It seems every time I meet new customers (buyers) the quality of schools comes up. Now I understand the concern and desire to be in a good school system. But really -- does every grade school child "need" to go to a "blue ribbon" grade school? Have we as a society really overdone the school rankings criteria? How important is it that the grade schools kids have hours and hours of extra work? Don't the kids need the socialism of "play" with the neighborhood kids. I know this is a very personal subject, near and dear to the harts of many (really most) of the parents with school age children. I am also that there are a variety of opinion out there. Possibly we could use this post as a kickoff to some current opinions and outlooks on this matter. What do you see as agents? How do you see it as parents? What about your own personal life experience? Love to see some dialog - all opinions matter.
Todd - I have no children, so let me start there. I do look at schools when shopping for a new home, only because I don't want "that" school to be where I send my future children (not "children from the future" - but that would be cool too). I don't need the top schools, just a good school. I went to a public school with a bit of a nasty reputation for years, but when I went it was fine. I think any school is what your children make of it. A top school doesn't always produce top performance from a child. I do think the better schools give a child an opportunity, but it has a lot to do with the parent's motivation and help to make the child use that opportunity correctly. I'd prefer to see a world where the schools are pushed to be top notch all around. Better pay, more support from the community, more hands on learning. I spent at lot of time in school being "read at" which doesn't teach me a thing. Give me a book, get me to read it, and get me involved in the discussion about it and I've learned tons.
Todd,
Go to school, get a college education and get a good job. Ok, let's look at that for a quick minute. Get $100,000 in student loans, hoping to get a $40-$60K a year job to work 80+ hours. I'm not mocking education, but the system has run off the track. Also, more and more parents are relying on the school system to raise their children. I hear this from teachers.
I agree with you, school location is not exactly tops on my list. Educate me financially too...wait, they don't do that in schools. Maybe that is why I'm with the company I'm with.
Thank you for the post. I had to vent a little.
Well, here we have few good schools so there is no push to live in a certain school district. Most of the good schools in Orleans Parish are city wide. In Jefferson they are by neighborhoods. It is strickly done by race here sorry to say. There are plenty of good private schools and a bunch of Chater schools here. We have already hit bottom.
It is something everyone should think about as the values tend to stay where the schools are good.
Is Obama sending his kids to public schools? No, he wants to get them the best education that money can buy.
No problem. I often public school SAT Scores. I also provide school RANKING reports.
I wouldn't touch "best" with a ten foot pole.
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