What areas have good schools, small town feel and historic homes?

[jwb123]

Uh, wow. Nasty.

I chime in here only because Jenbar's comments remind me that many folks believe that the government ratings for schools hold a lot of meaning, when they don't reveal much more than the ability of students to take tests, or for monies to be spent. Social class issues are a big part of that equation.

So I, perhaps judgmentally, interpret Jenbar's comments to mean that there aren't enough residents there of a certain tax-base yet to infuse the system with the dollars necessary in order for their students to compliantly fill in little boxes with number 2 pencils as directed by coercive instructors.

You put a TON of your own spin on my comments... making them your own. So I would appreciate it if you pretty much left my name out of it! I didn't say anything like that at all.

Parents must also take responsibility for their children's learning,

I have said the very same thing on this forum!

If Jenbar and other parents won't move to a place that interests them, a place in which they might enjoy living, because the schools are only "acceptable" according to some bizarre accounting system, she and this cohort might consider moving into that town and making the schools "more than acceptable."

I didn't say that I wouldn't move there only because the schools are "acceptable". I really only spoke to one point in the OP. This post wasn't about me and why we didn't choose it - there are reasons, other than the district... but that doesn't mean that Taylor isn't a worthwhile town. I actually love Taylor - I was just out there this week! It's just not right FOR US - right now. My only advice to the OP was that if "really good schools" were her priority, it also might not be for her either. There are other districts that are KNOWN for their schools - Taylor isn't one of them. Had she not included that little bit of info, or didn't say "really good" - Taylor may have been a fine choice. I think anyone WITH CHILDREN would get that statistics and numbers paint only part of the picture.

While you are busy judging me, spinning my comments to me something else, and just flat out being bitter and defensive (sorry you couldn't afford Austin - but don't take it out on me) ... you could have just asked for more information - and I would tell you that I have a child with special needs, needing educational support as well as physical, occupational, speech and vision from the school district. Which, by the way, Round Rock ISD is also currently rated "Acceptable" - but his particular school is recognized. I have to fight tooth and nail for every. single. thing. he gets from the district, even in RRISD - but RRISD is known for his special needs program, as well as it's general education... they pay well, and as such have happier therapists, of higher quality, and who stick around awhile - so he's not bounced around from person to person.... and any parent of a child who receives services through the district KNOWS the quality of the district, and the size of the district matters. Being super close in to community services matters... and with his seizure disorder, proximity to a good hospital MATTERS.

This is how change happens. You make it happen. You become involved in the school district and attend meetings and urge for change.

Please. I am my childs advocate. I have to "make change happen" for so many little things that the average person takes for granted... so many truly important battles... You really have no idea....

I should preface this comment by saying that I am a NEW resident of Taylor, and that I do not have children at all, let alone school-age children.

So I cannot speak to how good Taylor's schools are or are not, based upon my personal experience,

There is the point to your whole rant - with a whole lot of yabbering in between.... LOVE it when childless people think they have all the answers, and all the information and feel free to cast judgement as they see fit.

[schoenfraun]

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/03/14/0314taylor.html (broken link)

"Taylor academic decathlon team wins big, again
Students take home fourth state championship and set record."

By Melissa Mixon
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Friday, March 14, 2008

Taylor High School's academic decathlon team already had bragging rights when its nine members competed in a state competition this month.

Since 2001, the school has won three championships in the state's small-school division. Still, when the students' names weren't called much during the awards ceremony in San Antonio on March 2, they got nervous.

"We were all so quiet at the table, and our heads were all down," English teacher and team sponsor Vicki Rowe said. "When they called our name, it was an eruption of applause."

The team won its fourth state championship and broke the state's small-school division record by scoring 43,661.3 team points, besting the old record by more than 1,000 points.

High school academic decathlon teams compete annually on state and national levels and are tested in 10 categories, including math, science, music and literature. This year's winning team was tested on material related to the Civil War.

Members are seniors Matthew Solbach, Nick Abbott, Stephanie Bourdeau, Taylor Savage and Travis Hyzak and juniors Dalton Cummings, Seth Marcon, Courtney Svatek and Kevin Lindsay.

Rowe said she and the students usually start preparing for the competition during the summer or as soon as the next year's subject is announced.

At the state meet, officials revealed next year's test subject: Latin America.

"I'm in the library right now, and I was just looking up Latin American art," Rowe said.


AND A SECOND ARTICLE:

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/03/20/0320Notebook.html (broken link)

"Taylor's band and decathlon team are recognized; new schools organizing PTAs."

Austin American-Statesman, Thursday, March 20, 2008

Taylor High School's marching band and academic decathlon team were honored last week by the state Senate.

Sen. Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, whose district includes Taylor, appeared at the school last Thursday to applaud the decathlon team for winning a state championship this month in San Antonio. The high school has won top honors in the small-school division of the competition four times since 2001.

Ogden also honored the band, which won best of show at the marching contest at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans in January. The band swept six categories: performance, effect on viewers, marching precision, percussion, color guard performance and performance by the drum major.

Ogden's proclamation for the band said the young musicians "demonstrated great talent and perseverance, and they triumphed over bands from as far away as Florida and Michigan."