The Shifting School Equation
There wasn’t room to discuss it yesterday, but we suspect the public/private school issue is on a number of people’s minds. Over the weekend, The Times ran an article about the number of people who bought their apartments in recent years with the assumption that they would send their kids to private school. Now that…
There wasn’t room to discuss it yesterday, but we suspect the public/private school issue is on a number of people’s minds. Over the weekend, The Times ran an article about the number of people who bought their apartments in recent years with the assumption that they would send their kids to private school. Now that the economic downturn has made that a more difficult proposition, they are left to confront the limitations of their own school district. In some cases, parents are even considering renting a cheap apartment within a good school district just to get access—after all, it would be cheaper than the $30,000+ tuition in Manhattan. (It’s more like $25,000 here in Brooklyn.) Question for the renters and those in the market to buy in Brooklyn: Has the school issue shifted your real estate plans since the downturn began?
The Sudden Charm of Public School [NY Times]
Photo by Steve and Sara
Lechachel –
You’re offbase with respect to my daughter. She’s inherited her father’s linguistic gift (fluent in several languages), and is not only currently taking French, but also keeping up with Spanish on her own.
My son who takes Japanese privately adores it, and speaks it with others who are familiar with the language every chance he gets.
My other child, who is only offered Spanish in her less-than-impressive MS (Collaborative – math scores are cringe-worthy), could not give a rats ass. BTW this child went to 321, scored highly enough on state tests to apply to gifted programs, was rejected by all, and subsequently placed in her 5th choice District 15 school. She deserves so much more.
“ENY…If you can pass the bar exam in New York you can practice law, with or without a degree.”
Well, I’ll be damned. I didn’t know that.
Thank you, rob! Everyone has a stake in the state of education in this city. I don’t have kids- but i have nieces and nephews who I do care about and whether or not they get a good education. In fact I care whether or not every kid gets a good education and has a good life. I can afford to look at the whole system, not just the school my kids would go to- hey, I’m paying for it too.
Parents, principals, teachers and the city need to work together- and that’s a fact. I’m sick of hearing parents say I have no right to an opinion, or I’m ignorant of the issues. I beg to differ. And if you don’t want to hear my opinion, pay more taxes into the school system and advocate for a tax cut to those of us who are childless so we don’t have to subsidize your parental choices.
Great stuff – thanks again Archi!
ENY…If you can pass the bar exam in New York you can practice law, with or without a degree. Its the most difficult bar exam in the country for that very reason, if I’m not mistaken.
While I take exception to the term “crotchfruit,” as a parent I WELCOME the interest and participation of the entire community to make all of our schools great.
Chicken –
Yes, that is the choice I would make. However, I would take the 217 gifted program over any other in DP, although I would also look into the other gifted program over in South Midwood (forget the school number) – this was the original gifted program that served the area. In th eold days it used to pipline kids into Hudde gifted and talented, but now a lot of kids in the nabe go to Bay or Twain if they get in (must have academics and past a very subjectiv “talent” test). Twain will get you the best academic results (i.e. HS), Bay is a click under in terms of academics, IMO, but is more nurturing Commute to Twain is really awful and takes forever – no subway. Must drive or fork out $2K per year for private bus. Very serious and competitive acadmic environment. Bay is much easier to get to – direct shot on the Q to Sheepshead Bay. Morrow and Midwood are decent HS choices in the area, and I would send my kids there if they didn’t get into Stuy, Bard, Hunter, etc…
Pretty close — we’re on Ocean Parkway at the very edge of Kensington (literally, you cross the street and you’re in another neighborhood). We’re zoned for 217. A friend of mine has her daughter in kindergarten there and they really like it. My girl is 3 and in Montessori school for now (1/2-day preschool). I’ve heard terrific things about 139 and would definitely send my girl there if she got in. We’ve probably bumped into one another at the Tot Lot. 🙂
Look at you Rob. You’re knocking it out of the park with your words of wisdom.
I second etson comment as well:
“I think Rob is completely right here. Childless people have an interest in the school system for two reasons. First, it affects the society we all live in. Second – we pay for it!
Every childless person has an interest in whether their tax dollars are spent on education or something in which they may have a more direct interest.”