school year returns and with it comes a simple but urgent call: slow down. Watch for kids, not just at marked crosswalks, but everywhere near schools, parks, and residential streets. They’re smaller, more unpredictable, and often focused on friends or phones rather than traffic.
Beyond the roads, the real work begins once they walk through the classroom door. Set them up for success by giving them structure, encouragement, and the belief that their efforts matter. Don’t think of them as little brains full of mush waiting to be filled. They are the leaders of tomorrow, curious, resilient, and already capable of more than we often give them credit for.
How did you get to school?
Mark Geil
2026 President