My assessment of the Center School and its role in the community is very positive. The Center School, as an educational facility, managed to give old-style teaching a facelift. The original material learned was, for the most part, the same, but the method of transferring it was different. Children learned more practical ways of looking at things rather than sit through class wondering how they were going to apply what was learned to their lives. The goal to make these children good citizens in the future was a good one. These children learned how far cooperation could take them in a community, they had active parents as models, and they learn the value in giving back to the community what it had given for them.
The children did indeed grow up to become active parts of their community, which shows through oral histories. Also, they hold dear memories of their childhood because of their community environment, which not all of us have. The cycle of bad parenting that worries many suburbanites of today had a greater chance of not happening with the original residents of Greenbelt. The Center School is a major contrast with schools of urban communities where little personal attention to a student's home life is given by the teachers of the schools and street smarts are learned the wrong way. Children in Greenbelt were lucky to grow up in such a enriching environment.
The Center School, as a community center, did wonders for Greenbelt residents. Neighborhoods that have been developed in the late 80's and 90's do not do a good job of bringing neighbors together in any way. Thus, there is more snobbery and exclusion. Families stick to other families that they have a lot in common with, in ways such as race, ethnicity, and age. Today's typical communities foster the negative aspect of exclusion that ends up being associated with the suburbs. In Greenbelt, the original families, although forced to be involved with community affairs, held a great sense of togetherness and cooperation. A short walk to the center of the town where the Center School was located gave neighbors the well-roundedness that made them good, understanding citizens.
There, in the Center School, meetings dealing with interests, hobbies, and issues of all sorts took place and a resident of any age and gender could realistically join as many as their schedule would allow. Aside from clubs and organizations, residents could gather with other religious neighbors and hold services in the Center School. Exclusion was built in as a result of the screening process people had to go through before being accepted to live there, however, in the community itself, there was little exclusion. As a community center, the Center School brought the neighbors together, giving them opportunities to express themselves, leisure activities, and a lesson in what interaction with other members of the community could accomplish. Original Greenbelt families were fortunate to have this set up for them.
In conclusion, the Center School was a very positive part of the Greenbelt community. Both children and adults benefited from the Center School, as a school and a community center. The location of the building was central to its importance. A short distance from the houses, paths and crosswalks made for safe, short walking to the center. Also, its central location and close proximity to the shopping center and recreation center made convenience for everybody. The artistic beauty, combined with the good experiences associated with this building makes the Center School a memorable one to the original residents of Greenbelt to this day.