[Aconite]

Originally Posted by berryjuice4life

I wasnt saying u said anything about my daughtr I was using her as example and how ridiculous it is to assume that so many florida kids are Uneducated, and because YOU feel that way, doesnt mean everyone else does...and my comment about my parenting skills yes you are insinuated that my children or any one else's shouldn't attend florida public schools.....that is what you are saying...again NYC city schools in General arent terrific, however these kids aren't Uneducated either....Certain Schools in PA are terrible, and some of those kids go onto excellent colleges.....I think it is VERY unfair that u lump everyone into 1, EVERY STATE has their fair share of good, fair and poor schools...and what u might think is POOR or not GOOD the next person who's child did very well, might disagree with you...

1. I insinuated nothing. You did, however, infer quite a bit. I have no idea what your parenting skills are like, or if you even have a child. For all I know (this being the internet), you could be Inmate #300807 at Starke, posting between applying mascara and eyeshadow for your turn in the showers.

2. I have no idea what New York City schools are like. Never lived there, don't pay taxes there, and have no intention of ever doing so.

3. Spelling, punctuation, and paragraph structure are your friend. Ellipses are not.

[Chelsa1075]

I think your opinion is fair, but I think a lot of people have problems with their schools no matter which state they live in. NJ has one of the best school systems in the country and I'm sure berry could give you a mouth full about that system.

I don't want to sound mean or anything, but why wouldn't you move if you school system was that bad? If I don't move to Florida by August, I will be moving to another part of queens where I know my son will be going to a good school. there has to be some way of getting your child a better education. That is my top priority, really my only priority. The areas where I'm thinking of moving the schools are supposed to be the best. if I find them to be substandard, I will go to another area. You have to be proactive about your childs education. I'm not saying your not, but perhaps there are some avenues you have not taken.

[Chelsa1075]

I just found that out and man was that a weight off my shoulders!

[Aconite]

Originally Posted by Chelsa1075

I think your opinion is fair, but I think a lot of people have problems with their schools no matter which state they live in. NJ has one of the best school systems in the country and I'm sure berry could give you a mouth full about that system.

I don't want to sound mean or anything, but why wouldn't you move if you school system was that bad? If I don't move to Florida by August, I will be moving to another part of queens where I know my son will be going to a good school. there has to be some way of getting your child a better education. That is my top priority, really my only priority. The areas where I'm thinking of moving the schools are supposed to be the best. if I find them to be substandard, I will go to another area. You have to be proactive about your childs education. I'm not saying your not, but perhaps there are some avenues you have not taken.

Not everyone, particularly in this economy, has the ability to pick up and move. Even assuming they might, there may be other reasons not to. For example, though our neighborhood school has gone from barely adequate to no-freaking-way in the last several years because of constantly shifting boundary lines and a superintendent who dragged the whole county from 3rd to 27th in the state, our neighborhood itself is pretty much everything I'd look for. Rather than throw the metaphorical baby out with the bathwater, we made other (highly satisfactory) arrangements for our kids' education.
That would be the part I referred to earlier, when I suggested people consider other options besides public school.

[Chelsa1075]

Aconite, this thread has become so long I can't keep up, so I'm guessing that your kids are in private school are atleast in some other form of schooling. It really is a damn shame that our schools get to this point and the worst part is, there really is no way around it. This superintendents, principals and teachers (some not all) really screw things up with the whole my word is law thing. That is what we have to work with unfortunately. The whole boundary thing is a bit annoying too. I always wondered how an area could be so nice, but the schools be so shi$%y, I mean the kids are a product of the area (you hope). I would have to think that you could find something good about the school though. Is it possible that your standards are extremely high (and there is nothing wrong with that).

I was not trying to belittle you when I suggested moving. I realize that it is easier than it sounds. I have to tell you this is why I have done so much research on the areas I want to live and have made sure that the areas surrounding me are good as well (which let me tell you is very difficult in Florida, seems like every other neighborhood is not so good), it has been daunting to do this, but well worth it for my kids IMO.

I wish you luck with your kids and hope for your sake your school system makes a huge turn around.

[Aconite]

Thanks, Chelsa. No offense taken on the move thing-- we actually did do a bit of moving around, both within Florida and outside-- for a few years. Not terribly productively, though I can now say with some authority that there are some terrific restaurants in Charleston and Savannah, and that I don't want to ever be in Daytona again, especially not during Spring Break.

The zoning thing is a huge part, IMO, of Florida's problem. Neighborhoods you'd want to live in are next door to industrial areas which are next door to resorts which are next door to the worst of the ghettos. Older neighborhoods in my area-- ones with cute houses which could be rehabbed-- are bought up by the local religious cult. It's really very weird.
But Florida has other charms, and I think we've found quite a few of them in our current neighborhood. So we live here, and mostly avoid the schools like the plague.

[Chelsa1075]

that really is a shame. I still live in NY and my boys go to catholic school for the same reason. But what that does is ensure they have no one to play with after school and I hate that. Everything here is a scheduled this or that. I'm hoping when we make the move to Florida later this year (after finding the job) that I finally get what I want. I'm not looking for a lot, just a safe neighborhood with the surrounding neighborhoods being safe as well and good schools. Really everything else will be up to me. I assume my live won't change too much when I leave.

I'm a total soccer mom, for every other sport other than soccer (although I do plan to put the boys into soccer when we move). I assume I will work and be busy with that just as I am here. Here's the thing, I live a suburban life in an urban neigborhood. Does that make sense. I drive to the grocery store (waldbaums, florida's publix), do a lot of shopping at Target (even food, we have no Walmarts in the NYC area) and do a lot of shopping at BJ's. I have a little system - LOL - I go to the grocery store first (to see what sales they have) and then to Target for there sales and then finally to BJ's - yes, it is a half a day event, but I only do it once every 30-45 days. I do spend around 600-700 dollars, but we eat really good and my laundry smells nice. This had nothing to do with anything I was just in the mood for sharing. I don't think I'll be able to do this in Florida though as things will spoil when left in the car. I will have to devise another plan.

[berryjuice4life]

we spend the same thing on food a month...I have to tell you, we are jewish and I buy Matzoh and dont u know for a 5lb bag in NY id pay 3.99 here in charlotte it is 20.00 WITHOUT my supermarket card, so I got it on sale, my mom calls me from Hillsboro Beach can u believe 16.00 for matzah, I said sorry ma we have u beat..LOL....point is things are very expensive here too as I was very surprised....again everything offsets itself...Florida is definately not cheap, but after living in NJ for 10 years it is still more expensive there in NJ than certain parts of florida...Also not all parts are the same as far as cost....My daughter Cheers, and my son Swims so we plan to keep them busy...

[Chelsa1075]

That is our job berry - keep those kids busy. I have to tell you I'm not very frugal when it comes to food though - I say freak that, I am not rich, but my belly is going to be full!

[berryjuice4life]

I so hear ya, dh always says certain things u can skimp on Food isnt one them