MiamiDAP

It just proves that it is up to a person. Environment is important, but if somebody decides to do something, they should pursue it instead of feeling sorry for themselves which will bring them nowhere. There are much greater obstacles in life than getting into college. It really does not matter much going to Ivy or State, but having a college education is getting more and more important. Of course one can debate that also with enough of valid examples. However, if you want it, go for it no matter what. It is not that hard. At least you know English and have somebody to lean on, not everybody started this way.

Particle_Man

"An example: at my crappy public middle school, no classes were allowed to be separated by ability because students who weren't in the top level might "feel bad." Even though at the time I had scored 700 in CR on the SATs, I had to sit in class with students who were still figuring out what an apostrophe was and reading "MC Higgins the Great" for three months. Halfway through the year they created one class separated by levels, reading, and it was the joy of my day--we read The Grapes of Wrath, Things Fall Apart, 1984, etc."

Coming from a public high school, I know exactly what you're talking about. Luckily, the only subject this is really done with is English. Unlike you, however, I go to school in an affluent, suburban part of the country.

Anyways, the point I'm trying to make is that nearly any public school is going to have issues accommodating everybody. While money may be able to get somebody into a great private school, it doesn't really have any effect otherwise. I could see there being social and home issues holding people from low-income households back, but school isn't one of those issues.

southeasttitan

"Anyways, the point I'm trying to make is that nearly any public school is going to have issues accommodating everybody. While money may be able to get somebody into a great private school, it doesn't really have any effect otherwise. I could see there being social and home issues holding people from low-income households back, but school isn't one of those issues."

I completely disagree. If your school doesn't challenge and intellectually excite you, and your family isn't there to support you, it's very easy to stop caring altogether, no matter how bright you are. SO many kids get left behind because of this; I see it every day. Rich kids in good schools learn to like it from the beginning, because they're challenged, and they therefore want to pursue higher education. The smart, poor kids in crappy schools are bored out of their minds and have no reason to try at all.

Northstarmom

"he smart, poor kids in crappy schools are bored out of their minds and have no reason to try at all."

In addition, those smart kids may have to deal with being made fun of by most of their peers.

For instance, one of my mentees was considered brave because she was willing to be president of the school's NHS. The NHS kids were the targets of bullying and other things simply because they stood out for getting high grades. This was true even for students who didn't brag, and who went out of their way to help others.

And the students may have to struggle to be able to learn anything in classes because their teachers may be spending most of their time dealing students who are disruptive. GCs don't have time for them either because they are dealing with students who have problems like homelessness or legal problems.

I've volunteered in a lot of inner city schools, and have seen this behavior first hand.

piccolojunior

The problem with many public schools is that the bottom 80% of the class doesn't have the intelligence to understand that there are some people who are just more dedicated and/or learn things at a much faster rate (smarter?), so to make themselves feel better they'll call the people who want to go some place beyond a local state uni/community college a "nerd" or someone who "lacks common sense" for not being another one of them. It's a vicious cycle.

southeasttitan

Oh, definitely, northstarmom. In order not to be called a geek and ostracized by my peers, I time my answers in class and only raise my hand every fourth question. And that's why I have more than 3 friends.

What kind of message does that send? Knowing the answers=a bad thing. Being smart=shaming all your peers.

And don't get me started on behavior problems in chiefly low income schools.

Just to clarify though, I'm not complaining persay. Just pointing out that there IS a big difference and a change does NEED to be made.

MiamiDAP

You cannot control others, so how you can change their way of thinking and behavior? You can only change yourself, how you feel about your surroundings in relation to your own personal priorities. There is always price to be paid for everything you do or pursue. That is up to you as a person to make a dicision what is more important in your life. You cannot let others to decide your future. Besides, if your peers cannot respect your goals, how you can call them your friends? They definately are not, you better separate yourself from them. However, we cannot start controling others, we still want to live in a free country.

southeasttitan

^ Nice sentiment, MiamiDAP, but you try going through high school under constant teasing and with no friends. It sucks. Is it better to be smart and miserable or dumb and happy? A lot of kids don't think so. I don't really either. I'd like to be in a place where I don't have to choose.

Puddly

I was fortunate enough to attend a public school that had even a stronger curriculum than most private schools. Though we weren't particularly resourceful (Our books are sometimes dilapidated, but we make do. It's not like the pages are falling out.), our teachers were dedicated, and they cared about us enough to know us.
We never had the issue of teasing because you're smart. In fact, by making fun of you, we're essentially praising you.
I've never been exposed to schools southeasttitan mentioned, but I never knew high school students could be so shallow. You'd think they would logically want to get out of their slum by trying harder and encouraging others, but I guess it doesn't work that way...
Our school is the best high school -- private or public -- in the city.

MiamiDAP

"I'd like to be in a place where I don't have to choose"- YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE TO CHOOSE. Including when you are in college and for the rest of your life. Nobody should be surrounded by people who are not supportive. Yes, it is better be without them. That is a life lesson, not any kind of "sentiment". And those others were stuck in a kitchen for the rest of their lives... There is nothing wrong with that job except if your goal was something else.

southeasttitan

Not true, Miami. There are plenty of places where you don't have to choose between being smart and having friends. College, for one. From what I've heard, most private schools would be another.

I think you were missing the point.