A friend recently texted me and asked my honest opinion about N's middle school. This friend is now in CrMS' resides area.
I gave her a long explanation (broken up into about a zillion small text messages....because I'm not a savage) that CrMS has been a good experience for N, and I have no real problems with the school.
And that is true.
What I am still cranky about three years after the middle school decision was made is that I CONTRIBUTED TO ALL THE BULLSHIT that I criticize other people for doing.
By sending my kid to CrMS, I did what other people around these parts do when they move into another county to avoid the district schools.
I did it on a smaller scale, but I did it.
And I'm disappointed in myself for this, even though CrMS is where my kid wanted to go. I guess there was no real way to win this.
I know what kinds of stories I heard.
I know what teachers encouraged me to do, where to send her.
And I know "the talk" in the district: which schools are "good," which programs are "good."
N has been drinking the high school juice in her own way.
Worrying about which school offers which "career path" when she has no clue what she wants to do with her life.
I'm disappointed that I didn't live up to what I say I believe: that it really doesn't matter where a kid goes (for the most part) if they have involved parents and a solid foundation and you know the rest.
I'm mad at myself (and everybody else who runs away or sends their kid to the "better" schools) because wouldn't all the schools be better if we put our smart, hard-working kids into them?
That is the bee in my bonnet.
The thing that makes me cranky as hell at this whole "school choice" process.
I gave her a long explanation (broken up into about a zillion small text messages....because I'm not a savage) that CrMS has been a good experience for N, and I have no real problems with the school.
And that is true.
What I am still cranky about three years after the middle school decision was made is that I CONTRIBUTED TO ALL THE BULLSHIT that I criticize other people for doing.
By sending my kid to CrMS, I did what other people around these parts do when they move into another county to avoid the district schools.
I did it on a smaller scale, but I did it.
And I'm disappointed in myself for this, even though CrMS is where my kid wanted to go. I guess there was no real way to win this.
I know what kinds of stories I heard.
I know what teachers encouraged me to do, where to send her.
And I know "the talk" in the district: which schools are "good," which programs are "good."
N has been drinking the high school juice in her own way.
Worrying about which school offers which "career path" when she has no clue what she wants to do with her life.
I'm disappointed that I didn't live up to what I say I believe: that it really doesn't matter where a kid goes (for the most part) if they have involved parents and a solid foundation and you know the rest.
I'm mad at myself (and everybody else who runs away or sends their kid to the "better" schools) because wouldn't all the schools be better if we put our smart, hard-working kids into them?
That is the bee in my bonnet.
The thing that makes me cranky as hell at this whole "school choice" process.
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