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07.04.08, 17:10 PM NY Schools
45 replies
Anyone else with a 99 feel cheated that dc didn't ge into citiwide this year? [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
NY Schools 07.04.08, 05:10 PM Flag
 

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was pissed for a bit and came back to my kid being happy and successful wherever she goes. Life id good; try to let it go........... [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.04.08, 07:50 PM Flag
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I think you need to let it go. we only applied for one citywide and didn't get it. we knew that it was not a guarantee, with only 50 spots and 900 qualifying applicants. cannot imagine being pissed about it. disappointed, yes. pissed, no. would like doe to expand good district programs though, or get rid of ctywides altogether. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 04:25 AM Flag
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Bx: How would getting rid of the citywides be an appropriate response to the fact that there is more demand than supply? That's not what we usually do in this country when a resource is in short supply. Instead, we bring our energies to the table to increase supply. What would make sense is if every family among the qualifiers worked together to pressure the DOE to open enough accelerated classrooms in the Anderson/Nest/TAG/HCES style to include every child who tests in. The one good thing about the numbers this year is that they FINALLY make it clear how many kids qualify who don't get seats throughout NYC. Anderson always had 400 applicants for 50 seats. That's not new. Thank god they're citywide or those of us in outer boroughs would be out of luck. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 06:49 AM Flag
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Bx ctd: Those of us in outer boroughs would be sunk without citywides. When there are accelerated programs in every area then you can talk about eliminating citywide schools. Even then, I would argue that the extraordinary benefit of mixing children from all five boroughs should be available for those who want it. My 10 years with kids in these schools has connected them to all sorts of people from all sorts of neighborhoods. That's what we live in NYC for, after all!! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 06:53 AM Flag
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most of us don't care if our kids are educated with kids from all the boroughs in elementary. in fact, most people recognize the benefits of having a local community at the school. certainly there are benefits to acceleration and not needing to commute or bus kids all over...which, btw, is very expensive and not worth the hassle. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 06:59 AM Flag
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also, it would surprise me if people listed all citywides with a 99 that they didn't get a spot since some said 98s got in. I personally decided to opt over good district programs over citywides that I saw as less desirable...as did most of the people I know [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 07:03 AM Flag
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Why don't you care if your kids are educated with kids from all the boroughs in elementary? Isn't NYC your community with all the races, economic strata, languages, and the rest of it? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 07:34 AM Flag
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this is so silly, as not to warrant a response, but here you go. all of these communities have plenty of diversity. people could have a highly diverse community just by attending local schools. district G&Ts should be built up to accomodate gifted kids in all areas. I see no reason to bus them around the city, just so they have the opportunity to attend elementary with someone from staten island. who cares, really? if I wanted staten island, I would have moved there. same for burbs. why not just bus kids to chappaqua while we are at it, and vice versa. for elementary, it is better to stay local, and less expensive. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 07:39 AM Flag
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chappaqua would be even whiter. my neighborhood has no racial diverity to offer and, as I thought I made clear, I do care! That doesn't mean that you have to. Tolerate a little difference between us. I can. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 07:44 AM Flag
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if you don't like the community you live in, you have the option to move or go private. this is such a ridiculous argument...my white dc lives among too many whites so we would like to travel to queens for K! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 07:57 AM Flag
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I think that there is nothing special about citywides other than the fact that they are accelerated and go beyond 5th grade. I think that programs should be created in districts that do the same thing. no need for people from different boroughs to travel to manhattan for a spot. I think keeping it local allows for a better sense of community and quality of life. I could do without having kids from all over in the class. I just want accelerated curriculum and a place until at least 8th grade. otherwise, the citywide aspect makes no sense. so while I believe there should be more programs with benefits of citywides as they currently are configured, I do not believe the schools need to be citywide. district wide is fine by me. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 06:56 AM Flag
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I totally agree! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 07:22 AM Flag
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Bx: Well, this is what makes for a diverse community. I do want my kids in class with people from all over, just as we are friends with people from all over, play music with people from all over, play sports with people from all over, attend cultural events with them, etc. But I completely respect your right to choose not to move outside of your community for any of these things including education. Choices are the key. Yes, families should advocate for local accelerated and K-8 options if that's what they want. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 07:23 AM Flag
