I have a theory as to the source of many (most?) of Houston's problems: lack of education (Katy: theater, high schools)

[Zhang Fei]

Originally Posted by citizen_jane

What if the entire school is white and middle class?

This is Texas, where all things are bigger (including the percentage of students in the top 10%).

[XodoX]

Originally Posted by amyalta

Researching in depth when we thought of making the move from London, we found that, for example, topics in Physics and Chemistry studied by our son at age 15, were not taken until age 18 in Texas, and as for the book lists, novels studied by him when he was 12, were not read until age 15 in Texas, and most books on the list for 11 year olds had been read by our daughter when she was 9.

You can not compare the school system here with the one in Europe at all. It's totally different.

The 10% rule puts a lot of pressure on the students and the parents. If you have the resources to send your children to a tutor, or do whatever it takes to get them in the 10%, then that's what you'll see. You'll just have middle class students in the top 10 of their class.

People here are crazy about UT Austin. They will do WHATEVER to get their kids into that school. I think it's totally overrated. UT Austin is to Texans what the holy grail is to Christians

[Thaskateguy]

Originally Posted by theSUBlime

Hahah, now that's a good one. Every single one of these threads has a negative one started by some troll who intends to start commotion. That goes for every thread from NYC to Idaho and every time people get defensive. The sad thing is that often times these people are drug users who need our help.

Or, better drugs.

[Thaskateguy]

I am often amused by folks that confuse intelligence, with education. They are not one and the same, no matter how many books ya read. Ya just can't fix "stupid." it seems. Have a good one out there, and happy Halloween.

[crbcrbrgv]

Originally Posted by amyalta

The OP was about education, and I can only throw in my 2 cents. My nephew and niece were relocated here with my brother & S in L from Denver, when nephew was 6 and niece 4. They were educated in Cypress & are now at University in Austin. Their experience was that it is really easy to be in the top 10% if you are white & middle class, and that the overall standard is quite low.

The standards may be lower, however I would have to say UT is far superior to the University of Colorado. One could easily argue that Texas affords an opportunity to attend a great school in a state where economic stratification is far greater than Colorado.

Originally Posted by amyalta

Researching in depth when we thought of making the move from London, we found that, for example, topics in Physics and Chemistry studied by our son at age 15, were not taken until age 18 in Texas, and as for the book lists, novels studied by him when he was 12, were not read until age 15 in Texas, and most books on the list for 11 year olds had been read by our daughter when she was 9.

What you failed to mention is England's education system is entirely different. If your kids had not done well on national tests, they would be doomed to a life of being a janitor or driving a double decker bus. You have to keep in mind our national standards are for a population of 250 million while yours are for 50 million.

Originally Posted by amyalta

A lot of it has to do with the uniquely American insularity, I think, which even afflicts our well educated family!

A European accusing anyone of being insular makes me laugh.

Originally Posted by amyalta

All that said, even tho we did not make the move because we feared our kids would be bored in school and because we don't care for the Guns n' God culture, I still find Houston a great city with friendly people and lots to do.

The Guns n' God culture, eh? I'm starting to wonder if you've ever even been here.

[Thaskateguy]

Some people wipe their feet, after they come in the house.

[Mom2Feebs]

Originally Posted by radiodude84

First let me say I love Houston and this is NOT a "bash Houston" thread.

[LizzySWW]

Originally Posted by crbcrbrgv

The standards may be lower, however I would have to say UT is far superior to the University of Colorado. One could easily argue that Texas affords an opportunity to attend a great school in a state where economic stratification is far greater than Colorado.



What you failed to mention is England's education system is entirely different. If your kids had not done well on national tests, they would be doomed to a life of being a janitor or driving a double decker bus. You have to keep in mind our national standards are for a population of 250 million while yours are for 50 million.



A European accusing anyone of being insular makes me laugh.



The Guns n' God culture, eh? I'm starting to wonder if you've ever even been here.

There ya go.

[ElectroPlumber]

This is sort of an interesting thread, but I've heard a lot of the comments and complaints all of my life about Houston. In fact, I've made them myself on occasion.

I was born in Houston and lived there for 45 years, I'm in my mid-fifties now. There are very few persons my age who are native Houstonians. My wife, my brothers and sisters and my wife's sister were all born in Houston. What is interesting is that none of us live in Houston any more. Most of the clan still live in Texas, although my wife and I live on the Left Coast.

Ever since the 70's Houston has been a very dynamic city with tremendous migration. Since that time, it has become a place filled with people from other places, both foreign and the U.S. It has no hometown feel for me whatsoever. It is such a different place than the one that I grew up in that by the time I was in my 40's I felt like I was the out of towner. That's when we decided to leave.

I would add that since I started reading this forum, there is little that has inspired me to ever want to move back, even though we will probably move from the Left Coast within the next year.

I think the fact that Houston is so full of people not born there is probably both it's greatest strength and it's most unattractive characteristic.

[houstoner]

//www.city-data.com/city/New-York-New-York.html

//www.city-data.com/city/Los-An...alifornia.html

//www.city-data.com/city/Dallas-Texas.html

//www.city-data.com/city/Houston-Texas.html

According to this very website, Houston is roughly about as educated as these other cities. You can plug other cities in and see how they stack up. I don't think lack of education is the primary issue to explain away Houston's problems.