Evanston vs. New Trier (Chicago, Wilmette: homes, public schools, colleges)

[Anthera]

But the funny thing is that NT West is a really beautiful campus, much nice than East. It was fully renovated, and everything is state of the art. There would have been two football teams, to school paper editors, etc.

The big complaint was that Wilmette kids would be separated, the Glencoe kids would be split, and all the Glenview and Northfield kids would be at west. Somehow if your kids aren't at the same school with the Kenilworth and Winnetka kids it would be an inferior experience. It really was pure wannabe snobbery that kept the school from being split.

If the magnet school option had been exercised, a very big percentage of the JSS kids would have gone over there since their parents valued small size.

BTW - one idea thrown up was that NTW be given completely to Wilmette and called "Wilmette High", thus solving everyone's crowding problems, the guy suggesting it was almost murdered by the Wilmette people.

[aragx6]

That actually makes a lot of sense- thanks for the explanation.

[Careless]

Originally Posted by Anthera

BTW - I am being verrry politically incorrect by using "east" and "west". NT no longer uses NT west and NT east. the PC terms are "Winnetka campus" and "Northfield campus" because of course, "west " is a pejorative on the NS.

Pretty funny. Do they still call p.e. "kinetic wellness"?

[edsg25]

Originally Posted by NUman

I live in Glencoe and I can say that the educational system in Glencoe and in New Trier Township has exceeded my expectations. My feeling is that New Trier is the best high school in the country and you cannot do any better. The notable alumni list rivals that of top colleges. There simply is no comparison between Evanston and New Trier. I feel that people who purchase large homes in Evanston are getting ripped off especially when Glencoe is lower price when it comes to price per square foot in Evanston's desirable areas.

Ripped off? a lot of those kids in big homes in Evanston have been tracked into college prep classes at ETHS that are on paar with anything that New Trier has to offer.

Don't get me wrong. There is inequity there. But that inequity is more towards minority or lower income kids, not the wealthy white kids who are getting the same type of education that NT, GBS, GBN, Stevenson, HP, and Dfld kids are getting.

[edsg25]

Originally Posted by Anthera

The big complaint was that Wilmette kids would be separated, the Glencoe kids would be split, and all the Glenview and Northfield kids would be at west. Somehow if your kids aren't at the same school with the Kenilworth and Winnetka kids it would be an inferior experience. It really was pure wannabe snobbery that kept the school from being split.

well, that sure seems like the sanitized version of the contraversy. The more realistic one in the mid 1960's when NTE was to be split from NTW was how to get the Jewish kids (Glencoe and west Wilmette) into the new school and keep NTE the "real" New Trier.

[edsg25]

Instead of Evanston vs. New Trier, I ask you folks to look at Evanston and New Trier. Tune in what binds between the two rather than separates. For decades during the 20th century, these back-to-back neighbors were the standard for public secondary education in Chicagoland.

It was the closeness of the ratings and the respect that both schools received that was the hallmark of the rivalry. It was, in some respects, a Harvard-Yale type of thing. While Evanston through much of that time was more "real world" than New Trier, Evanston itself was far more sheltered and far less exposed to street problems that exist today.

In essence, neither school today is what it was some 40 years back in a different America and at the time that these two high schools were more dominant in reputation throughout Chicagoland. Neither was dealing with drugs or truency or behavioral problems that are emblematic of high schools everywhere today. There was a rigor in the educational system in both schools that was more across the board back then because standards were easier to maintain and more enforced by the community.

Chicagoland may be fortunate compared to coastal areas like NY and Calif where even in the best of communtiies, parents who can send their kids to private schools. In essence, no school....and certainly not New Trier...escapes the decay in society today.

The whole Evanston-New Trier thing was built on the bedrock of an earlier era, a happier time for public education and a strong sense of support from the communities in which the schools were built. That's not the story of ETHS or NTTHS today per se. But it is the story of America today.

BTW, I'm an ETHS grad, class of 64; my wife: NT 65.

[Anthera]

Originally Posted by edsg25

well, that sure seems like the sanitized version of the contraversy. The more realistic one in the mid 1960's when NTE was to be split from NTW was how to get the Jewish kids (Glencoe and west Wilmette) into the new school and keep NTE the "real" New Trier.

I had heard that too, but I wasn't around then so I didn't know if it was true. Were you in the district then?

[Humboldt1]

Edg25,

I am sure NT was an excellent school when you were there but to say that schools were so much better is to be all caught like Tom Brokaw and his "Greatest Generation.". Things are much different now from when you graduated, not better, not worse. My dad graduated HS in 64 as well. He had his sliderule, I had my calculator. Your generation had mccarthyism and civil rights. This generation has drugs. Both generations have gangs, but not generally in areas like NT.

All I am saying is a lot has changed since you and even I (96) graduated HS. Some things have improved, some have gotten worse. As a whole it is not better or worse, just different.

[Ophidian14]

Originally Posted by Humboldt1

Your generation had mccarthyism and civil rights. This generation has drugs.

Oh yeah, the previous generations weren't known for drugs, thanks for informing us.

[Humboldt1]

Previous generations had their drugs, but nothing like we see now, especially in the schools.

Yes, I know about heroin and opium and even cocaine (not thru personal use), but these were not infecting the student population as drugs are now. And I should clarify in the last 30-40 years, drugs have been more of an issue. You didn't hear too much about 15 and 16 year old kids overdosing on drugs in the 1950s, not that it didn't happen, just not as much. I am sure there were idiots overdosing on heroin and opium going back hundreds of years.

Crystal meth has had a major effect even on rural areas as it is cheap and easy to make.

Marijuana has been around for many years but I never really saw too many issues with it.

Alcohol has always been around.

Moderator,

I will refrain from further comments on drugs as I know this isn't that forum but get tired of same poster misunderstanding my words. This guy graduated high school in 64, making him 62 years old. That is the generation I was talking about, not any generations since. Clearly drug use was common by the late 60s.