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By Erik Hare

One of the many great features of Saint Paul is the excellent school system.  But if you’re not a parent, what does that mean to you?  Thanks to an incredible Community Education program, plenty!

For a small cash outlay, usually around $30, you can take classes in just about anything you want to learn about.  Thai cooking, the Polish language, home repair and yoga – the list is nearly endless.  My daughter recently took a knitting class to help her improve her coordination and learn just a little bit about what Ma Ingalls was doing to while away the Winter nights in the Little House series.  Kids and adults both settled into the clicking of needles as the learned this ancient art, a good practical skill that no one learns in regular school.

That’s only part of the experience, however.  Everyone knows how long and dreary our Winter can be, if for no other reason than we like to complain about it.  But Community Ed is something that you can get out to meet new people over a fun evening.  All it takes is a trip to one of our local schools or rec centers to take on the challenge you want.  You even get to see just what our tax dollars have paid for in these wonderful facilities and make use of them.  Or, if you prefer, you can take one of the courses at the Como Zoo and get an inside look at some of their fascinating animals.

One of the interesting features is something called “Monday Night Live”, a program offered by Humboldt Junior and Senior High over on the West Side.  Over one night, all starting at the same time, they offer classes in various fun topics that work for all ages so that a family can come in find something for everyone, at $30 for the whole family.  The pre-school kids can make crafts or learn about animals, the bigger kids can move to Hip-Hop or Fencing, all while the adults groove with Salsa or stretch out with Yoga.  There’s something for everyone.

What makes these Community Ed classes so much fun is that they are well attended because they have a great reputation.  It’s just plain fun to pick up a new tip here or there such as the popular class in appetizers or, if that’s a bit rich for you, a chance to burn it off in aerobics.  The instructors are people who live in our neighborhoods, but they are all experts in their own fields.  It’s fun for them, too, and it usually shows.

No matter what it would take to get you out on a cold winter evening, you can probably find it in our Community Ed.  You can have fun with it or dive into something as serious as financial planning or the skills needed to pass the GED.   What these courses all have in common is a commitment to quality and a genuine focus on the community, bringing the people that make our neighborhoods work. 

Our schools are one of the great things about Saint Paul, but it’s not all kid stuff.  They offer quite a lot for everyone.  It’s one of the many things that make our city such a great place to live.