[star_gazer]

I guess I don't see what is so "arbitrary" about comparing Omaha school systems to that of the rural communities. That is a pretty important issue when considering relocating. Maybe that's just me?

(do you know what the word arbitrary means?)

It's one thing to make comparisons between specific schools... even school districts. It's quite another to make blanket assertions lumping together all small town schools and all 'big city' schools. Does anyone here honestly think that all one room school houses are da bomb... and all 'big city' schools suck? Give me a break... of course if you're of the faction that you're automatically safer by living in rural America... versus the suburbs of a larger city... then I guess it makes perfect sense to me.

[ColeSD]

Originally Posted by kosnebbear

How true you are, ehenningsen, I can tell that you are one that does not just stay in the big cities of Nebraska, but will travel about the state to see what is out there past the city limits of either Omaha or Lincoln. In reading some of the posts I can also tell the ones who have not taken the time to see what Nebraska has. There are many lakes and Nebraska has the most rivers and creeks than any other state according to what I have read. There are other things besides professional sports teams. How about sports where people have fun playing instead of greedy players who only want more money. How about watching the kids play because they play for the love of the game. Our weather is something to be hold that is for sure, but it is ours can be rather different. I love my state and I will stand by it, heck I will even defend Omaha and Lincoln.

Thank you, star_gazer, it looks like most ever city that you named is at least 100,000 or larger in size. You did the research that showed my point. Yes with more people you have more crime, but the event with the Mother and son would not have happened in my town or any of the small communities that I have lived in around Nebraska, because we get to know each other as friends. Something that I see when I go to Omaha or Lincoln is that if I say hello to a stranger in line at a cashier I get looked at as if I have come from a different planet. This is something that does not happen in a small town. We talk to everyone, call us being nosey if you like. We will take the time to even help out a stranger. As for me I just call it being friendly, most individuals from a big city will call it being odd or stange. Who knows I might have said hello to you once in Omaha, never know and if I did guess even if you didn't say anything I will still do it again. There are ones in both Omaha and Lincoln who will talk to you even if you are a stranger , but very few. Tell me what is wrong with meeting someone new even if it just to say hello.

Once again it just my view on things as I see it in my 58 years of life.

I'm siding with Kosne and Stargazer for two different reasons:

If you're not from there, you WILL be looked at like you're an alien! lol
And I hate to say this, too, but if you're not from the area people will NOT help out a stranger, especially if they're the "wrong kind."

And StarGazer you kind of proved Kosne's point. Almost all of those town are actually quite large or are burbs of much larger places.

I don't believe this "big city=bad and small town=good" or "big city=good and small town=bad" thing. I think it depends on individual cities.

I've been in crappy small towns and good small towns, crappy big cities and good big cities.

[corel]

Originally Posted by star_gazer

Drop it people... this discussion is about Omaha... not a big city vs small town education. Sounds like great material for another 'Nebraska' thread though. Go to it...

Thank you, star_gazer. I would prefer this forum not turn into a debate, I would like the pros and cons on various aspects of Omaha. I think the school system has been covered well enough. Thank you all for your thoughts on it, but can we move on now please?

[star_gazer]

And StarGazer you kind of proved Kosne's point. Almost all of those town are actually quite large or are burbs of much larger places.

don't believe this "big city=bad and small town=good" or "big city=good and small town=bad" thing. I think it depends on individual cities.

I've been in crappy small towns and good small towns, crappy big cities and good big cities.

Check that last list of towns I singled out... most, if not all of them are NOT located within a metropolitan statistical area.

That said (and I hate beating a dead horse), my point was not to suggest that small towns are any more dangerous than big cities... obviously, I fully agree with your last point... and would go one step further still and suggest that it would be very silly to characterize even ANY entire small town or big city as 'bad' or 'good'. It's like the 'MattDen tourist' coming off of I-80... and suggesting that all of North Platte sucks because they got bad service from their cafe waitress. Unfortunately, that is more often than not the prevailing attitude.

[kosnebbear]

corel,

I also want to say that I am sorry for getting off topic here. For me it does not matter where you live in Nebraska you will find the good as well as the bad with where ever you decide to move to.

