Here in Los Angeles, families will scramble like crazy to the post offices by Friday to get that important January 19th postmark. It's the deadline for the magnet program application date, and while I have one more seminar to present in my community on Wednesday, I will be turning my daughter's application in on either Thursday or Friday along with a delivery confirmation just in case LAUSD claims later they never received it. In a perfect world, I could walk Zoe to school around the corner and my son could walk to high school as well. But frankly, I don't even like the grocery store or the gas station that are closest to my home, so I'm not upset I have to drive a few extra miles to get my kids into the schools of their choice.
I look at our public education experience in a few different ways. First off the schools in my neighborhood are year round due to extreme overcrowding. By taking my kids a few miles outside their "home" school, I'm not adding to that overcrowding. Year round schools would never work for us with Michael's summer camp schedule, his desire to compete for Jr. Team USA, his desire to take summer classes at the community college, and the idea that Zoe and Michael could end up on different schedules and never have the same days off. Sorry, we're a family first, and a pretty traditional one at that. While a special day off in spring to hit an amusement park would be lovely, staring at my kid for the entire month of January and February just was not an option.
Uniforms are another issue. While I firmly support dress codes, I have never bought the "safety" issue that others claim uniforms provide. Michael was about 8 when he pointed out that if he could figure out the local junior high required navy blue and white clothing, that anyone wanting entrance on the campus could dress similarly and there goes that "intruder alert" that schools claim the uniforms prevent against. Then there's the issue of what other kids wear. Well, if as a parent, I can't teach my kids what is important in this world, then I don't think wearing the same colors to school will do it. It won't stop the kids that want to stand out from wearing ridiculously expensive sneakers, jewelry, jackets, or even demanding expensive khaki pants rather than those dreadful "French Toast" uniforms that are sold in the stores.
In addition, I believe in specialized programming. When shopping for high schools, we found one that has a true Copernican block schedule. Michael takes only three courses a day for the entire semester. It allows him to focus on only three homework assignments, or worry about potentially only three tests on a given day, and it allows him to get out of school at 1:12 every day. He's able to take classes at the community college, get his homework done, and by playing a varsity sport, he's still home before dark even in the middle of winter. In terms of what emphasis a school takes, I really do believe it's better to have a focus to the student's elective choices than the hodge podge of stuff I took when I was in high school. My son has waffled between wanting to enter the media field and wanting to focus on his love for math and science. What he's learned from his high school career is that he can play with media yet it's probably *not* going to be his vocation. Far better to figure that out in high school than to enter film school and realize he'd rather be focused on quantum physics.
It's only a minor issue for me, but test scores have to be mentioned. I'm not looking to split hairs, or in this case API points, but I want to think my kids have a fighting chance where I place them. I have heard the arguments before that I should keep my kids in the community--that our flight is part of the problem--and I understand that. But my kids are not a social engineering experiment. I want them in a school where all the other families demand the same success for their kids and are willing to put in the time and effort for them to succeed as well. I only have two horses in this race, so it's my job to advocate for them. In Zoe's case, she's thrilled with her kindergarten, and I like the school, her teacher, the PTA, the incredible folks in the office--you name it, and while she's been designated, we won't be going to Balboa even if she got in. She's happy where she's at. Michael ended up at Balboa from second grade through fifth and it was a great fit for him. And his junior high experience was a great one for him, and his high school has been everything I could hope for and more. He can advocate for himself, and I don't even have to go to the school anymore. But 850 points or 950 points, it's not going to make me move Zoe, even if she wins the points lottery and could get into Balboa. I'm sure that will be a surreal phone call when we call to turn down that spot.
But it brings me back to magnet week, because we'll be applying. Because whether we decide that junior high will start with fourth grade for her at SOCES or in sixth grade at some yet-to-be-determined school (at almost six years old now, how could I decide what she'll need in six years?), we'll be prepared with choices. Does it sound like a game? Sure it does. But like I said, I only have two horses in this race, and I'm giving them everything I can to get them to the finish line.
Gotta split,
Angel
Posted by Angel Zobel-Rodriguez at January 15, 2007 11:08 AM