Student numbers dip at Asheville Middle School

[yona]

As always I mean no offense to you, What. I will, with respect answer or comment on your individual points.
First what do you need to do, nothing. The bloated corrupt state and federal government that confiscates my tax dollars to pay a wasteful union to lobby for ever increasing bites of the tax apple. If the money went where it should facilities and faculty would both be top notch. Supplies would be available and a possitive learning environment would be available. As it is now we have over worked entitlement minded teachers that teach to a test, but fail to prepare students for the real world. Students that do accel do so by their own accord, or via the inspiration of their involved parents.
In short what can the system do, since you are in no way responsible. They can allow school choice by offering vouchers in the amount of paid taxes divided by the number of students either state wide or nation wide. Parents that like the public schools are welcome to choose the school. While I, with my voucher for my Daughter, will choose a private school that upholds both my values and my academic expectations.
The whole middle part about the wayward teen. I have known for a while now that you had a caring heart of gold. I am sorry to hear that due to several circumstances beyond your control that she was lost to you. I wish her a happy life.
Finally your last part. I guess you don't know. I have never made it a secret, but I am not rich. My Mother worked very hard and set aside money for the time when I would eventually give her a grandbaby. It was my Mothers intention that her granddaughter be sent to a good school. I ask you, do you really begrude hard working middle class people that simply made sacrafices so that her granddaughter could attend a private school?
I have never tried to push or force anyone to opt for private school. It is simply my opinion with some statistical fact to back it up, that public schools are failing and are biased in their educational plans. That is fair, since we chose a private school which echoed our moral and political values. More moral than political, since many teachers and staff are left leaning. The big difference there is I control the teachers influence over my child. I know you said you have gone right up to public school teachers, and I applaud that, but how many other parents either couldn't or were so disinterrested that the political indoctrination was allow to take root in their children.
A day may come when my baby has to go to public school. I pray not. If that day comes I will have you as my example of an involved parent protecting the future of her children.

[Manx]

I have to say the years my family spent in AMS was the 3 worst years of our lives. We were involved with the children at home and at school but I would not go back through that place nor advocate anyone going there at all. I congratulate the parents who have pulled their children out of there. Now granted this was a few years ago but I have another one coming up and she will not attend there.
Also did you all notice the other article in the paper today? 7 out of 9 city schools failed the AYP. And 19 of the county schools failed. What does this tell us about our current school system folks?

[Lollerkeekles]

If you want a good education for your children, send your kids to a foreign school.

[What]

Yona, the only part of the public/private school issue that we've discussed that concerns me is that you've more than once exclaimed, "you're welcome" to one who chose public school with respect to where your tax dollars are begrudgingly spent toward their child. Nearly every system that involves children these days needs a serious revamping. I don't care if they have my tax dollars, but I do care that it is spent on and for the children. Maybe that's what you are saying too but both times I've read that, it had the potential to feel a bit demeaning.

As far as our young wayward teen, I had three kids under five at the time and she was just shy of turning 18 and receiving her diploma. Despite my efforts, she felt it demeaning to go after her GED instead. She wasn't lost to me, she was lost to a social stigma. She gave up on herself as soon as the private school system gave up on her on top of her parents. She got the hell out of Dodge with the first jerk that showed her the attention her dad should have. Sure, her parents were a mess and have since lost other children, but she was willing to try to put her education first above all her turmoil and was turned away because of money. This was, no less, a Christian private school. ;(

I never assumed you were rich. I don't feel I am the one begrudging. Where the money comes from to give your child what you feel is best is none of my business. My point only was that at a time when this private (and moral?) school should have cared more about a mere couple of months of a child's entire education rather than the money, they didn't. She was a straight A student too. Old enough to become responsible for her decision not to go to public school or try for her GED? Yes. Was I disappointed that I could not do more or convince her otherwise? Yes. But, she knew she had landed on our doorstep at a time when we really couldn't afford another child and despite our willingness to try anyway, she never really got past that misplaced guilt she put on herself.

Is it harder to tackle problems in a public school versus a private school in most situations? Perhaps. NCLB is a biggie right now among others. But, my experience with the private school was too.