Here in Denver my high schooler has access to community college dual enrollment courses for free through their public school! If this semester goes as planned, they will graduate high school with an associate’s degree. And they love the autonomy of learning on college campus and being around the college kids. Public school for the win. I seriously think it’s such an amazing benefit that our local government funds this.
Early college through the public HSs is HUGE here in NYC and it's so wonderful; I'm a community college professor so I've seen it from a teachers pov and may soon as a parent as my older enters HS. There is some complexity about the politics Mindy is writing about in that neighborhood schools persay don't really exist at the junior high/high school level here, but that's something for a longer discussion
Mindy, thank you so much for all this really really important and excellent writing you're doing. My partner is an educator, and I've had my own experiences substitute teaching in Philadelphia charter schools. Our daughter starts kindergarten next year, and this essay really helped galvinize our commitment to our local public elementary school, which we're lucky enough to have within walking distance! It's a big morale boost: uplifting and empowering to know that public school can and should be a step in the right direction towards collective action and community-building, which is of course exactly what the next generation needs! Thanks again and wishing you all the best!
Our school board is going to vote tonight to close our neighborhood school. I am heartbroken. In my rage and sorrow, I've been mentally preparing a campaign to private school parents (our state has the godforsaken vouchers and the decimation is coming to fruition). This article came into my feed at the EXACT right moment. 10/10 agree. The misalignment of values and action among well-meaning people is hard to swallow.
I was hesitant about sending my kid to kindergarten because that's what it means to parent. His world expanded exponentially almost overnight and I had no control over much of it. And guess what? It's not perfect. And he's thriving. He learns so many cool things I don't remember learning. He's curious. He tries to learn Swahili words so he can talk to some of his new friends. His teachers and principles are THE BEST.
I could also write another whole essay on kids walking to school. It feels like folks (including in public schools that have been so consolidated it doesn't exist) simply don't know what they are missing out on in those car lines so we've stopped caring about it.
This article popped up on my feed despite myself not being a parent (just someone in their early-mid twenties), but I do feel strongly about this! I attended school in a large, urban school district. I always speak highly of my experience; the exposure to racial and socioeconomic diversity allowed me to learn and grow in ways that my eventual Ivy League education could not provide me. I also think I received a comparable, if not better education than the average private school, though I did go to one of the better high schools in the district. Despite the challenges that come with large, urban school districts (and there were many in mine), the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. I do think that the exposure to the challenges associated with public education in major U.S. cities (underfunding, racial achievement gap, whether it’s possible to make ‘gifted’ programs more equitable, prevalence of gun violence) provided me with first-hand exposure to engaging with local school and community issues and sparked my interest in politics and current affairs.
Being part of our catchment public school community (and rec center! and hopefully library now that the hours are finally half decent) completely defines my experience of our neighborhood. I have soooo many thoughts about the (visible and invisible) lines of segregation that shape all our realities in this city, but I am infinitely grateful that we and our kids have this opportunity to be in organic relationship with our neighbors and neighborhood via our school.
I want to believe that public schools are places where all kids can get a great education too. Unfortunately, my actual experience with kids in public school has made me think otherwise.
And yet, I’m still happy we chose public school, and not for moral reasons, but practical ones. The local community at public tends to be better, and I can’t imagine parenting without that. Write about this recently here: https://thefamilycommons.substack.com/p/selfish-reasons-to-send-your-kid
Man that dude can eff right off about Baltimore City. I'm sending my daughter to our neighborhood public school and couldn't be happier 😇
Hell yeah!!!!
Here in Denver my high schooler has access to community college dual enrollment courses for free through their public school! If this semester goes as planned, they will graduate high school with an associate’s degree. And they love the autonomy of learning on college campus and being around the college kids. Public school for the win. I seriously think it’s such an amazing benefit that our local government funds this.
Early college through the public HSs is HUGE here in NYC and it's so wonderful; I'm a community college professor so I've seen it from a teachers pov and may soon as a parent as my older enters HS. There is some complexity about the politics Mindy is writing about in that neighborhood schools persay don't really exist at the junior high/high school level here, but that's something for a longer discussion
Future Philly public school parent here! Reading this post makes me feel genuinely excited about kindergarten. <3
Mindy, thank you so much for all this really really important and excellent writing you're doing. My partner is an educator, and I've had my own experiences substitute teaching in Philadelphia charter schools. Our daughter starts kindergarten next year, and this essay really helped galvinize our commitment to our local public elementary school, which we're lucky enough to have within walking distance! It's a big morale boost: uplifting and empowering to know that public school can and should be a step in the right direction towards collective action and community-building, which is of course exactly what the next generation needs! Thanks again and wishing you all the best!
Our school board is going to vote tonight to close our neighborhood school. I am heartbroken. In my rage and sorrow, I've been mentally preparing a campaign to private school parents (our state has the godforsaken vouchers and the decimation is coming to fruition). This article came into my feed at the EXACT right moment. 10/10 agree. The misalignment of values and action among well-meaning people is hard to swallow.
I was hesitant about sending my kid to kindergarten because that's what it means to parent. His world expanded exponentially almost overnight and I had no control over much of it. And guess what? It's not perfect. And he's thriving. He learns so many cool things I don't remember learning. He's curious. He tries to learn Swahili words so he can talk to some of his new friends. His teachers and principles are THE BEST.
I could also write another whole essay on kids walking to school. It feels like folks (including in public schools that have been so consolidated it doesn't exist) simply don't know what they are missing out on in those car lines so we've stopped caring about it.
This article popped up on my feed despite myself not being a parent (just someone in their early-mid twenties), but I do feel strongly about this! I attended school in a large, urban school district. I always speak highly of my experience; the exposure to racial and socioeconomic diversity allowed me to learn and grow in ways that my eventual Ivy League education could not provide me. I also think I received a comparable, if not better education than the average private school, though I did go to one of the better high schools in the district. Despite the challenges that come with large, urban school districts (and there were many in mine), the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. I do think that the exposure to the challenges associated with public education in major U.S. cities (underfunding, racial achievement gap, whether it’s possible to make ‘gifted’ programs more equitable, prevalence of gun violence) provided me with first-hand exposure to engaging with local school and community issues and sparked my interest in politics and current affairs.
Being part of our catchment public school community (and rec center! and hopefully library now that the hours are finally half decent) completely defines my experience of our neighborhood. I have soooo many thoughts about the (visible and invisible) lines of segregation that shape all our realities in this city, but I am infinitely grateful that we and our kids have this opportunity to be in organic relationship with our neighbors and neighborhood via our school.
south philly forever and ever amen!!!!
I want to believe that public schools are places where all kids can get a great education too. Unfortunately, my actual experience with kids in public school has made me think otherwise.
And yet, I’m still happy we chose public school, and not for moral reasons, but practical ones. The local community at public tends to be better, and I can’t imagine parenting without that. Write about this recently here: https://thefamilycommons.substack.com/p/selfish-reasons-to-send-your-kid
Thanks for writing this! So many compelling reasons why our public schools are worth sending your kids to and worth fighting like hell for.