Goodrich-There is no minimum age requirement on activism.
Eight-year-old Shamus Rush is proof of that.
Shamus, along with his third-grade classmates at Oaktree Elementary School, 7500 S. Gale Road, is spearheading a campaign to save the Detroit Zoo from closing.
‘Why would you actually want to close a major landmark for Detroit?? asked Shamus.
Shamus said he heard about the possibility of the zoo closing due to lack of funding on the news. As a fan of zoo who visited a few times’his favorite animals were the prairie dogs’the announcement was upsetting.
Rather than sit passively by and hope the situation resolve itself, Shamus took action.
After speaking to his class about the problem, the students? with some help from teacher Kelly Alford? went to work.
‘I just wanted to support him because in class we talk about being a good citizen,? said Alford.
She said she thought this would be an opportunity to her 29 students a hands-on lesson in being an active part of the community.
‘Our recent idea was to write letters to the mayor. Then we made fliers,? said Shamus.
Some of the fliers lining the walls of the school had a straightforward message of ‘save the zoo.? Others used cartoons of animals begging to stay or brightly colored slogans.
Shamus said he appreciates all the help.
Alford approached the situation as a learning opportunity.
‘It was neat to be able to take this issue and make it educational,? said Alford.
When the class decided to write letters asking Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick keep the zoo open, Alford had students anticipate arguments from the opposition.
After making a list of pros and cons, students wrote persuasive letters with what Alford said were well made arguments defending their stance.
‘A lot of their letters addressed the cost issue by raising ticket prices,? said Alford.
Of the many concerns voiced by the students regarding the situation, one prevalent theme Alford noticed was a concern for the welfare of the animals.
Additionally, Alford assisted Shamus in designing a flier on the computer asking people to write Kilpatrick in protest.
In part, the flier reads: ‘They are closing the zoo because the think it costs too much, but it will actually cost more to close it than to keep it open. The zoo is the only place in Michigan that people can see exotic animals. Kids can learn a lot in one visit there.?
Residents are asked in the flier to drop off the letters at the Oaktree Elementary School office or at Alford’s room.
‘It’s very good to see them this involved,? said Alford. ‘I’m very proud of them.?