School Blues: Part 2

So when we last left off, Northside schools were officially "off the table," even the Montessori school. It should be noted, beyond my earlier few words about this schoolastic (and, really, lifestyle) philosophy, that my becoming aware of "the Montessori Method" was like an epiphany for me. I fell into that category of kids who, by virtue of good scores and good grades coming rather easily to me, was subject to a certain expectation that was painful to meet. I grew up amidst a gaggle of adults that assumed that, due to my scholastic achievement, naturally I should be a studious, rapt pupil in the classroom. In actuality, all my years of formal education were a nightmare. Seriously suffering from ADD, as well as forced into a situation that could not have been more opposed to my natural learning style (exploring, doing), "traditional education" was much like serving a sentence for me. Even into my early 30s, the act of sitting in a lecture hall, having a speaker ramble on (and not in the good, Led Zepplin way), was enough to drive me up a wall. But consider the (ideal) Montessori classrooom: where kids can follow their passions, learn at their own pace, explore, and do. It was a joy to see the classrooms at Lucy's school, when we first paid a visit to check it out. And, as if to confirm that she's got some daddy in her, an instructor at Lucy's first conference said, "I can't imagine Lucy in any other kind of school."

It should also be noted that, in one of our visits to Winona, we had the opportunity to check out a Montessori elementary school; indeed, the first public Montessori charter school in the nation (to give you a glimpse of the progressive nature of that little town). It was open & airy, with neatly-ordered wooden & cloth learning tools in their specific places; sun-dappled and warm. The teachers were engaging and excited about what they were doing, and the turnover rate is incredibly low. It was, in short, what we dream of for Lucy's education. So store that in your memory banks - especially Gibbs, who suggests that I "listen to the call of the Z."

So...next step: any schools "out of district" (e.g. inner ring suburbs; not too far of a drive)? Getting to this step killed a little part of me, as I pictured her going 1) to a school in a neighborhood that is not her own, alongside kids she will know only in school 2) a school that is "traditional" 3) putting the fate of her education in the hands of a school district managed by folks who (suburbs, you know) may have value systems alien to us. This may seem relatively minor, but when you consider the cultural differences that begin to emerge as you move out of the city proper (% of SUVs, size of lawns, lack of -yes -- "diversity") there's certainly going to be a certain framework within which students are directed towards being contributing members of society. Do I want a school board that votes 75% Bush, for example, making determinations on curriculum for History? An extreme example, since the inner-ring suburbs are generally not quite so out there, but you get the idea.

We did discover a Spanish immersion school in Robbinsdale (next suburb over - about 3 miles from our home). While it leaned a little closer to the traditional format of instruction, Sharon & I both believe strongly in the value of 2nd language instruction, early on in education. And there's plenty of research that supports the idea that immersion students achieve better in pretty much everything, as they continue on through middle school. Plus - when you find parents who share belief in the value of immersion in anything non-English, you're generally talking about some people with a shared value set (and one that is more or less aligned with ours). That is - opposed to the "love it or leave it"/"make English the official language" set.

UNFORTUNATELY, there is a waiting list. And if you don't live IN Robbinsdale, your name goes into a lottery. And the waiting list is of such size that they don't even get TO the lottery.

So we're out of the mix. They do have a special program in the city of Minneapolis., whereby if you're in poverty, or pretty close to it, you get equal standing with suburbian kids if you choose to go out of district. No such provisions however, as seems to be the case in almost every instance of society, for those of us in lower-middle class. God forbid kids of modest income have the same opportunity for quality education that those of low income. Not to get all arrogant here, but wouldn't you think the City of Lakes would be very concerned with keeping families just like ours in town? They have a funny fucking way of showing it.

Again, t(o)b(e)c(ontinued). Stay tuned for School Blues: Part 3