I was just upset with the post about education being better in Omaha and Lincoln when that is not true. There are many teachers who are gifted to teach in Omaha or Lincoln, but made the choice to teach in a smaller school. The reasons are many, but the one main reason that I feel they do is so that they can get closer to their students so that they can make a difference.

So what else do you want to hear about Nebraska other than it is a great state to live in, once you get use to our weather that is.

[star_gazer]

I was just upset with the post about education being better in Omaha and Lincoln when that is not true. There are many teachers who are gifted to teach in Omaha or Lincoln, but made the choice to teach in a smaller school. The reasons are many, but the one main reason that I feel they do is so that they can get closer to their students so that they can make a difference.

I missed that statement... I would have taken exception to that as well. Not that the opportunities don't exist to get a 'better education'... in specific schools... in specific districts... in specific facets or that educational experience... in Omaha or Lincoln... but, again, that someone could make such a blanket statement (whether coming from a pro 'big city' OR pro 'small town' position).

[Steve_W]

Originally Posted by star_gazer

(do you know what the word arbitrary means?)

It's one thing to make comparisons between specific schools... even school districts. It's quite another to make blanket assertions lumping together all small town schools and all 'big city' schools. Does anyone here honestly think that all one room school houses are da bomb... and all 'big city' schools suck? Give me a break... of course if you're of the faction that you're automatically safer by living in rural America... versus the suburbs of a larger city... then I guess it makes perfect sense to me.

I was simply pointing out smaller schools have very limited budgets therefore limiting opportunities and quality of staff.

I went to a very small school and I gave my point of view. Btw, I think I went through these local school systems much more recently than you so maybe I have a more fresh perspective on them.

Btw, nobody said education is better in Omaha or Lincoln. I only implied very small schools are very limited in every aspect.

Now calm down and quit judging everyone who has opinions of certain schools systems. You're entitled to your ridiculous opinions just as I am.



Corel, welcome to the Nebraska forums...the rural communities seems to have a major inferiority complex as you can see.
I guess they aren't realizing many of smaller schools will soon be consolidating in to LARGE schools to maximize their budgets FOR BETTER OPPORTUNITES!

[ehenningsen]

the fact that somebody would rate Nebraska's education system a D takes away any credibility whatsoever..

I understand that teachers basically get ripped off terribly here, however, if results meant anything in this rating, then Nebraska would be an A..

When it comes to standard of living for teachers, I can understand the D..

[star_gazer]

Perhaps the ranking came from a teacher advocacy group.

[NebraskaNative]

It seems as though I was beat up pretty good for giving my opinions about Nebraska, since I thought it was the different perspectives that the OP had wanted in the first place.

I stand by my post.

Here are my clarifications for those that took me out of context:

--One of my first points was that the state has a great cost-of-living.

--The taxes are high, period.

--Regarding the geography of Nebraska, I was trying to point out to the OP that they must realize NE is an agriculture state, of course there is the Sandhills, the Niobrara area, etc. But coming from California, just be prepared that you are now in the midwest.

--Someone objected to my remark regarding median incomes. BUT, If you look at the statistics they posted you will note that the majority of the income falls in the exact area I noted in my post ($40k-$70k):
Average Hhld Income $60,281
10.8% $0 - $15,000
11.1% $15,000 - $24,999
11.6% $25,000 - $34,999
16.8% $35,000 - $49,999
21.4% $50,000 - $74,999
13.2% $75,000 - $99,999
10.3% $100,000 - $149,999
4.8% $150,000 +



I guess my orginal point was to make sure the OP knew what they were getting into when looking at Nebraska... While we have an excellent gateway airport, driving anywhere is not too great of an option, especially since we are in the middle of the midwest. The winters can be cold, the summers can be hot.

We live in Omaha and own a camper and a boat. There are no awesome lakes/camping within 1-2 hours of Omaha (AND DON'T EVEN SAY THAT LAKE MANAWA OR BRANCHED OAKS ARE GOOD LAKES). In fact we would have to drive like 3-4 hours to head up to Lewis and Clark Res.


Again, I was just trying to give the Original Poster MY OPINION of the state. Friends and family is what is keeping us here. There are certainly VERY FEW things about Nebraska that would keep me here, other than the cost-of-living, or if they cut taxes...