How do you choose a school?
Categories: Education
As I mentioned before, Rachel and I went to the school fair here last week. We visited the booths of a lot of different schools, looking for options to fill out our list of seven choices. We wanted, of course, to make sure that if Jared didn't get into one of our top choices that the rest of the list was equally good, both academically and logistically. There were some that were good and convenient and some that were great and not so convenient. Narrowing down the choices was difficult -- there are more than 70 public elementary schools in San Francisco.To help in this process, Rachel and I both had our question -- the one question that would give us insight into the school's attitudes, philosophies, and suitability for us and our kids. Rachel's question is "What would you do with a kindergartener that comes in reading at a first or second grade level?" Jared is already reading at a high first grade level; we didn't force it on him, he just sort of picked it up on his own. The school we wanted should be prepared to address this and make sure he doesn't get bored.
My question, on the other hand, is a little more philosophical. I want to know whether or not they do the pledge of allegiance. I have a real problem with the only representative of the government my kids will see standing up in front of them and telling them that our country is subordinate to someone I've taught them doesn't exist. This sets up a conflict between the parents and the teacher -- who should he listen to?
Most of the schools do have the kids recite the pledge, but one came up with the right answer. When I asked the principal of Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy, she said "No. If we did, I think we would lose most of our teachers." I like this school! In addition to academics, they focus on teaching tolerance and celebrating diversity. As if that weren't enough, they also offer free before and afterschool care! Would you believe the school cafeteria has a salad bar?
Unfortunately, the school is closer to downtown than it is to us and I work in the other direction. Getting Jared to and from school would be difficult at best and picking him up in an emergency would be a near impossibility. Still, I can hope that if there is one school like this then perhaps others will follow.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Susan 11-28-2006 @ 6:40PM
My sons go to private school, and when we were looking we also had core questions that we asked. Our older son has a very specific and somewhat unusual learning disability; we searched for a school that was familiar with his particular needs. For our younger son (who is in preschool this year), we were more interested in a school that would foster social skills and a sense of community responsibility.
And logistics were an issue for us as well. There is only one school in Oklahoma City that is really equipped to teach kids like Henry, and so we chose a Catholic school for Charlie that is on the way to and from H's school because otherwise we just couldn't get everyone where they needed to go every day. We're not Catholic, and in the long term this school will probably not work for us, but for this year (and most like the next two) it is a good situation.
I worried, when I was visiting school after school, that I was overthinking this choice, but in the end, I'm glad I did. My sons love their schools and both are thriving and learning. I think this was the right choice for RIGHT NOW, but I know we will be looking again soon.
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ann adams 11-28-2006 @ 6:58PM
They had me at "Winter Peace Assembly" I went over and checked it out online. Impressive and a shame you can't work out the logistics.
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Sophie 11-28-2006 @ 8:10PM
we are juts about pinning down our list of 7 schools too.
Our logic was the same as picking their first names. Create a pool of possible choices, or said a different way: make some cookie cutter choices that are not negotiable.
For our kids first names, we picked the initials first. That was a final choice, and there, we could choose.
For the schools, we made a few similar cookie cutter choices including the location (be sure to check each school report and school bus lines.). THAT alone reduce the choices by at least 2/3rds.
Then, remove options that you are not fond off such as do you want russian or cantonese immersion? do you want a whatever special school?
then.. VISIT IN PERSON the schools. I know it's hard to do. But for some people the fenced area, the toilets or whatever will be a non-negotiable no-no.
last ... good luck, and please post your comments after round one!
Sophie
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Jill 11-28-2006 @ 8:29PM
You get to **choose** ?!? Choice for us is public v private. Sigh. I worry about my son too. I was bored in school and never challenged to try anything hard. I spent my time chatting with the child next to me, keeping her from learning. There's got to be better. Good luck
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momma2mingbu 11-29-2006 @ 8:48AM
Visit the schools and meet the teachers. Sit in on a class if you can. The principal of my daughter's school gave me a personal tour when we were first considering it for our son. He's now transfered to a different school for a gifted program.
If you do have a kid who is already years ahead of the game in reading, find out about their gifted programs. Do they only offer differentiation in the classroom? Do they have a "pull out" program that meets a couple of times a week? Do they have a dedicated "gifted and talented" classroom? Or do they need to switch schools to get into G/T level classes? What grade will they officially designate a child as G/T? From what I've seen in my area, G/T services aren't likely to start until 2nd or 3rd grade. You may have to advocate for differentiation prior to that.
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anonny 11-29-2006 @ 11:43AM
Living in NYC, we're going through the same thing. Sadly, our zoned school is pretty awful so we don't consider that an option. School choice only exists for high schools in NYC, but there are a lot of other public school options besides our zoned school - magnet schools, charter schools, and variances to schools that have space available.
I think the most important thing you can do is tour the school and talk with other parents who attend the school. For any school you're on the fence about, it helps to go to a PTA meeting. It's a different way to get to know the principal and PTA meetings are geared towards parents who are already part of the school community.
When considering any kid with special needs, be it learning disability or gifted, I'm generally favorable to inclusion classrooms. If you have good teachers and strong leadership, I think that mixed ability classrooms can be great for all the kids, both academically and socially.
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momma2mingbu 11-29-2006 @ 12:55PM
RE: Inclusion
It depends a lot on how willing the school system/teacher is to do differntiation. Our experience with our gifted child being in a regular classroom was frustrating. The teachers are often too busy trying to drag those who are behind up to grade level that they just don't have the time to challenge the kids who are already ahead of the game. A kid with a LD gets an IEP that the school works with to help give the child the best chance. S/he might even have an aide who is in the classroom at least part if not full time. That kind of service doesn't usually happen with a G/T kid, at least not in our area. For our son, a dedicated gifted classroom is working much better both academically and socially.
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rebecca 12-01-2006 @ 6:52PM
Oh Roger, never move to Texas...
WE pledge to the American and Texas flag AND enjoy a full minute of silence (ok, in my classroom it's a shuffling, giggling silence.) We even have a class pledge, "Today I will do what's right and I will do my best. I will accept the consequences for my actions and inactions." But I have students choose to sit out of some or all of those, and I, and the rest of the class, respect that. Tolerance is one of our attitudes we are working on!
I am jealous of the school choice thing. In our district my family gets a choice since I teach in the district, but the average Joe citizen doesn't and that's not fair. We have magnet schools, but you have to test into them. The school that I teach at is an IB school, so to transfer here you have to qualify for GT. And we also have M&M transfers (minority to majority) to encourage racial harmony.
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