Kindness can be contagious

In "Pay it Forward," a social studies teacher inspires Trevor, the 12-year-old hero of the movie, to think of an idea for world change and put it into action.

Those familiar with the 2000 movie know that's just what Trevor did. He decided to do something good for three people, and when they asked how to repay the favor, he told them to pay it forward — help three other people, who would help three more and on and on.

A donation by County Materials Corp. may bear similar fruit.

The Marathon-headquartered company recently gave 800 units of clay and concrete brick, as well as more than two dozen bags of mortar, to Bradley Tech High School. Those materials will be used by construction students there to revitalize a house two blocks away.

And they're paying it forward: An inner-city family will, eventually, buy and live in the fixed-up fixer-upper.

The gift helps the Milwaukee trade school; proceeds from the sale of the restored house, which had been condemned and acquired by the city, will go toward financing and promoting Bradley Tech's masonry program.

The gift helps the students; they will gain firsthand, ground-floor experience in their chosen field.

It also helps the industry as a whole, said Jerry Rhoden, a spokesman for County Materials.

"It's kind of a benefit to everyone to get quality people out in the field," he said. "If you get people out there who are skilled and properly trained, it can benefit the industry as a whole."

And Bradley Tech isn't the sole recipient of the company's generosity. County Materials has helped out at other trade and high schools here.

"We've made about a dozen donations — most of them this calendar year," Rhoden said. "They've ranged from brick and block, and, in some cases, we've been able to donate information packages on LEED."

The laws of physics tell us that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Not being a scientist, I've got to take Sir Isaac Newton at his word.

I like the notion of paying it forward better, where every action has a greater and positive reaction.

I've got nothing against science. But in this little battle between science and art, I hope life mimics art.