Editorial:
Shame to lose educational site

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas Edition

August 14, 2003 -- While cities all over the nation are busy preparing new fiscal budgets, most of which contain cuts ... some deeper than others ... it seems a shame to lose the ability of the Jourdan-Bachman Pioneer to continue its historical, agricultural education of Texas families and visitors from other states and countries.

The 2003-04 City of Austin's proposed budget eliminates funding for the pioneer farm. The budget is expected to be approved in September, and at that time, the farm would close.

This loss could mean children would only read about the past; not experience it, hands on, as they've been able to do at the Jourdan-Bachman Pioneer Farm for the past 25 years.

Unless funding becomes available through some other source, such as grants, contributions or fundraisers, children will miss seeing how their ancestors lived, and how they got to the life they now live with their families.

The recent news of proposed budget cuts by the City of Austin is certain to fill the council chambers for discussion from the public at the next regular session. Council meetings are held every Thursday at 10 a.m., at 3700 Lake Austin Blvd. in the Hancock Building, unless otherwise notified.

As of press time at 8 a.m. Monday, Aug. 11, the requests for comment from the city budget's office or the park's budget department were not answered.

Over a week after the budget proposal became public, supporters of the farm were still in shock at the news, but some seem hopeful that it may become a special project for a councilperson.