Raising Children in Southern California

[Charles]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

The University of California at that time was only $200-$300 a quarter then too (you'd normally go three quarters).

It came down to commuting. UCLA was a really long drive daily from Canoga Park. USC was way too far. CSUN was seven miles and near Van Nuys airport where I was a flight instructor at the time.

One quarter, my friend Humberto commuted two round trips from Sylmar to UCLA for a morning and later an afternoon class. That sounds brutal.

[David Aguilar]

Originally Posted by Charles

There are a lot of ESL kids in Southern California. That has to make it difficult for them -lowers standardized test scores.

Where I went to school, the average foreign-language speaking kid that entered Kindergarten was typically fluent in English by 3rd/4th grade or so, to the point where there was no noticeable accent.

It was weird for me, when I left one elementary school after 3rd grade, and didn't see those kids again until 7th grade, and all the ones who didn't speak a lick of English in 3rd grade were now speaking English like it was second nature. It was quite amazing really.

In my high school, there was a very small minority of kids (probably around 1-5%) who didn't speak English.

[1AngryTaxPayer]

Originally Posted by Charles

There are a lot of ESL kids in Southern California. That has to make it difficult for them -lowers standardized test scores.

Some state schools are very good, most are average. The (sort of) unique thing about California universities is (was) their affordability. There was a three tier design: community colleges, the CSU system and the UC system. For example, in 1979 I attended Cal State Northridge for $500/semester including books and everything (living at home though). That was cheap.

This problem is much bigger than most think. Over the years I've donated a lot of my time and you have to see what is happening to understand it. Depending on the class the teacher must cull a percentage of the students (mostly esl kids) and pretty much private tutor them to bring their grades up. It's a double edged sword because the rest of the kids suffer as they don't get the proper attention they need during class times. The only ones that get out of this unscathed are the kids who have Parents willing to really get involved with their studies.

[Ultrarunner]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

Go back in your family tree and see how many folks on there were married and had kids at 16 or 17. We got this weird notion of fantasy childhood during the 1950s. It wasn't like that before that. During Victorian times for instance kids were expected to be small adults. Actually from what I've been reading, statistics show that kids are doing less "adult things" now than they did even 10 years ago or when we were kids.

I see this all the time... I was paying into Social Security at age 12.

Many of my friends have teenage kids or older that have never had a job...

I offered to hire a few to paint apartments and all turned my down... Painting is too dangerous or they don't allow there 23 year old son to drive into that part of town...

[Ultrarunner]

Originally Posted by bluewatergirl888

I am wondering why most of the public schools do not receive high marks, while the state universities are considered in the top of their class? I am assuming this has something to do with prop. 13? Do you think this situation will be resolved?

Thanks again!

My district get very low marks except for a couple of schools... the district spends 15k per year per student... I don't think lack of money is the problem.

California allocates school funding from property taxes across the State... it used to be if you lived in wealthy district the school would have more tax money to spend... the law was changed so that wealthy districts would see fewer property tax dollars as they were diverted to lower income areas.

Wealthy districts do have other sources outside of Property Tax Revenue. I just read a report where one wealthy CA district asks parents to each kick-in $800 extra per child for an activity fee and for the most part they do.

Parental envolvement cannot be underestimated... I've seen it time and agian... Asian kids with parents that don't speak a work of English have children that excell... why? It's because it is expected...

My nieces say they can't get away with anything in school because their Mom is a volunteer aid at the school... parental invovment setting priorities makes a huge difference.

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by Ultrarunner

My district get very low marks except for a couple of schools... the district spends 15k per year per student.

That seems really high. I thought the average spending per pupil in this state was around $9,300? I had always read and heard that it's much lower here than it is in other states.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by CA4Now

That seems really high. I thought the average spending per pupil in this state was around $9,300? I had always read and heard that it's much lower here than it is in other states.

GreatSchools - Public and Private School Ratings, Reviews and Parent Community has per pupil spending for (I think) every district.