[basehead617]

Originally Posted by AMSS

Guessing you mean "private". Either way, unless there's something regarding the kid that he won't do well in the public school, I still find it rather hypocritical. The kids at Foran are good enough to make a paycheck off of, but not good enough to be around his kids? I realize that statement might be a jump, but again I just don't get it. I'm probably idealistic in that I believe schools reflect communities and vice versa.

Not sure I understand your point. Finding a job as a teacher is difficult, let alone at the exact school you'd ideally want to teach at, let alone the exact school you'd want to send your kid to. It's perfectly feasible that you could get a job at a certain school, want to live in that school's town for commuting purposes, but want to send your child to a better school elsewhere if you have the means.

I don't see any problem whatsoever with that thinking.

[AMSS]

Originally Posted by basehead617

Not sure I understand your point. Finding a job as a teacher is difficult, let alone at the exact school you'd ideally want to teach at, let alone the exact school you'd want to send your kid to. It's perfectly feasible that you could get a job at a certain school, want to live in that school's town for commuting purposes, but want to send your child to a better school elsewhere if you have the means.

I don't see any problem whatsoever with that thinking.

I'm not sure we're on the same page either. I was referring to the teacher who lived in Shelton, but brought his kids to the town he teaches in for school. Public schools are run by the local public…the citizens are what makes a school good or bad. When I moved to my town, I was happy with the district for the most part but things I don't like I have to work to change (you know - getting involved). So obviously I don't agree with someone who lives in a town, but uses the services of another town while ignoring what might need work/help in his residential town. I know of several lower Fairfield County towns that allow non-residential school staff to pay some sort of tuition for their own children to attend, but it's still a risky move especially if the teacher ends up leaving that district.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by AMSS

Guessing you mean "private". Either way, unless there's something regarding the kid that he won't do well in the public school, I still find it rather hypocritical. The kids at Foran are good enough to make a paycheck off of, but not good enough to be around his kids? I realize that statement might be a jump, but again I just don't get it. I'm probably idealistic in that I believe schools reflect communities and vice versa.

No, I meant public. The parents believe in that school system.

[andthentherewere3]

Originally Posted by AMSS

I was referring to the teacher who lived in Shelton, but brought his kids to the town he teaches in for school. Public schools are run by the local public…the citizens are what makes a school good or bad. When I moved to my town, I was happy with the district for the most part but things I don't like I have to work to change (you know - getting involved). So obviously I don't agree with someone who lives in a town, but uses the services of another town while ignoring what might need work/help in his residential town. I know of several lower Fairfield County towns that allow non-residential school staff to pay some sort of tuition for their own children to attend, but it's still a risky move especially if the teacher ends up leaving that district.

People can't always afford to move to the town they work in, that is not something new. Shelton is a little more affordable than some of it's surrounding suburbs. And "getting involved" as a parent only goes so far, I learned that from experience in Norwalk. I really don't see the problem with a teacher bringing their own students into a school system, it's only a small percentage who do so.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by AMSS

Probably late on this one, but if Shelton doesn't have an alternative school or summer school program that explains the high drop out rate. Not sure if they have either though.

Shelton has both a summer school and alternative education. Their high dropout rate is likely due to families on the middle to low end of the socioeconomic scale not having involvement in their children's education, as dropout/graduation rates can be correlated with people who are under educated and/or living in poverty.

Originally Posted by AMSS

ETA: Just re-read that and see what you were saying. And I still think it's strange if someone is good enough to move into a community, but too good to use the school system. Sure you can put your kid in that particular school you work at, but unless you're willing to only sleep in the town you live in and spend every waking moment in the town they go to school, you're child won't have much of a life. A friend of our's commuted daily with her kids from Naugatuck to mom's work place at Ridgefield High School (ridiculous right there). She had tired kids who felt friendless both at RHS and back home.

