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05.28.08, 12:22 PM Toddler
36 replies
I live in a rough neighborhood where the public school is full of kids from the projects, but I'm surrounded by the great public schools of Brownstone Brooklyn. Obviously bullying is going to be a huge problem if my kid is the only white student in the local school. That's just life. Does my kid have to be a genius and test into some special school to avoid that, or will education officials sometimes take pity on the kid and grant some kind of variance? [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
Toddler 05.28.08, 12:22 PM Flag
 

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just move. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.28.08, 12:23 PM Flag
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ita or start saving for private [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.28.08, 12:25 PM Flag
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at $30k a year? obviously not an option. it would be cheaper to move to a better neighborhood. nobody thinks it's possible to work the system?? i've always heard if you're crafty you'll get your kid into a decent school in this town. no? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.28.08, 12:30 PM Flag
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[ Removed by moderator ] [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.28.08, 12:25 PM Flag
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np I'm in the same boat in Atlanta. Our public schools in my nabe are just not an option. So - we are going to buckle down and pay for catholic school. If we just can't do it, I'll consider homeschooling for a couple of years. Just can't send her to the publics where we are now and can't afford to move [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.28.08, 12:27 PM Flag
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I'm in Atlanta too... where are you ? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.01.08, 11:10 AM Flag
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ita. get the hell out of there [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.28.08, 12:40 PM Flag
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education officials take pity on no one (ime) [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.28.08, 12:23 PM Flag
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where do you live? Boerum Hill, Red Hook or Fort Greene? DOE doesn't give variance anymore especially to PS 29 or PS58 and forget about BNS or Children's school. Check out decent schools that are under capacity in the South Slope/Sunset Park area such as PS 10, PS 154, PS 1 and PS 295. Are there enough families in the same boat as you that could help turn around the local PS? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.28.08, 12:36 PM Flag
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Red Hook. The local school is apparently very well run but problem is, nobody wants to be the first to subject their kids to such a rough crowd. I have a lot of experience dealing with people who live in the projects and I wouldn't do it even if there were a few others with me. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.28.08, 12:41 PM Flag
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np: but Red Hook is no cheaper than other neighborhoods with options. Like South Slope/Gowanus or Sunset Park/Kensington. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.28.08, 12:47 PM Flag
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i've been there a while and have a great rent deal. There must be some way to get my kid into a better school without moving!! What about subletting my place for a year and moving to Cobble Hill? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.28.08, 12:59 PM Flag
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I think the days of faking an address to score a slot at PS 58 or PS 29 are over. You can't keep a low-profile in Red Hook anymore -too many young families in the same position. Why not try the local PS for pre-k at least? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.28.08, 01:44 PM Flag
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np from above: what OP describes is not faking. BUT OP doing that risks losing your apt. If you can afford to move elsewhere, why not do it? (In the interest of full disclosure, I am not a big fan of Red Hook. Well, except LeNells.) [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.28.08, 02:13 PM Flag
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well, you can enjoy your cheap rent and take your medicine, school-wise, or you can move. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.28.08, 02:30 PM Flag
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Don't you think all of the Red Hook mommies are thinking the same thing? There are lots of 3 and 4 year olds running around. Where will they all got to school? Let's say you can work the system and score a spot, don't you think there'll be tension between you and the families that played it legit? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.28.08, 02:10 PM Flag
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why doesn't this post ^^ have a reply? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.28.08, 02:19 PM Flag
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are you looking for K or pre-k? you might have a chance for K, but it's very hard to get an out of zone pre-k spot due to siblings. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 10:34 AM Flag
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BNS is a lettery school, open to Red Hook residents. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.01.08, 11:04 AM Flag
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Yes, but how many RH families do you know that got in for K? only 1 or 2 get in a year. I would not count on it. They had 700 applications for 50 slots. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.01.08, 04:57 PM Flag
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I live in Boerum Hill, and my DD got into Children's School via the lottery. I know two BH families (with twins!) who got in last year. It could happen to you! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.01.08, 05:05 PM Flag
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Also, the new "hot" Brooklyn school is PS 10. You might be able to get in there. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.01.08, 05:06 PM Flag
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I read Fortress of Solitude and doubted my whole "NYC for us!" attitude. Then I talked to friends who grew up in similar middle class style and found it isn't as bad as it is made out to be. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.28.08, 12:45 PM Flag
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I know several who were white minorities. All had horrid experiences. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.28.08, 02:13 PM Flag
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Obviously this can/does happen. But it is not universal. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.28.08, 02:15 PM Flag
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Does your kid go to preschool? Maybe the director has some pull with other elementary schools? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.28.08, 02:12 PM Flag
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This is why we don't live in Bklyn anymore. It's too rough on the kids. I wouldn't want my DS to be a guinea pig in an evolving school situation. Their school experience is too important! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.28.08, 02:23 PM Flag
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exactly what kid of variance -- the sorry so many of your classmates are of a different race variance? move [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.28.08, 02:28 PM Flag
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When you say take pity, what exactly do you mean? What would you say to make your kid seem more deserving of a better school than some of the minority kids zoned for the school? You think there aren't black moms who don't want their kid to go to a better school? If you think being the only white kid is rough, try being a bougie black kid. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.28.08, 02:30 PM Flag
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she means "eeew! scary black people near my child! of course the doe will see how unacceptable this is!" [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.28.08, 02:35 PM Flag
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I agree. I can't bleieve how overtly racist the people on this post are. I mean I knew UBers were snobs, but I never really got the racist vibe until this very moment. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 10:41 AM Flag
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Didn't you get the memo? You only move to Red Hook after you have your dc enrolled in a decent school. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.30.08, 07:02 AM Flag
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why don't you just move??? seriously, why stay in brooklyn? move to the burbs. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.01.08, 05:04 PM Flag
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don't you hear the racsim in your question? I get your problem and sympathize, but I don't hte DOE will or should give you a variance to go to better school, just becuase your kid is white in a black nabe. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 10:36 AM Flag
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My child is the only white kid in his school (pre-K). I wouldn't say he has been bullied, but the school is terrible academically. I wouldn't keep him there beyond preK b/c the language out of the older kids is not something I want to expose him to. I would say you should look into private, finagle your way into a diff. district or move. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 10:41 AM Flag
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^^or homeschool. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 10:41 AM Flag
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