Filling cracks of the foundation: Why K–12 outreach should be a priority

By Haley Barnes

There is something grand about new buildings—the shiny metal structures, the bright colors of fresh paint, and the sleekness of new wooden floors upon a strong concrete foundation. It is exciting, fresh, and hopeful. But eventually, the metal rusts, the paint flakes, and the concrete fractures as time commands the shiny, bright, and sleek. It is important for us to maintain the basic structures of our buildings, although we often find new problems to overcome to preserve the structure. K–12 community outreach is often like this.