Closing Bell: School Meeting Tonight
Tonight is the FGA Meeting devoted to schools, particularly a survey of public, charter, and private school alternatives for parents. The meeting comes after a hotly debated article in The Local entitled Don’t Leave District 13, Stay and Help. The writer, Michael Galinsky, writes that a parent he knew compared choosing a local school “to…
Tonight is the FGA Meeting devoted to schools, particularly a survey of public, charter, and private school alternatives for parents. The meeting comes after a hotly debated article in The Local entitled Don’t Leave District 13, Stay and Help. The writer, Michael Galinsky, writes that a parent he knew compared choosing a local school “to a prisoner’s dilemma… If she does what’s best for her child finding the best school, regardless of district she wouldn’t be doing what’s best for her community, and vice versa.” The conversation that follows weighs the options of school choices, considering the ways to improve public schools through the community itself. The meeting tonight is at 138 South Oxford Street, 7:15 p.m.
Really, Ishtar? You want to hook your cart to Rob? Rob is an idiot. When he isn’t insulting children or parents he is telling parents how to raise their children. I tire of his ignorance.
This post was about parents meeting to discuss education and referenced a commentary by a parent who is urging other parents to do exactly what you suggest they do. Yet you term Rob’s accusation that the new “urban” (WTF?) parents somehow are running from those who don’t look like them as an excellent point? If he (and I guess you) are so quick to paint hardworking and thoughtful parents doing the right thing by both their children and their communities as racists, yeah, I get pissy. .
Also, by tons better I’m making a comparison to the highly regarded PS321. Many public schools can serve their students in the same manner with extra parental involvement, which can never be too much.
Why act like a hit dog, Putnam? Rob made an excellent point about parents with the means and will to improve local public schools opting out and sending their kids elsewhere. It’s a fact. If it doesn’t apply to you or the other parents working hard to improve education options for their children and those in the community who don’t have parents to advocate for them you have no reason to get pissy. You can’t deny that public schools in FG would be tons better if more parents with means and time invested in them.
Heather – fair enough. shouldn’t have let my irritation with the ever stupid rob rub off on you. my apologies.
Putnam,
And why am I responding to this after having a glass of wine? While packing? I am not sure, but…
1.) PS 11’s cachement is in fact in Fort Greene. Check the school’s boundaries. Most of it is the other side of Vanderbilt. Which is Fort Greene. Unlike Putnam avenue, which is not in Fort Greene? Not that it matters, but pot and kettle.
2.) I wasn’t taking a potshot at the FGA. I was pointing out that, although this is a discussion about choices, and Emily’s referencing an article by Michael Galinsky, Michael, and other parents who have chosen PS 11 won’t be at the FGA meeting. If anything, I was taking a potshot at Emily, who was bringing up the Local article for a point of reference with a fairly inflammatory quote (not even from Michael) from same to dredge up yet another discussion about school choices in district 13.
3.) I have no issue with people choosing to send their kid’s anywhere they want, except as it cuts into a limited pool of funding for public schools. Our area has a metric ton of private options? I am sure the FGA will cover that point. Perhaps representatives from those private schools will even attend!
4.) My other half is still at work and I’m wrangling a child, pets and suitcases. So I’m going to go back to that now. Maybe see you at the next school thing, which will hopefully take place on an evening that I can actually attend.
Rob:
Screw off. If you read the Local commentary in the OP you would learn (gasp) that many of us in fact work very hard at participating in and bettering local public education.
Heather: why would a local neighborhood group have an “agenda”? Why can’t they just be resppnding to the concerns of their members and be discussing a topic of great interest to many. And why did you take a potshot at a community group conflicting with a local school PTA (your school?) when (1) PS 11 isn’t in Fort Greene and (2) you can’t be bothered to go to either meeting.
To me: why am I writing this post rather than just opening my (first) bottle of wine…
tyburg is a genius. besides, these people who are new “urban” never put their money where their mouths are anyway when it comes to sending their kids to schools with people who dont look like their kids anyway.
*rob*
We should make NYC adult-only. Children should be shipped upstate for education and allowed to move here when they have a diploma.
FGA is Fort Greene Association, I guess? So it’s people who belong to the Fort Greene Association discussing school “alternatives.” Which is fine and dandy, but I’m guessing it may have a wee bit of an agenda.
I would go, but we’re packing to go out of town so… same reason I won’t be at the PTA meeting applies.
Whatever your position, please do stuff to support all of the local options — be it scooterathon, book sales, etc.