Best School District in Mat Su Valley? Palmer? Wasilla?

[Jonotastic]

Originally Posted by Marty Van Diest

Lets find where we agree.

You can be well educated at home or at school.

A parent is responsible to see that the child is educated, no matter where they go to school.

How a person handles social issues including booze, drugs, and sex is part of education. If they don't handle it well after they leave home, they weren't well educated.

Back to Mat-Su Schools.

Lots of people like Colony but others are just as focused on Wasilla or Palmer. The good elementary schools that people mention are : Pioneer Peak, Finger Lake, Butte, Larson, Cottonwood, and Snowshoe. I'm sure there are good and bad situations in all those schools but you should be able to get a good classroom for you child in any of them. But you have to pay attention.

Agreed!

One clarification though:

"How a person handles social issues including booze, drugs, and sex is part of education. If they don't handle it well after they leave home, they weren't well educated."

My view is not that they weren't educated, it's more that they were not exposed to it gradually. A parent can't educate most of these social issues because it's coming from a parent...they have to learn it from their friends, from experience and from witnessing it.

[Marty Van Diest]

Originally Posted by Jonotastic

Agreed!

One clarification though:

"How a person handles social issues including booze, drugs, and sex is part of education. If they don't handle it well after they leave home, they weren't well educated."

My view is not that they weren't educated, it's more that they were not exposed to it gradually. A parent can't educate most of these social issues because it's coming from a parent...they have to learn it from their friends, from experience and from witnessing it.

I guess we will have to disagree on that. But that's OK, lots of people disagree with me...

A parent can teach these things but most don't. You can't just expect your children to listen to what you say and parrot back what you want to hear and expect them to have learned the lesson on these issues. These things are much harder to teach and require real two-way communication, and as the child matures, a growing amount of freedom without losing the communication.

Real communication is the key and many parents do not achieve that. I don't always have it but am satisfied with the amount of real communication I do have with my kids.

Had a long talk with our 17 year old last night about some of these issues. Bottom line, my wife reminded me that she is almost 18...what does she think? That starts another round of communication. But it's real communication where they start calling to ask what we think about a certain situation...things most parents don't even hear about.

[Classic Satch]

Originally Posted by Marty Van Diest

I guess we will have to disagree on that. But that's OK, lots of people disagree with me...

A parent can teach these things but most don't. You can't just expect your children to listen to what you say and parrot back what you want to hear and expect them to have learned the lesson on these issues. These things are much harder to teach and require real two-way communication, and as the child matures, a growing amount of freedom without losing the communication.

Real communication is the key and many parents do not achieve that. I don't always have it but am satisfied with the amount of real communication I do have with my kids.

Had a long talk with our 17 year old last night about some of these issues. Bottom line, my wife reminded me that she is almost 18...what does she think? That starts another round of communication. But it's real communication where they start calling to ask what we think about a certain situation...things most parents don't even hear about.

Hey Marty, is there any real difference between Colony and Wasilla? I'm pretty sure that where I live, and I'm pretty sure that you know exactly the location, is in the Colony area.

[Marty Van Diest]

Colony tries to play up their school academically and perhaps accurately. But Wasilla has a good program as well. In the old days, (mid 80s). Wasilla students were a very transient bunch. As I remember, the typical Wasilla High School student had lived in the area only 1 1/2 years.

That is not the case anymore and Wasilla has settled down. I did substitute teaching for a year back in 1984 I think it was. Taught 150 days out of 180 which is a lot for a sub. I got to the point where I would not take a job at Wasilla High. I know teachers and students there now and they have good things to say about it.

[Classic Satch]

Originally Posted by Marty Van Diest

Colony tries to play up their school academically and perhaps accurately. But Wasilla has a good program as well. In the old days, (mid 80s). Wasilla students were a very transient bunch. As I remember, the typical Wasilla High School student had lived in the area only 1 1/2 years.

That is not the case anymore and Wasilla has settled down. I did substitute teaching for a year back in 1984 I think it was. Taught 150 days out of 180 which is a lot for a sub. I got to the point where I would not take a job at Wasilla High. I know teachers and students there now and they have good things to say about it.

Hmm, well, I've got about 3 years to look into things. Thanks for your response Marty, it's much appreciated.