re: education: i think there's so much to learn that no matter where you send your kids to school, they'll be getting the short list. all schools are limited in time, money, teacher training, physical space, parent support, something. there really isn't a perfect school. so as a parent, if you're interested in fostering learning, then you've got to pick up the slack outside of school, no matter where they're going to school. of course, if you expect school to take care of everything, then sure, go seek out the brightest, whitest school out there
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You hit on something we think about all the time. We just sold a house on one side of town to buy a house on the other side of town; our kids did not change schools. MOST parents who sell a house in Providence buy in the 'burbs, unless their kids are already in private school. Although we know lots of people who made the choice to stay in the city after they had kids, we don't know anyone who made the choice we did (to change homes in the same city AND keep the kids in public school
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My brain is too fried from spending all day in the sun to write a coherent response at the moment, but I do agree with you on both counts: I'd rather send my kids to a public school in a neighborhood with lots of diversity than to ever send them to a hoity-toity private school in a suburb. (DH also wants me to add that he thinks all children should be exposed not just to racial diversity but class diversity.)
There IS a lot of pressure to send your kids to only the "best" schools possible, and in some fields, it might make a difference. But I think for the vast majority of Americans out there, having a well-rounded experience in school (secondary or university) is more beneficial than trying to bust your butt at an elite school.
Secondly, I, too, feel like I should become a vegetarian, but it's just so difficult! I dunno why that is either.
PS - if you have the time, read My Year of Meats by Ruth Ozeki. It's an excellent little novel that includes some very disturbing information about the American beef industry. It made me
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Ever read Fast Food Nation? That is one brilliant book. So fun to read and yet so disturbing.
Oh, man--ya read it all--The Jungle, the Oprah, you name it and still eat burgers. It's weird, but then I used to smoke like a fiend so obviously information does not affect my behavior.
I usually can change if morality is in the picture though. For how easy it should be to give meat up, and how many bad side effect meat eating has, I should really give it up. So I have to keep working on this...
Good questions here, you are really rolling a lot of different aspects together. I have to say after reading all of what you wrote that my very first thought is always that its the person themselves that has the character, drive, ambition (or lack thereof) and integrity to go forth and do what they do. It comes from the person, it can't always be taught. Oy, and then you can go into the whole "what defines success" debate...which I find really interesting
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I think I was partly tired, I should know well enough you were being a little sarcastic. Its a hotspot for me though, can you tell? I have a lot of friends who I like and respect that don't quite get it. I also was living in SF during a really loud chapter of the public versis charter school debate, it will be interesting to see what happens to a lot of city public schools
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I am in one of those rich, all white towns with a great school.... and I love it but I am also aware of how "harmful" this situation can be.
I have to clean... but I want to come back and knock noggins with you about this :)
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There IS a lot of pressure to send your kids to only the "best" schools possible, and in some fields, it might make a difference. But I think for the vast majority of Americans out there, having a well-rounded experience in school (secondary or university) is more beneficial than trying to bust your butt at an elite school.
Secondly, I, too, feel like I should become a vegetarian, but it's just so difficult! I dunno why that is either.
PS - if you have the time, read My Year of Meats by Ruth Ozeki. It's an excellent little novel that includes some very disturbing information about the American beef industry. It made me ( ... )
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Oh, man--ya read it all--The Jungle, the Oprah, you name it and still eat burgers. It's weird, but then I used to smoke like a fiend so obviously information does not affect my behavior.
I usually can change if morality is in the picture though. For how easy it should be to give meat up, and how many bad side effect meat eating has, I should really give it up. So I have to keep working on this...
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