Arizona ranks as dumbest state (Phoenix, Scottsdale: transplants, teaching jobs, neighborhoods)

[jenlyn]

I live in AZ now and am originally from NJ. My son is in 1st grade..and I am able to compare his education to my nephews, who lives in NJ and is also in 1st grade. My son is doing much more advanced things than my nephew. He is reading books whereas my nephew can't even read yet..SO, I don't like when they give the entire state such a bad name. And yes, I do believe that AZ has a very high number of illegals which are giving the state a bad name.
I also feel it isn't as family oriented here as back east since most families that move to AZ are relocating away from aunts, uncles, grandparents. I strongly believe this has an affect on the children.
I would love to see more money going to education but the taxes need to be raised. In NJ, the taxes were ridiculously high,,people couldn't even retire with a house that was paid off because of their yearly taxes..So, there are pros and cons to every state.

[RBH Automotive]

Originally Posted by woody1

It's no wonder that the people here are so dumb! especially those in Yuma!
The atmosphere is so laid back that everyone takes this " I will gladly pay you
on Tuesday, for a hamburger today" attitude. I moved here 6 months ago and i am gettting the heck out of here! My 2 children that are originally born and raised in Rhode Island are getting dumber by the minute just breathing this air!!
It's not just the hispanics! Stop blaming them for all of your troubles! It's all of
you fruit cakes!

So your blaming your childrens ignorance on where they are and not your stupid kids or yourself? I grew up in a very small town in Az. I have served for 10 years in the military now, have two engineering degrees, own my own business, and just bought my first home as lake front property. **** Az.!!! Imagine I could have grown up somewhere else and spent my days staring at a cubical in an office, and my nights in a downtown apt.
Your an idiot yourself, I see where your kids get it! Arizona isn't losing anything with your departure......

[irwin]

What I think is so interesting about this place is that despite so many people coming from states known for their excellent education systems (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, etc), Arizona is still ranked so low. I think a lot of these people come out here and their brain fries. Either that or (and I know I’m going to catch a lot for this) they come out here because they just can’t cut it at home. They don’t have the education or the drive to make it back home so they come out here where they can spend their days by the pool with other un-driven people.

I’m reminded of the Seinfeld episode where Jerry is talking to Kramer who decides to move to Florida (in many ways the East Coast Arizona). “People don’t live there Kramer; they go there to die!”

[Imissthefall]

"What I think is so interesting about this place is that despite so many people coming from states known for their excellent education systems (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, etc), Arizona is still ranked so low."

To be honest, I find that most people who move here are from California. I do find that a huge amount of the teachers here in Az are from the midwest becasue it's so hard to get a teaching job up there. I still feel education for our kids starts at home.

[dano]

People moving to Arizona because they can't make it where they came from? And they are hanging out poolside with their fellow native slackers?
Thanks, Irwin, I needed a good laugh today.

[movin'on]

Originally Posted by irwin

What I think is so interesting about this place is that despite so many people coming from states known for their excellent education systems (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, etc), Arizona is still ranked so low. I think a lot of these people come out here and their brain fries. Either that or (and I know I’m going to catch a lot for this) they come out here because they just can’t cut it at home. They don’t have the education or the drive to make it back home so they come out here where they can spend their days by the pool with other un-driven people.

I’m reminded of the Seinfeld episode where Jerry is talking to Kramer who decides to move to Florida (in many ways the East Coast Arizona). “People don’t live there Kramer; they go there to die!”

Well, I'm from Minnesota and agree my brain has fried here. My IQ has dropped and not quite sure why. I have a couple of degrees and did quite fine in both San Diego and San Francisco. The thing is, and particularly in my last job where I worked with some brilliant people, I don't find too many people here who want to engage in intellectual debate or discussion. Case in point, I was called on the carpet for asking "Why?" in my soon to be ending job. I am curious and always ask why. Part of it comes from my MBA grad school training, but I've always been analytical so I always wonder why. That is discouraged here. You are just supposed to "go with the flow." Often, this means never achieving anything substantive in terms of goals set (not that I know too many people here who set goals). I've been criticized for not "going with the flow," but I never quite have the heart to say that if I were to go with the flow, I wouldn't own the home I do that is paid for.

The person I am ending things with here...I know he doesn't understand my interest in politics. His idea of a good time is watching "Vegas" and playing the slots at the casinos (I don't even watch TV and I hate casinos. At least, play poker where the odds aren't stacked against you and you have to think). He criticizes me for being on the Net. Well, at least I've been nice to him and, for the most part, never pointed out his constant use of "don't" when it's "doesn't." He's a native Phoenician, btw.

All in all, my last day at work is Friday and then I'll figure out where to go from there.

[movin'on]

Originally Posted by dano

People moving to Arizona because they can't make it where they came from? And they are hanging out poolside with their fellow native slackers?
Thanks, Irwin, I needed a good laugh today.

There is some truth to this. In fact, I was talking to my dentist this a.m. about why he lives here when he's from CA. He told me there is too much competition there. Let's face it. The bar is set pretty low here. If motivated, it should be easy to make your mark in this town. Not so where I came from -- there are a LOT of bright and educated people in San Francisco.

You can choose to be a fish in a pond with a lot of strong and smart fish, or you can choose to be a fish in a pond with a lot of weak and dumb fish. Where will you fare better, if you're a strong, smart fish (or a weak, dumb fish), all other things being equal?

[dano]

Originally Posted by movin'on

There is some truth to this. In fact, I was talking to my dentist this a.m. about why he lives here when he's from CA. He told me there is too much competition there. Let's face it. The bar is set pretty low here. If motivated, it should be easy to make your mark in this town. Not so where I came from -- there are a LOT of bright and educated people in San Francisco.

You can choose to be a fish in a pond with a lot of strong and smart fish, or you can choose to be a fish in a pond with a lot of weak and dumb fish. Where will you fare better, if you're a strong, smart fish (or a weak, dumb fish), all other things being equal?

I see that point to an extent. I moved from Phoenix to Las Vegas for similar reasons, namely, less competition in my field and a smaller but rapidly growing city. Although, some of my heart obviously remains in AZ. That move, however, went from a 4 million city with an establised white-collar workforce to a < 2 million city with a budding white-collar workforce. I suppose the snobs of this board could conclude that I'm so stupid I couldn't even make it in Arizona.

[movin'on]

Originally Posted by dano

I see that point to an extent. I moved from Phoenix to Las Vegas for similar reasons, namely, less competition in my field and a smaller but rapidly growing city. Although, some of my heart obviously remains in AZ. That move, however, went from a 4 million city with an establised white-collar workforce to a < 2 million city with a budding white-collar workforce. I suppose the snobs of this board could conclude that I'm so stupid I couldn't even make it in Arizona.

LOL, I do hope you are not offended. Actually, the move makes sense from a career standpoint. As long as you have a family, why not.

I woke up yesterday thinking HOW MUCH EASIER it would be if I could just find a way to be happy here. I drove home from work today just in tears, realizing the inevitable. It's not like I wouldn't like to be happy here, but I don't think it will happen after three years. What is going to change? I'm going to like living somewhere with nothing to do? No one I relate to?

I just got off the phone with a guy who lived here two months and was absolutely miserable. You can say he didn't give it a chance. I say he's much smarter than I've been, in that he recognized his mistake quickly and left. However, he had lived in the SF Bay Area and just went back to his life of 30 years there, along with a transfer. He didn't have a house here and he isn't a she who is into the whole security thing. At last, I have a roof over my head I own and think I can skate along. Guess not.

[migrants have rights]

what do you expect 80% of the state wanted to pass proposition 300