Ten years ago, seniors in a political science class at Woodbridge High School learned about a theory known as “broken windows.”

What the theory suggests is that a window that has not been repaired can send a signal that nobody cares. After learning about the theory, seniors identified broken windows — problems — in Irvine and set out to make some repairs.

Students went out into the community and met with people who were affected by some of these problems and came back with strategies to make the necessary repairs.

During the past 10 years, students have analyzed problems like teen drinking and driving, truancy, teenage smoking, teenage pregnancy, and youth violence.

Students have offered short- and long-term solutions to fix these “broken windows” in our community and communicated their ideas to elected school, city, and county officials.

I believe these high school seniors have contributed to the quality of life in Irvine and I would like to thank each one of them.

I challenge the class of 1999 to do the same.

– Rick Gale