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Bx: What we wanted was to send our children to accelerated schools and we were fortunate enough to get our wish - albeit in another borough. Our jobs are also in that borough! We all commute together - more family time, not a hassle at all! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 07:25 AM Flag
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Would you argue that the city should close down the Met and distribute art among the boroughs? That Broadway should be dismantled in favor of local theaters? This is just silliness. We live in a city where many desirable resources are concentrated in particular geographical areas. Want local acceleration? Then advocate for it just as you would any other local resource! Anderson/Nest/TAG exist because parents advocated for them - parents from all five boroughs. One of my kid's closest friends at Hunter High lives on Staten Island. Others in Victorian Flatbush. Several in Harlem. Many in Forest Hills. Same was true at Anderson. We are all happy about that. You don't want it? Don't choose it! Work at starting something local just as parents did in order to get these programs going. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 07:31 AM Flag
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think it is unecessary and over rated for elemnentary school. perfectly fine for HS. I would not want the city to create more citywides, and would advocate against doing it. it is a waste of resources. if everyone stayed local, they would attend very diverse schools. moving young dcs all over the city increases pollution, congestion and is expensive. do not see that the resources being put into this are warranted. smart kids can go to top programs in their nabes. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 07:36 AM Flag
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Bx: My neighborhood is not diverse. If my children attended our local school they would have been in class with only UMC white children. Not desirable, in my opinion. But acceleration was the point and we were happy to commute together (no increase in expense or environmental damage). I'm all for parents demanding local acceleration. My post was in response to someone saying above that NYC should "get rid of ctywides (sic) altogether". Keep your kids local, work to develop the kind of local school you want. DOE didn't wake up one day and start Anderson! Parents got it done. Parents who wanted that for their kids. So I fully support you working to get what you want. I only balk at the notion that we should be denied what we want for our kids because you don't want it for yours. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 07:41 AM Flag
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Bx ctd: I only balk at the notion that we should be denied what we want for our kids because you don't want it for yours. For goodness sake, just don't choose it! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 07:43 AM Flag
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I just don't think it merits the resources for this age group. I think it drains resources being accrued in local G&Ts, and thus is harmful. I think doe should get people to build up their local options. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 07:51 AM Flag
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Doe doesn't get parents to do things! Parents work like hell to get the DOE to do things!! That's where citywides came from. They get no special funding. They drain nothing from anyone. As far as budgeting goes, they are the same as any other school. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 07:54 AM Flag
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not true. doe must bus these kids from far away...even if only from distant places in manhattan. I don't think they should. it drains those people from the nabes where they live and could make a contribution, as well. depletes nabes and wastes $$. not worth it for elementary [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 07:58 AM Flag
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What 'resources' do you imagine are put into this? Citywides are not funded any differently than any other schools. Same DOE budgets. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 07:48 AM Flag
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Keeping children in their own neighborhoods is patently unfair to those children whose neighborhoods do not contain many other school-loving kids. Look at the distribution map for this year's test scores. The kids in far flung neighborhoods should be commanded to remain in an area where there is no appropriate peer group for them? This really does begin to sound a bit racist. Stick to your own neighborhood? Really?? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 07:58 AM Flag
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oh c'mon. you are the white mom living in a white nabe complaining its too white? give me a break. good programs should be created in all nabes, and they should go to 8th grade. we do not need more citywides. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 08:00 AM Flag
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DOE does not provide busing out of borough and has, on occasion, indicated its desire to eliminate it out of district. Do not speak whereof you have no knowledge. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 08:01 AM Flag
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they should eliminate it. a waste of money, time and resources to drag kids around the city at the age of 5. fwiw, anderson has been majority white until this year [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 08:04 AM Flag
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np: true. anderson's diversity started to come about only in last couple of years. used to be largely UWS/UES white MC/UMC [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 08:06 AM Flag
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Keep waiting for your kids lives to start after elementary. The all white kids in my white nabe at their very desirable white school take one big trip a year to the Met or Carnegie Hall. My kids, in mixed classes with black, hispanic, east asian, and other kids who are equally enthusiastic about school go on regular weekly curriculum-enriching trips to these and the opera, museo del barrio, AMNH, City Hall, and on and on. On weekends we enjoy cultural events and friendships in all parts Manhattan as well. We live across a bridge but that's not keeping us in our homogeneous neighborhood! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 08:07 AM Flag
