Wilma makes some great points. There should be QUALITY Public Education available for all children. Art and Music and Foreign Language opportunities should be part of a quality education. At the High School level, Shop, Home Ec, Business and Culinary and other Trade Skills should be an option. Those who want extras, such as additional religious and moral training, should pay for that, but should not be excluded from reentry to Public High Schools or post K-12 opportunities that are designated for "Public School" grads (especially when the Public School 'grads" are culled from places like Masterman HS, which has tougher entry statistics than Harvard University). I have heard that the $1,000 / child PENN sends to the PENN Assisted Sadie Alexander K-8 is used to pump up the Standardized Test scores and none of those dollars support Art or Music Staffing. If this is true, local parents should continue to explore the fine alternatives available in UC. I was very happy with the education that my children received at St. Francis de Sales (a K-8 on 47th). This co-ed school has so many minorities that its ultimate major seems to be "peaceful cooperation across lines of class, color and culture). 3/4s of the kids at are non-Catholic, and it seems like half of the kids are recent immigrants or 1st generation Americans. There are opportunities to practice diplomacy with every interaction and the School has first rate Art, Music and Dance programs and award winning Sports Teams. The cost is reasonable and the truly poor can find lots of Scholarship assistance. Another fine school is the Spruce Hill Christian School on 42nd and Baltimore. I was at a recent event that was packed with SHCA kids and I was awed at their grace and good manners. Since my K-8 days are behind me, I did not pause to check out their Test Scores, but for those outside the Sadie Alexander Catchment and not adverse to exposure to Christian Values this should be a "must visit" school. Does anyone have any knowledge or experience with the Jubilee school (42nd & Chester) or the Quaker style cooperative School at 47th and Baltimore? I have seen some wonderful inroads being made at Lea (public K-8 at 48th & Spruce). I think those I saw were private, volunteer efforts by Dr. Vivian Nachmias and several compassionate ladies from the Garden Court CA. Vivian is amazing and reminds me that even small contributions can accumulate and lead to large results. Lea and Wilson (K-5?, at 46th and Woodland) definitely need more public support and private contributions My son is a Junior at West Catholic High School, and is again part of a Catholic minority. The school has a lot to offer, and is close enough that he can participate in a variety of after school activities (Track and Soccer, Chess and School Musicals) and still get home to dinner. A Public School like Central has test based admission and the commute could be as much as an hour, each way, for some local kids. Statistically, very, very few make it into Masterman HS. I wish we were a country that placed Food, Clothing, Shelter, Education and the Arts above "Defense" and "Offense". Meanwhile I encourage all to volunteer what the can, and to make informed VOTES in every public election. For those who can afford it, schools both Public and Private (and the students therein) benefit from designated money contribution. Best! Liz
---------- Forwarded Message -- from Wilma DeSota -------- ... there should NEVER be a prerequisite that poor children should have to wait to garner any benefits from "middle-class" Whites re-discovering Public Schools, that have received infusion from corporations, universities or other institutions and re-entering the School System. The system CAN and SHOULD be funded equally ... _____________________________________________________________ Click to create your dream holiday trip now. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2121/fc/Ioyw6i3nJgyZQqkxIEvqWbx8jPnXEvRCnIxEjra94vmafC0Abf16ud/
