Life During Recession Time: Schools
What will be the impact of the economic turmoil on Brooklyn schools? Will private schools like Packer, Berkeley Carroll, Friends, Saint Ann’s and Poly Prep see high rates of attrition? (We heard that close to 50 families have given notice to Trinity in Manhattan that their kids won’t be back next year.) It’s no secret…
What will be the impact of the economic turmoil on Brooklyn schools? Will private schools like Packer, Berkeley Carroll, Friends, Saint Ann’s and Poly Prep see high rates of attrition? (We heard that close to 50 families have given notice to Trinity in Manhattan that their kids won’t be back next year.) It’s no secret that many of the thirty-something parents sending their single-digit-aged children to these schools get assistance from their sixty- and seventy-something parents; the thirty-somethings may be losing their jobs (or just making less money) while the grandparents all of a sudden are facing the prospects of their retirement on half the savings they thought they had. In this scenario, will private schools be forced to cut tuitions or will only the truly rich be able to attend? And if many private schoolers shift to a public school system that’s simultaneously undergoing large cuts, what does that mean for class sizes and education quality? On the other hand, could the injection of some private school refugees be good news for some public schools? What do you think?
Well sure, all of the regular posters repeat themselves. It’s not a blog that covers a wide array of topics, it’s about Brooklyn brownstones, the purchase and renovation of them, and about Brooklyn real estate in general. So in covering the same topics we repeat certain opinions and arguments. It’s not bad or strange. If someone were to always flip-flop and veer wildly from one side of the argument to the other, that’s what would be very weird behavior.
i dont get the “people who lose jobs will move out of the city” thing tho. it’s like well if you lose a job here where the hell will you go? youre not going to get a job in a suburb anyway? youll just be another bread-liner here stuck in the city. stuck in the ghetto. stuck like many of our ancestors were. life is cyclical like that.
*Rob*
I disagree – but I’m not trying to change people’s minds, since the market is a collective force beyond any individual changing their mind. I am simply incredulous that some people are in such denial about a market correction. What I am repeating – mainly that prices are still much too high – is based on evidence all around us (which some sellers seem unwilling to accept – also classic end-of-bubble behavior), not a subjective opinion regarding the desirability of suburban vs. urban living.
“saying it over and over again is not going to change people’s minds.”
Posted by: Miss Muffett at November 19, 2008 6:36 PM
hilarious! now this is a quote of the day right here.
It does not bug me and as I said, I do respect your opinion and share it. I just find it ironic that others complain if I repeat something but I was just pointing out that others repeat themselves too (I’ve heard you make the case before for why NYC is so much more desirable than the burbs and all your posts here were to reinforce this idea) but I think that’s fine – in fact, I don’t get the flak some posters dole out when you’re right – all we’re doing is talking about opinions. Peace out!
Jeepers, Miss Muffet. I simply shared my honest opinions and observations, and our own reasons why we have made the choices we’ve made as a family about where to live. I did not repeat myself in this thread and I stayed on topic. In my posts here I absolutely acknowledged the suburbs are the right choice for some. Just not for us. That’s all any of us were doing here, talking about their personal experiences and choices. Not any official “evidence”. Weird how you missed that. I admit it, I’m a fan of NYC and urban city living, and have faith in hanging in there with it. Sure, I’m going to express that when it’s applicable to a topic I comment on. I don’t see exactly what bugs you so much about that.
I also want to add that, while Montclair is a tiny community, a lot of busy parents don’t necessarily have the time to engage in this city as frequently as a more carefree single person. Believe me, I take advantage of the city’s offerings MUCH less than I used to. I still appreciate them being there, but honestly, if you can commute from Montclair to Manhattan once or twice a month to go to a great museum, is it really that much worse than commuting from Brooklyn? Honestly, I often feel as I spend most of my time in my little Brooklyn neighborhood which is also pretty small relative to the city as a whole. And I happen to know many families who moved to Montclair and happily stayed there. Yes, I also know a few who moved back, but the point is, some do and some don’t. Different strokes…
11217 and traditionalmod – really, how can you accuse me of broken record-dom when it’s like the pot calling the kettle black? It’s fine for you to repeat your points over and over again about how you think NYC is so much better than the burbs, all people who move out become miserable and want to move back, etc. etc. but, unlike the things I repeat (i.e. prices are still too high and must come down a lot), your assertions are not necessarily backed up by evidence but rather are expressions of your particular taste. I respect your taste – indeed, I heartily agree with it! – but saying it over and over again is not going to change people’s minds. However unbelievable it may be to you (which it clearly is), not everyone thinks NYC is the best & only place to live on earth, and some people – shocker of shockers – like living in the suburbs.
PS 17 looked good to us before we moved. I think people are sheep, for many, it’s 29, 321 or nothing.
Their loss.