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Racist and hateful. Go ahead a try to "get rid of ctywides (sic) altogether". That's a much more sensible thing to do than start your own local effort. Just plain meanspirited. I've had kids at citywides for 9 years. Don't pretend to know things you don't. I wouldn't have sent them anywhere else. We live where we can afford to live. That won't keep us out of the heart of the city. You can stick to your neighborhood!! I'm finished! This is what's a waste of time and energy. Oy. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 08:12 AM Flag
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sounds like your kids will be growing out of the program soon if you have been there for 9 yrs. hopefully, you will find something else to do with your time. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 08:17 AM Flag
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One old one. One young one. But not intending to waste any further time with such narrow-minded hateful harpies. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 08:41 AM Flag
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well, that is one experience. my dc will attend a district G&T that takes 15-20 trips every year with other kids in district, many of whom are of other ethnicities. they all live close by, and we will enjoy the community and nabe together. the school will pool its resources, and build the program further. we will visit other nabes when we are so inclined, and all is good. btw, dfs with kids at the G&T we will be attending in the fall have told me that they have visited all the places you mention. not sure you even know what the district programs are like. at any rate, they should be further developed, and should go to 8th grade. no need for more citywides. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 08:14 AM Flag
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I speak of my own neighborhood, not yours, and I speak from very intimate knowledge of our local reality. Sounds like you have a local choice you're happy with. I'm happy with my citywide choice. My choice costs you nothing. Why would you seek do deny me access to it? That's just mean. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 08:17 AM Flag
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look, I am not out to get you. I was simply saying I see no reason for more citywides. I honestly believe that all districts need excellent programs for everyone, and believe the efforts should be put there for this age group. I am neither racist nor mean spirited. I was simply offering my opinion on a debated topic. please relax! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 08:20 AM Flag
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As I said, look back up at the top of this thread. My response was to a suggesteion that "ctywides (sic)" should be eliminated altogether. I'm all for local options. That will never cover all the demand. There remains a need to citywide even once there are local accelerated K-8. It's frustrating to read posts saying I should 'stick to my own neighborhood' - that I'm costing the DOE anything different than any other family in the city. This is where I can afford to live. That doesn't mean we can't use the resources in wealthier neighborhoods if we make the effort. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 08:25 AM Flag
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np: are you the poster saying your kid would be stuck with all white dcs if not for citywides? if so, I would like to know which nabe is cheap (only place you can afford) and all white. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 08:30 AM Flag
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I live in the Bronx. You figure it out. What I said was that we have no local access to acceleration and that traveling to get is was well worth it to our family. One of the many benefits is increased racial and economic diversity. I said that we like having friends from all over, of all races, who speak different languages, practice different religions, are more and less affluent than we. But most important of all, all of the families who strive in this manner share a common value of excellent education sufficient to motivate the trip. All the kids LOVE SCHOOL. That's the most important thing that they share. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 08:50 AM Flag
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if you created an excellent district wide program that goes to 8th grade in the bronx, you would certainly get the same thing...diverse, smart kids and families committed to excellent education. no need for citywides, certainly not more of them. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 08:56 AM Flag
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Never said there should be more - just keep what's there and make whatever you want locally . BTW - Have you ever looked at a map of the Bronx? It's big...really, really big. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 09:03 AM Flag
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ever more reason to develop district wide k-8 schools there [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 09:25 AM Flag
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DS going to citywide for K even though we have good local school. Mostly because citywide goes through 8th. Didn't want to deal with this nonsense again in 5 or 6 years. Would be difficult for 5th grade entry to private school. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 12:57 PM Flag
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true for many who opted for citywides. so if doe created k-8 G&Ts, rather than citywides, everyone would be happy [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 06:22 PM Flag
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yes, and if you had a similar K-8 in the bronx, you would likely have the same thing. no need for a citywide. if diversity is what you crave, the bronx is the perfect pool from which to draw for such a program. no need for you to travel to the uws for all this. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.05.08, 06:38 PM Flag
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stick to your own nabe, and leave anderson for the UWSers who created it. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.06.08, 02:59 PM Flag
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No matter. Fot into private. Citywide is not all that. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.06.08, 03:02 PM Flag
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