So. A little about my high school, because it's not the norm.

[elderberrywine]

It's located in Antelope Valley, the northeast corner of Los Angeles County. This is high desert country, and we are literally in the middle of nowhere. Desert and Joshua trees in every direction. (Makes it not too enticing to ditch - score! No McDonald's around the corner.) However, if you take a straight shot down the road through the desert

Comments

[lenine2]

I can see why you are so enthusiastic about your job. You get tons of payback for the work you do. How lucky you are to be there! But, I'm sure, luck has little to do with it. If you weren't a fantastic teacher you wouldn't be there, and wouldn't be such an inspiration to your students.

[elderberrywine]

These kids are seriously the best. I taught a year in a wealthy school district before I got here, and realized I've got no time for entitled privileged kids. Mind you, I speak as a product of Palm Springs USD. But I was never one of the Rich Kids, thank God.

[xylohypha]

Open AP sounds so cool! What a deal! It really sounds like your school is doing it right. I'm glad for the kids who are lucky enough to go there.

[elderberrywine]

Open AP is the way it ought to be. Why should the teachers be the gate-keepers? (And BTW, if you are on the free-lunch program, ie low-income, the AP tests cost about $5),

As my favorite math movie goes (Stand and Deliver, is there really any other?), do you have the ganas (desire)? Do you?

[semyaza]

Cal Tech, no contest. :D

[elderberrywine]

He went for MIT, alas. Think he was going for something in the way of marine whatnot. Something as far away from the desert as could be imagined. I hear ya, son.

I would have totally gone for Cal Tech. Actually, Cal Tech wooed me in my senior year. It was the second year they were accepting girls. My Chem Study teacher (2nd year Chemistry), he of the broken ex-fighter nose and one of the best teachers ever, schlepped me and another girl and four guys to Cal Tech's Open House my senior year. It was an absolutely awesome experience, and the fact that our school van broke down next to a bowling alley in Redlands on the way home and we didn't get back to midnight didn't lessen the thrill in the least.

I adored everything about Cal Tech, but my mom put the kibosh on me going off to a 4 year school at my age (16) and my maturity level (waaaaay under that), and I have to agree she was totally right. But it could have been Cal Tech. *wistful sigh*

[semyaza]

Kids often choose based on location. It's not a bad thing but if you can choose the best, choose the best. Not that MIT sucks. :D

I was more than ready to go at 16. Sigh.

[elderberrywine]

But it was raining! And they served us beans and weenies in the faculty dining room (stone fireplace blazing, 1920's craftsman with armchairs and everything) and OMG how could I even say no. Child of mid-century PS as I was, this was everything I'd ever dreamed of in the way of academic nirvana.

Well I was ready, but my mom thought differently. Thank God, as it turned out.

Moms know best, no lie.

[romeny]

You're right to be proud of what your school offers. It sounds as if the school is full of wonderful teachers who care and help the kids keep their eye on the prize.

[elderberrywine]

We are a model school for the national Avid Program (to help kids who would not normally get in to college get in) and the one thing the Avid people told us when they came to interview our kids was that they all said our teachers are fresh.

No better complement.

[elderberrywine]

Well not every one is eager on a day to day basis, but hey. They are teens. They crack me up at least once a day and you can't ask for more than that.