Sometimes I feel like I live in the land of pod people 🫤

It’s weird. Where I live nobody is willing to talk about the education system. Doesn’t matter if you’re conservative or a liberal. If you ask the hive for opinions on the school their child goes to they will give a robotic statement that “Everyone is going to have different opinions and every school is great”.

They are extremely uncomfortable talking about one school versus another, one school district versus another.

They get offended by the idea that one school might be better than another and offended by the idea that you might choose one based on certain personal criteria.

They get offended by people being in a position to be able to choose.

They get defensive that if you don’t like it you can go to a private school or homeschool.

Where I’m from it’s not some secret or taboo that some schools do things better/differently than other schools and if your zoned school isn’t performing up to federal standards than you as the parent have the option to request a transfer. There are also numerous magnet/charter schools so that people have options 🤷🏻‍♀️

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exchrist · 31-35

I cant speak for everyone but my hypothesis is that previous generations didnt have a choice so they dont want anyone afforded a choice.preferring the way it was done. In anycase the way new york city does it probably addresses this concern best there's are numerous public high school charter school and even private schools that cater to specific interests or fields. Then evaluation of each school's performance is then unique enough that people seem more comfortable sharing individual feedback. This model was only applied albany ny, where im from, about 40 years ago.

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exchrist · 31-35

@WhateverWorks cant help u there

SomeMichGuy · M

That's odd to me, as well...or *was*, before a friend of mine made me realize that my love of school was an anomaly in today's world.

I have always loved learning, solving problems, etc. I have corrected texts as I learned from them, even in STEM grad school. I have wide-ranging interests and some talents, and know how to learn...

But most people in my small public school were there for sports, social interaction, whatever, but not for learning.

If you think of that projected into adults, I bet that a bunch of parents don't mind paying to have a "teaching daycare" for their kids...

WhateverWorks · 36-40

I hear you. There’s this surreal taboo where I live about even discussing your child going to university, which is particularly surreal because it’s a university town. 🤷🏻‍♀️ As far as I can tell only the homeschooling parents (with the exception of the non-schooling ones. That’s another conversation heh) seem to be invested in cultivating a lot of knowledge and consider their kids’ futures. Very strange. @SomeMichGuy

Starcrossed · 41-45, F

Ooh I make people uncomfortable when I talk about how I sent my kid to a STEM charter bc she regressed from when she was in Montessori to when in Kindy at the local school she was originally zoned for. That school isnt great.

WhateverWorks · 36-40

What are your thoughts on that? I’ve recently also experienced awkwardness when it came up that we were looking at an alternative school in the area @Starcrossed

Starcrossed · 41-45, F

@WhateverWorks I dont mind making people uncomfortable, and the STEM school she goes to is pretty great. Not perfect but when I talk to the neighbors about their same age kids going to the old school, my kid definitely seems to have an educational leg up on them and some more enriched experiences with whole school projects.

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