| Author |
Message |
    
CageyD
Citizen
Username: Cageyd
Post Number: 82
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 25, 2004 - 10:24 pm: |     |
Recently, a thread detailed how many families are moving to Westfield for the better schools/lower taxes. I assumed that the schools in Westfield were much better i.e. more demanding curriculum. Then, I met a woman who lives in Westfield and whose kid is in the same elementary grade as my kid. To my astonishment (in light of the Westfield/SOM school threads) our kids were getting the exact same assignments - I mean exact! I thought it was an interesting bit of reality inserted into the world of "our schools in SO/M are so bad!". Granted there is room for improvement but ya'know, maybe we ain't so far behind after all. Food for thought |
Hank Zona
Citizen
Username: Hankzona
Post Number: 974
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 25, 2004 - 10:55 pm: | |
If houses are for sale in Westfield, where are the people from Westfield moving to? It all comes down to personal choice...and we choose to be here. |
SoOrLady
Citizen
Username: Soorlady
Post Number: 404
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 25, 2004 - 11:03 pm: | |
Just a quesiton Cagey - how do the arts curriculums compare.. music, art, etc... |
columbiastudent
Citizen
Username: Columbiastudent
Post Number: 62
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 1:51 pm: | |
I lived in both Westfield an M/SO for my educational days.... M/SO is drastically better in the arts. I know through firsthand experience... |
mommydee
Citizen
Username: Mommydee
Post Number: 79
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 2:15 pm: | |
My husband's sister lives in Westfield and two of her 3 children are in private schools because they were not getting what they needed. The sports programs are very good but the arts are not even close to what we have here. |
Dillon
Citizen
Username: Dillon
Post Number: 11
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 11:05 pm: | |
Interesting. A friend of mine moved to Westfield a couple of years ago. She told me that she was shocked that her children who attended Tuscan were more advanced in most subjects than their classmates in Westfield. "The grass is always greener..." |
marie
Citizen
Username: Marie
Post Number: 971
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, February 28, 2004 - 2:46 pm: | |
Several folks I know, who have relocated to Westfield, say it's the atmosphere and learning environment of the schools that is significantly better in Westfield.
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Redheadgirl
Citizen
Username: Redheadgirl
Post Number: 2
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, February 28, 2004 - 3:14 pm: | |
"the atmosphere and learning environment of the schools..."
What does this mean, Marie? You mean kids are better behaved? That teachers do things differently? What????????????? |
eliz
Citizen
Username: Eliz
Post Number: 719
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, February 28, 2004 - 8:04 pm: | |
Code words. |
Popo
Citizen
Username: Popo
Post Number: 30
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, February 28, 2004 - 10:51 pm: | |
It's a shame that MOL is not a forum for true dialogue. I think one should be able to express his or her beliefs and ideas without being labeled "racist." Can't we ascribe good motivations to one another? We all care about this community, and our schools, or we wouldn't live here.
Redheadgirl, it's certainly fair of you to ask Marie to elaborate on her statement. The 13 question marks were unnecessary.
Eliz, what did you hope to accomplish with your post?
We have wonderful schools with problems that need to be discussed. It won't happen until we create a climate in which real conversation can take place. Please, let's assume good faith. |
jacman
Citizen
Username: Jacman
Post Number: 174
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, February 28, 2004 - 10:51 pm: | |
"Code words"
Not necessarily. Schools have a school culture, and that is reflected in the "atmosphere and learning environment." Schools where the kids have bought into a primary focus of academic achievement and school spirit will have a different ambience from a school where large numbers of kids are disaffected. |
marie
Citizen
Username: Marie
Post Number: 972
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 9:50 am: | |
I am quoting verbatim what I was told - you can read into my post whatever you like.
One person in particular moved because his daughter had been pushed to the ground in the hallways at school by a group of female students. She became afraid to attend school. The learning environment was too routinely disrupted by students with discipline and behavioral problems.
It's that simple. Some kids do just fine here. Others do not.
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ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 2000
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 11:45 am: | |
Only angelic children live in Westfield, everyone knows that. |
Nohero
Citizen
Username: Nohero
Post Number: 2945
Registered: 10-1999
| | Posted on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 10:51 pm: | |
Congratulations to Ffof for your 2000th post!
...and an excellent point it was, too! |
ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 2003
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 8:29 am: | |
 |
lumpynose
Citizen
Username: Lumpyhead
Post Number: 738
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 11:13 am: | |
Perhaps Columbia has more disciplinary problems than Westfield overall? Discipline is a code word for discipline. |
Redheadgirl
Citizen
Username: Redheadgirl
Post Number: 3
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 12:20 pm: | |
"The 13 question marks were unnecessary."
Sorry about the excessive # of questions marks. It only reflected the depth of my befuddlement and nothing more.
Eliz: What are you saying?
Marie: Thank you for your answer, which confused me even more. (Not all redheads are this readily confounded.) You first said I could read whatever I would like into your first post, but then you gave me a clue as to what you really meant.
I just moved to Maplewood so what you are hinting (well, maybe not "hint," but "allude") is very troubling. Should I worry about sending my 2 boys to Maplewood schools? (Please note, Popo, I only used 1 question mark just now.)
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Tom Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 2260
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 12:33 pm: | |
Welcome to Maplewood, Redheadgirl. I moved in this past June. So far, the schools have served my daughters well. They are in ninth and sixth grades. How old are your boys?
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
There is nothing
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Redheadgirl
Citizen
Username: Redheadgirl
Post Number: 5
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 12:38 pm: | |
They are 18 months and 3 1/2 years old, though if you saw them you would think younger because they're little munchkins. The younger one is pretty verbal, though, unlike his older brother who still speaks with grunts and monosyllables (like his father!). |
Tom Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 2261
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 12:40 pm: | |
Aw, cute. You'll see lots of complaining about the schools here. Some take that as a sign that things are crumbling. Others, like me, think it means that we're concerned parents and we constantly see opportunities for improvement. The schools here are better than where I moved from, where people didn't complain much. There, mediocrity ruled.
I've found that people do things because they can, and that especially applies to complaining online.
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
There is nothing
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lumpynose
Citizen
Username: Lumpyhead
Post Number: 739
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 12:45 pm: | |
How large of a school is Westfield? Do they have an alternative school like we do? What are the demographics? |
Popo
Citizen
Username: Popo
Post Number: 31
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 12:49 pm: | |
Readheadgirl, I'm so sorry I jumped to conclusions about your post--the very thing I accused you of doing!
Welcome to Maplewood. My children are the same ages as yours. |
Redheadgirl
Citizen
Username: Redheadgirl
Post Number: 6
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 12:55 pm: | |
No apology necessary, Popo. Maybe me and my munchkins see you and your kids at the park!
And thank you, Tom, for your explanation. When you're new and lack knowledge, it just makes you jumpy, especially when it concerns violence to children. |
msuewillis
Citizen
Username: Msuewillis
Post Number: 72
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 2:27 pm: | |
Redheadgirl:
Welcome to Maplewood/South Orange (I live in South Orange.) My son graduated from Columbia just this past spring. He had his entire education in SOMA, and it was a fine one. I attended a meeting Friday morning with a lot of town officials and club presidents and whatnot with a large group of Columbia students, and the kids were very thoughtful, full of ideas for improving their school and their world.
Check out where this year's seniors got early acceptances-- and visit the schools and see how welcoming they are.
-- MSW |
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