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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSan Francisco School District: We don't care if middle-class families go private.
As more parents choose private schools or move away to suburban schools, only half of the kids born in San Francisco end up in public kindergarten. The school district projects most of its future enrollment growth will come from families in public housing.
Meanwhile, a dozen new private schools will have opened in San Francisco between 2009 and 2015.
Some school officials dismiss the flight of middle-class and wealthy families by saying attention is best focused on serving the needs of the poorer students who remain in public school.
Yet imagine if the school district viewed middle-class parents who can afford private tuition as valuable customers worth competing for.
Parents with resources donate their time and money to the classroom, which benefits all students. They will also have skin in the game when it comes to the politics of taxes and school funding.
If one-quarter of San Francisco's families opt out of public school, how much will they care about what happens to public schools? It doesn't bode well for the poor students left behind.
http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/san-franciscos-tale-of-two-school-systems/Content?oid=2875677
mopinko
(70,235 posts)we got a mix of investment in selective enrollment and special focus schools, increased options in local schools, and some charters.
charter operators are a mix, too. from universities to terrorists. (or so they say.)
it worked. it stemmed white flight, and we have a way, way better system than we did a decade ago.
brought to you by arne duncan.
hmmm.
RandySF
(59,248 posts)Most of the financial muscle is going into kids who are struggling with the assumption that everyone else will do fine. That's part of what's motivating families to go private. And not just white kids. My son's school's student popultation is mostly made up of Latino, African-American and Filipino kids. And there is a waiting list for most grades. Recently, a local school blogger recounted a conversation with an SF school employee who said "I didn't go into teaching to help snotty white kids".
mopinko
(70,235 posts)parents need choices. and parents will put those choices above a WHOLE lot of things to get what their kids need.
there are tons of choices now. not enough for the kids at the top, imho, who are really unserved in public schools. but at least there are math and science academies in most hoods. and there are more arts schools, too. language and culture based. behavioral supports.
it isnt the public schools being squeezed in chicago, its the parochial schools. the system has just collapsed.
ret5hd
(20,523 posts)on their own dime.
Public schools are public. Period.
Private schools are private. Period.
Maybe what you are saying is talking past me and we are really agreeing. But only when the middle class ( and somewhat above) are sending their kids (by and large) to public schools will public schools be supported. And, imho, only as long as quality public schools are supported will we have a true democracy.
mopinko
(70,235 posts)some are just neighborhood schools.
what about selective enrollment public schools? are those alright?
ret5hd
(20,523 posts)REP
(21,691 posts)The district sees that as a win - same amount of dollars in, fewer students to accommodate with those dollars.
With schools focusing most time and attention on low-track students, I do not blame parents who can for sending their children to schools that won't teach their kids that learning is slow, repetitive and boring. A middle class parent can donate time and money to a classroom, but it won't change much about how much of the day is spent trying getting at least 1/3 of the class up to the level another 1/3 mastered days ago.