I guess politicians are right in their claims that our education system is broken and schools are failing to serve our kids.

Having said that, we find so many small schools with diminished resources still doing quite well by students. Maybe it is time we took a closer look at their success.

I don’t have to go beyond my own little town of Paradise, where the Whitefish Township School has operated grades K-12 for about 50 years. With only about 60 students, a total staff of bus drivers, secretaries, teachers and cooks well under 20 people, and no fine arts, chemistry labs, big-time athletics or band, the graduates seem to excel. This year’s graduating class, all 10 of them, is a perfect case in point.

Pat Rowley, superintendent for many years, put it this way: “While we lack a lot of school resources, we are in a great position to be small enough in class sizes to zero in on the kid who needs the help. Our success in that has caused a lot of very large schools to come here and study us with an eye toward breaking their systems down to a much smaller student-teacher relationship.”

This year’s graduating class is the largest in about 15 years, often numbering six to eight. I have been their commencement speaker several times and my message is the same. I tell the young people they can easily go out into the world and compete with kids who graduated from much larger schools because their trump card is their attitude. Small towns and schools bring out the best in the graduates. I have watched those kids go out and help senior citizens with home repairs, snow shoveling, and more. I have seen that trend here for over 40 years and I have met some darned nice young people. Two years ago, when I was struggling with a long winter of chemotherapy and cancer treatments, the entire school made up a huge poster with get-well messages and sent the seniors to my home with the monster card. On a regular basis, the seniors showed up at my house to pile up my firewood, rake my leaves, shovel the snow, and more. Their kindness put me in tears.

The 10 graduates last June were asked to write a short description of their future plans and to recall what they liked best about their school. Here is what some of my favorite young people had to say:

Austin Ackerman: Central Michigan University/University of Michigan, nuclear engineering. “My fondest moment at WTCS was our senior class trip. Just being in Florida with my friends was so fun! My life’s goal is to be a nuclear engineer and live in Florida (and have a pool at my house.) I have seen the Pistons and the Red Wings win a championship and would love to see the Detroit Tigers and the Lions each win a championship!”

David Archambeau: National Guard, Ferris State University. “Involvement in sports would be my fondest moments at WTCS. There is a definite advantage in attending a small school because you are able to get the help when you need it. Whitefish Township Community School did a really good job in preparing me academically. I am hoping to pursue a career in auto mechanics, and always do the best that I can do.”

John Clark: Michigan Technological University, wildlife ecology and management. “My fondest moments at WTCS would have to be Mr. Rowley’s science and history classes. He always made them interesting and exciting. I really hope to work with fish and wildlife as a career. I want to be outside doing the actual field work. Above all, I just want to live life to its fullest and be successful.

Cassey Cook: Northern Michigan University; summer job, mechanical engineering. “One moment I won’t forget is when Cathy asked me, “Is Kentucky in South America?” The one I will remember most is taking second place in the Northern Lights League Basketball Tournament. And lastly, I will remember our senior class trip to Florida. My life’s goal is to get a good job with benefits; part of that is to have a good family and not have to worry about debt.”

Crystal Ferrell: Ferris State University, social work. “I will remember the tying goal I made at Grand Marais this past soccer season. I’ll always remember Nancy calling me “Angel”—it always made me smile. But I think my fondest moment was when I first met my friends here when I was little. My life’s goal is to do a fantastic job in college. I want to help people every chance I get. I would like to have a family so my kids can become their own legends.”

Cathy Graham: Ferris State University, elementary education. “My fondest moment…one good one that I will always remember was during the soccer season when we were playing Beaver Island, I ended up accidentally slapping a boy and now we are actually dating. Another good memory was when I first came to WTCS way back in third grade and Jacquelyn was the first person to show me around the school. I was very excited and Nancy welcomed me with a big hug. Everyone accepted me.”

Eric McMiller: “After graduation I plan to go back to Muskegon until July and then come back and work at the Pizza Factory and volunteer to help fight wildfires. My fondest moment at WTCS was last sports season playing basketball and soccer. My life’s goal is to get a good job and a nice house.”

Cody Roach: Ferris State University, psychology. “My fondest moment at WTCS would just be being in class with my friends, laughing and enjoying each other. My life’s goal would be to become a successful psychiatrist.”

J. P. Rowley: Ferris State University, radiology. “My fondest moment at WTCS was when I first went to kindergarten and I came in on all fours meowing like a cat. I would also have to say that going on the rides on our senior class trip to Florida was awesome. We also had so much fun skiing at Nub’s Nob. My life’s goal is to get a good job that pays well. I want to see the Red Wings bring home the Stanley Cup (that happened)! I would also like to see the Lions win a Super Bowl—not that I think that will happen.”

Cory Smith: Central Michigan University, civil engineering. “I enjoyed so much of it! I suppose my fondest moments were just being with my friends. Maybe the best time would be on our senior trip together. My life’s goal is to graduate from college and get a job doing something I enjoy. My main goal, though, is not to take anything in life for granted…to enjoy life to the fullest!”

I think the Paradise school is not so unusual. I am sure many other schools can make a similar claim. Big schools or small schools, it is very uplifting to look out there at them from a commencement podium. It is not so corny and old-fashioned to say, “the torch has been passed to a new generation.” Instead, it is the truth and the Paradise kids make me confident of the future.