Of Cats and Kids

Unit 4: Let's try confusing the issues with facts

Posted by: Carol Lombardi

Sunday, April 9, 2006 11:29 PM

I was glad to see that Unit 4 is starting from scratch. The beginning is a very good place to start, according to my favorite movie.

In the interest of fairness and diversity and accuracy, perhaps the fresh start might be launched by a genuine commitment to start listening to a range of opinions from a variety of people, instead of just those opinions that are presented the loudest and with the most belligerent air of entitlement.

Perhaps, for example, instead of spouting assumptions about why parents are fleeing Unit 4, perhaps they could actually ASK parents of kids in private schools why they fled Unit 4.

I can't imagine, for example, many parents in my daughter's 50% non-white class falling in the "white flight" category so the survey might need to have a few other options. (Yes, 50%. Without so much as a consent decree.)

And if they ever get around to asking this tax-paying constituency what they think, I hope Unit 4 listens.

I hope they realize that parents of kids at Countryside will probably not have the same reasons as the parents of kids at Judah Christian, who will not have the same reasons as parents of kids at St. Matt's, who will not have the same reasons as parents of kids at Canaan Academy or University Primary. And let's not leave out the people who have just given up completely and are homeschooling.

The reasons would be varied, and probably many of them are not what Unit 4 wants to hear. But the information gleaned might shed some light on what people really want from their schools - and what they are willing to pay for.

Comments