We go through a lot as parents when we choose to take on the task of nurturing another life, calling that life our child, and loving them through the good times and bad. Then they leave.
Oak Park and River Forest has been a great place to raise a child and I hope it remains that way for future generations. Although there is silent racism here as with many communities, there is also a desire for equity once that racism is addressed. The desire appears genuine.
That is what “the journey is about”: a commitment to being better in every way, generation after generation. The landscape and community of Oak Park and even River Forest is experiencing subtle metamorphoses that are meant to improve our world and community.
I attribute this to math. Let’s calculate the positives and negatives of math on a 10-point scale. I will add and take away points based on positive and negative influences.
Math is the reason we want to make sure these towns are equitable. We assess the demographic by math and decide if we are a diverse-enough community based on those numbers.
Currently, Oak Park is white, 63.08%; Black or African American, 19.03%; two or more races, 9%; Asian, 5.9% (World Population Review, 2024). OK, so we have a bit of work to do in regard to that math. So that’s minus 4 points for math.
What about our landscape? As of 2024, new buildings in Oak Park must be all electric according to a new ordinance (#23-53). This will reduce the number of greenhouse gases Oak Park makes. This is currently 70%, just in the building sector for Oak Park. Climate change mitigation is a good thing and promotes our future as a human race. Our children need a good future, so I will add back 2 points for math.
Currently, Tutortastic, NFP, which my daughter founded, just celebrated its one-year anniversary. As I volunteer at the Oak Park Public Library, I observe the kids talking about math. For example, Sebastien and Marianna and her siblings, receive help at Tutortastic weekly. This has helped both to excel in math, basic algebra, and helped Marianna participate in a math competition as a fourth-grader. I will add back a point for math because children excelling at algebra at any age is a good thing.
Increasing the number of girls who enter math and science fields is a goal that will advance our society in too many ways to name in one essay. So I will take away 7 points for math because this op-ed has a word limit, causing me to leave some thoughts out.
Speaking of girls in STEM, my daughter, who has a love hate relationship with math as any good scientist does but does well in it, may inspire other future scientists to apply their math skills in ways that help humanity. So I will add back 2 points for math.
But, the more math Peera does and the better she gets in her field, the less likely it is that she’ll come home, since her career will take her elsewhere. And the more children become STEM majors, the less we parents get to see them.
So let’s see. Calculating minus 4 points for math because it caused my daughter to leave Oak Park, and minus 7 points for Marianna because she is only in fourth grade yet is on her way out of here … that leads to the conclusion that math is stealing our children.
Despite its benefits, math is -5 points on a 10-point scale.
I think I have made myself clear.
El Serumaga is a resident of River Forest and this op-ed is satirical.