Reply #93: Writing More Slowly

[onpatrol98]

Our state has a rather tumultuous background in terms of educating students from different backgrounds. I believe that my children in an all white private school could be subjected to a level of hostility that I am not comfortable with. I believe this because I know as a lifelong resident of this state that many of our private schools emerged not as quest for better educational system, but rather as a system to escape minorities. If that's what they want to do fine.

I imagine if I were in some states more accustomed to diversity (in general), this level of hostility may not exist. Even if the private school was all white. I live in a state that even in some very diverse schools, still have separate proms, separate prom queens, etc.

So, you have effectively pinned me down. Congratulations. I would feel more comfortable sending my sons to a private high school that also had some black teenagers.

In some other state, I would feel less trepidation. My husband used to travel a lot in the military and he tells me of places where race doesn't make a difference. In my state, it still does.

I started on this ill-fated conversation, because I simply wanted more options. I'm a tax payer. I've always attended public schools. My husband, my parents, my siblings, etc. We were all in public schools.

As my children have gotten older, I have noticed the problems our local public schools are having. I don't blame the teachers. My husband is a public school teacher. Perhaps this public school model works in wealthier areas. I don't know many public schools that do well in an area with a lower tax base. I think we need to do something different. I'd love for that something different to happen in the public school system. It hasn't.

It may happen 20 years from now. But, I've got kids now. I want more options now. And, I don't think I'm asking for a lot. To be honest, I think if we allowed different public schools to function differently and gave public school teachers more flexibility we would see a big difference.

But, I read the wisest statement that I'd seen in awhile here on DU not too long ago. A DUer simply said "age" is a horrible way to categorize children. That poster was right. Just because you have a group of children who are the same age, doesn't mean they're at the same level or will progress at the same rate. We need to be willing to do something different.