How many of you are fleeing OC and where are you going? (Merced: lease, low crime)

[Raelyn28]

Nice posts and very truthful. As far as Skyway... once again you have spoken half truths. Environment is very important!!! People are unique and have different personalities. Some people are really effected by what goes on around them even though they may have a very good family life, high values and good moral upbringing. Other personalities can handle living in gang infested areas without it bothering them. Once again this isn't a box where everyone is the same... Personally I feel I did my kids a great thing by moving them into a different environment and they have turned out to be great kids. Not saying kids don't turn out great in California because again everyone is different. I just think it is tough to never be able to afford anything because the cost of living is so high

[Des-Lab]

Leaving Placentia. Been here for 4 years. Am through with it. Going to Tulare.

[skyway31]

Originally Posted by dancingirisheyes

I agree and disagree. I think it makes it easier to live in a place that generally shares the same priorities and values that you do. But in the end, it primarily comes down to what we model at home. Its just not wise to discount the effects of the political, social, economic and religious climate that a town has to offer. Once kids start seeking out independence, the voice of their peers is just as loud as the actions of their parents. Since you never really know which one your child is going to be led by, it helps to surround your family with as much of your core values as possible.

Sure. But I'm not sure where (aside from a few extreme areas) the social or moral climate is so extreme that it would become pervasive in a child's life. It's true that if one is opposed to homosexuality, living in West Hollywood would impact their desire to raise their kids free of that influence. If one seeks to preach acceptance and tolerance, there are towns in Mississippi that would make that very difficult.

Are there places in Orange County where the social or moral climate is so profound that it impacts the raising of kids? Can you give some examples of this? I'm not quite sure how this looks in day to day life in OC.

[skyway31]

Originally Posted by socal4now

As a life long socal resident born in san gabriel and living in anaheim hills/ tustin/ orange the last 30 years I can tell you that meth crack lsd etc are available to your kids no matter what school they go to or how they were raised. The only difference is in the "wealthier" areas the ones that get disciplined are those with poor grades. As a father to an honor roll student that i found out was selling and using drugs and promptly pulled him out of school and put him to work (under constant supervision). I can tell you all his friends that got bad grades where sent to continuation school and all the kids including his supplier that got good grades were ignored as long as they didnt make it to obvious.
Socal public schools are little more them political money dumps.

Public education in urban areas is failing all over the country. IMO, this is primarily due to their inability to properly discipline defiant/delinquent kids. Why do they struggle in this area? Well, legally, some school district HAS to have the kids enrolled no matter what (unless they are presently in juvenile hall, jail etc). Too many excuses are made and not enough is done to address the real problems with these kids. IMO, kids who are chronically defiant need to be booted out of public school and put into some sort of supervised work force. Instead, we have kids who refuse to comply yet sit in and foul up classrooms anyway.

Nonetheless, this is far from being specifically a SoCal issue. And, as far as OC goes, they have some of the best public schools anywhere.

[skyway31]

Originally Posted by Raelyn28

Nice posts and very truthful. As far as Skyway... once again you have spoken half truths. Environment is very important!!! People are unique and have different personalities. Some people are really effected by what goes on around them even though they may have a very good family life, high values and good moral upbringing. Other personalities can handle living in gang infested areas without it bothering them. Once again this isn't a box where everyone is the same... Personally I feel I did my kids a great thing by moving them into a different environment and they have turned out to be great kids. Not saying kids don't turn out great in California because again everyone is different. I just think it is tough to never be able to afford anything because the cost of living is so high

Yeah I agree that living in a gang-infested area is a bad idea. If you can only afford to live in a gang-infested area, don't move there in the first place.

[pecosbill]

Originally Posted by skyway31

Public education in urban areas is failing all over the country. IMO, this is primarily due to their inability to properly discipline defiant/delinquent kids. Why do they struggle in this area? Well, legally, some school district HAS to have the kids enrolled no matter what (unless they are presently in juvenile hall, jail etc). Too many excuses are made and not enough is done to address the real problems with these kids. IMO, kids who are chronically defiant need to be booted out of public school and put into some sort of supervised work force. Instead, we have kids who refuse to comply yet sit in and foul up classrooms anyway.

Nonetheless, this is far from being specifically a SoCal issue. And, as far as OC goes, they have some of the best public schools anywhere.

Sky, I am not sure that this is the responsibity of the State or Township to make sure the kids behave correctly, this remains the full responsabilities of the parents and they should be accountable for their kids, I have heard so many times in my home country, this is the fault of education, of school system etc... As parents you have the full responsability of the education of your children as it is for their health... If you feed them with burgers, pizzas etc... and they become obese, this is not the goverment fault but your as a parent... Accountability is key and we can see it today with the "new wave" of immigration... There is a reason why new Asian Immigrants are doing so well in School, the parents and grand Parents are raising them and giving them the notion of respect and hard work... This is something that might be less present in recent years in "western" countries.
Sadly drug is everywhere and only your kids can say no
Pecosbill

[skyway31]

I agree with all that you say there pecos. There's one issue though: When kids that are a product of bad parenting become defiant and disruptive in a classroom, it adversely affects all of the other students and the education program as a whole. When the families shirk responsibility and raise kids with no regard for authority, something has to be done to get the disruptive, defiant influences out of the room. Private schools and charter schools can give kids the boot after a certain point. Public schools can't do this until the kid does something so criminal that the kid goes to juvenile hall. Chronically disrupting the classroom and disrespecting authority is not really dealt with in this way. Teachers end up having to pretty much absorb whatever the kid does because he/she is going to be enrolled no matter what.

[pecosbill]

Sky, I guess it is a complex problem and sadly not unique to CA or the US I can tell you. . It is therefore quite important to chose the school district wisely but a good school district got more expensive homes etc... going in circles... Going home in the great NJ rain.. Stay safe

[NewportBorn]

we fled in 2007

moved to a suburb of St.louis

[Raelyn28]

Originally Posted by skyway31

Yeah I agree that living in a gang-infested area is a bad idea. If you can only afford to live in a gang-infested area, don't move there in the first place.

Well, if you have been reading the threads (and I know you have) then you will realize that there are many badly overcrowded gang ridden areas and racial tensions in OC. Regarding schools, my best friend has a daughter who is a school teacher in the area and she has told her mom NOT to put her son in public schools anywhere in Southern Cal. My friend pays over $5,000.00 per year to put her son in private schools. Personally, I wouldn't put my kids in the MAJORITY of public schools in OC. My daughter in-law who lives in a very influencial area in Yorba Linda had to go to an alternative school in her junior year because of all the problems in her Yorba Linda High School. Once again...money talks in the beautiful beaten down county of Orange... Too bad it has come to that but it is the truth...Have a nice weekend... Enjoy Hermosa Beach...