It has nothing to do with being "too good" for a school system. It has everything to do with wanting the best for your kids. I am sorry but if I could live in Naugatuck and send my kids to Ridgefield - distance aside - I'm absolutely going to do it. I would rather have my kids surrounded by students who come from families who value education - not in a school district with triple the dropout rate, a graduation rate that is a significant percentage lower and with quadruple the amount of students involved in behavioral issues, which directly affects a student's ability to learn.

Originally Posted by AMSS

Guessing you mean "private". Either way, unless there's something regarding the kid that he won't do well in the public school, I still find it rather hypocritical. The kids at Foran are good enough to make a paycheck off of, but not good enough to be around his kids? I realize that statement might be a jump, but again I just don't get it. I'm probably idealistic in that I believe schools reflect communities and vice versa.

This was not what Stylo meant, but even if it were, one could love teaching students in South Bronx. That doesn't mean they want their kids in that environment. There is nothing hypocritical about that.

[Stylo]

I have an uncle that taught in an inner city and liked his job, but would never his kids there (had he had kids). That said, once you get to the level of suburban Connecticut - it does seem a little silly to go so far out of your way to use another district. These are not schools with anywhere near inner city issues.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by Stylo

I have an uncle that taught in an inner city and liked his job, but would never his kids there (had he had kids). That said, once you get to the level of suburban Connecticut - it does seem a little silly to go so far out of your way to use another district. These are not schools with anywhere near inner city issues.

That depends. If I lived in East Haven and had the option to send my kids to North Haven, I absolutely would.

[Stylo]

True, but the subject is Shelton here - that's a fine district IMO. Anyone that trashes Shelton is just being snobby/elitist at that point.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by Stylo

True, but the subject is Shelton here - that's a fine district IMO. Anyone that trashes Shelton is just being snobby/elitist at that point.

You said "suburban Connecticut", which seemed to be suggesting that all suburban CT schools are top notch.

Nobody is trashing Shelton, and the words "snobby" and "elitist" have been thrown around enough on this board and I don't appreciate it. I think when you have kids, you'll understand.

As pointed out in the thread, there is a huge disparity between Shelton and other districts in some categories. It is what it is and that cannot be refuted. Shelton has an "element" that I don't particularly care for - and I know, I lived in the middle of it for a while.

That being said, no, Shelton's schools aren't bad and if it were my only option, I probably wouldn't be disappointed. But when stacked up against Newtown, Trumbull and other towns in this thread, the difference is noticeable. IMO, it would be silly to buy in Shelton if you had kids and were also considering the other communities.

[AMSS]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

Shelton has both a summer school and alternative education. Their high dropout rate is likely due to families on the middle to low end of the socioeconomic scale not having involvement in their children's education, as dropout/graduation rates can be correlated with people who are under educated and/or living in poverty.



It has nothing to do with being "too good" for a school system. It has everything to do with wanting the best for your kids. I am sorry but if I could live in Naugatuck and send my kids to Ridgefield - distance aside - I'm absolutely going to do it. I would rather have my kids surrounded by students who come from families who value education - not in a school district with triple the dropout rate, a graduation rate that is a significant percentage lower and with quadruple the amount of students involved in behavioral issues, which directly affects a student's ability to learn.



This was not what Stylo meant, but even if it were, one could love teaching students in South Bronx. That doesn't mean they want their kids in that environment. There is nothing hypocritical about that.

Thank you for the info about Shelton. I lived a few miles up the road from the area you are probably referring to. Ironically though, that school (when open) had the BEST resources.

What ended up happening is that while they were surrounded by those kids during classes, they had no contact with them outside of classes because they went straight home. No extracurriculars, hanging out, etc. Then when they got back to Naugatuck, they really didn't have any friends left either because those Naugy kids were doing their own activities or simply had other friends that they were used to seeing. Both ended up back in Naugatuck High, btw.

Ignore my confusion about Stylo. Regarding your example: If the South Bronx teacher didn't live in South Bronx, then where his kid goes to school isn't an issue.