Calling all Miami Lovers and Haters!

[tallrick]

When I went to school in Dade county, the fence was only 3-4 feet tall to keep kids from running out in the street. The gates were always left open and that was in the 70's-80's, not a very safe time. Once there was an electrical fire in the school and we were able to get out very quickly. However, those old schools had open windows (no air conditioning) and it was almost impossible for "creeps" to get in without being noticed. It was also equally difficult for bullies to harm others without being seen. Today the attitude is different, and school children are a different classification from the rest of the neighborhood. There are not too many mothers at home while the kids are in school. I am against anything like uniforms, prison style schools and even schools without windows. Can you imagine if kids today had to attend schools without air conditioning?

[planetsurf]

Originally Posted by tallrick

I am against anything like uniforms, prison style schools and even schools without windows. Can you imagine if kids today had to attend schools without air conditioning?

I don't disagree AT ALL with this statement! But this has nothing to do with Miami and everything to do with the state of education in this country as well as the constant state of fear so many people live with in the US.

This is actually the issue that sold us on leaving San Diego and returning to Miami.
We were in a very good school in supposedly one of the better school school districts in California. We had high parent involvement and low teacher/student ratios AND STILL my kids were being handed worksheets all day and being taught for the "test." It felt like a baby-sitting service.
So we started looking at private schools and realized if we're paying for private, we might as well be back in Miami!

We LOVE our school now. The kids are interested, exploring and inquisitive. It's intellectually challenging and they don't worry about teaching to ANY standardized testing. And they have windows too
It costs us a pretty penny (but less than SD), but for us it is 100% worth it.

[TannerMan]

Originally Posted by big mean bear

Tannerman you are always the exception to everything reguarding Miami. I think tallrick hit it the nail on the head. Many cultures that came here brought with them a lack of civilization and order, and because of this, they have to impose extra restrictions to 'keep them in line'. That explains the 8' chain link fence.

I also think that the widespread dominance of urban-ghetto-gangster culture (it's all the same) in South Florida, but especially Miami, made it popular to enforce not only dress codes but uniforms as the problem is that bad among Miami youth. They had to stop the chicos from 'acting pimp' and stop the chicas from flaunting their stuff. That's what I think is the most glaring, obvious reason for why they impose uniforms in "SUBURBAN" schools; they're no different than urban ones in Miami...

No you cynical fool, as most people have already corrected you most school administrators in the country are turning to uniforms for many reason. And let me tell you, Ive grew up in California with a large latino community, Ive always been close to latinos, I also lived in NJ with another large latino community, and I now live in South Florida, and I have to seriously disagree with you and Tallrick, economics and money culture vary but your blatant stance is just wrong.
And the whole fence thing again proves you need to get out more.

[big mean bear]

Originally Posted by compelled to reply

Pioneer Middle School in Cooper City, 1% of the school is ESL and it has uniforms. It's becoming popular in public schools all over the country, actually most commonly in high income yuppie-ish areas although they do have it in some lower income schools as well. I do think you need to leave Miami more often.

You mean it's becoming popular in South Florida? I wouldn't call Cooper City out of the woods...even though it has a high "American" population, it is next to "Holly-Hood" and a bunch of other "encroaching" areas and populations.

The only reason I brought this up is because I am a newcomer to South Florida (4 years ago) and I have 'seen' so many other ways of doing things. Therefore, I can draw contrasts between the school prisons here and the centers for learning up north. It's not like they do things better here, Florida is fighting for last place in its high school graduation rate.