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Monday, April 17, 2006
Life at an Unpopular School
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I ran into a neighbor the other day whose daughter goes to an elementary school that does not have a spectacular reputation. In fact, the school is frequently described as sucking. Low test scores. High mobility. Low socio-economics. You know the euphemisms.
So when I asked where her daughter went to school, my neighbor couched it in an almost apologetic way. “It works great for her…She’s really happy there. I’m not saying it’s right for everybody, but it was a good choice for our family.”
It struck me how loaded the question is for parents whose children attend a school with a sucky reputation. Another neighbor, when asked where her kids go to school, proudly proclaimed: “INSERT ANY HIGHLY REGARDED SCHOOL HERE!!!”
So I want to hear from you who attend, teach or send children to a school with a less than stellar reputation. Do you defend your school when people ask? Do you respond with pride? Do you answer the question without elaboration? (Or do you roll your eyes and say that all the rumors are true and you’re negotiating a transfer?)
