How "good" could the schools really be given all the problems?

[cncsmomndad]

With our children lagging behind most of the industrialized world in education, full day K and extended school hours would likely do children some good. As would more parental involvement in children's schooling. Preschool can be expensive for some families, but so are daily trips to Starbucks and the big SUV most people insist on driving. Just depends where the parents' priorities are. I have noticed a lot of parents in the area send their children to half-day preschool for 1 if not 2 years before kindergarten so I would venture to guess most kids are ready for full day K when that time comes.

We have decided if our children's bookbags get too heavy, we will get an additional set of books to keep at home. Feasible for everyone? No. But we would do that for our kids. Most of the parents I know with school age kids are happy with the school system overall.

Mobile classrooms or trailers provide modern, new, clean rooms for children to learn. They have all the ammenities a regular room would have (except maybe science labs) and the separation from the main hallways provide an insulating buffer to help prevent outside distractions. I see them as a viable alternative to cramming a classroom with additional children and overburdening a teacher. If it helps keep student-teacher ratios in check, I'm all for them. Are they beautiful? Not exactly, but what goes on inside is so much more important than what the structure is composed of.

IMO you hear many more complaints about situations i.e. redistricting because it is just so much more comforting to complain outloud than it is to say "yea, I'm happy about x,y,z."

[lynnsprufera]

We moved from an excellent school district on LI NY last year and my three children, elementary, middle and HS have adjusted well. The one thing that I noticed the most was the smaller homework loads and assignments. At first I was nervous that there would not be enough reenforcement but it acually left my kids less stressed with tedious unneccesary written work and left them more time to read , enjoy sports and music lessons. My HS student certainly has enough homework and the same students that had less homework in the earlier years have all been very prepared for very difficult AP courses and test well on the SAT s. Check all the scores out and guage them to your local district and nationally. You will probably be as surprised as I was.

[NYTEACHER]

I would love to hear the opinons of the teachers in Wake County - considering relocating and getting a elementary teaching job in the county.

I would love to know your opinons -as teachers- which schools have what they need - have good chemistry amongs staff and so on!

Thanks!

[VTeratheart]

As a former teacher (before having my own kids) and my oldest headed into K next fall, I wonder about the quality of the teachers needed to fill all the openings that must occur every year. I mean NO disrespect at all, I am curious as to how classroom positions are filled each year. We're considering making the move down south, and want to make sure this will be a great choice for us, particularly considering we're just beginning this school journey!