I have to speak up for the New York City public school system. From kindergarten through high school, I attended and survived these schools very well. The one point about segregation I should make is that there were very few Catholics in these classes since they went to parochial schools in the neighborhood. We were all friends after school--playing stoop ball, potsie, and other NY sidewalk games in upper Manhattan (Inwood). Growing up in NY was an incredible experience.
Thanks Toby. And as of course you know better than I, so many great scientists came out of the NYPS in the 20th century. It probably would have been just fine going to the local PS....but that's not what we did. My impression is that the early 1970s were a low point in NYC governance, but I don't know how much that affected the schools at the time.
“...Children who bring a lot of literacy to school share it without loss to themselves.” Beautifully concise and cogent.
This seems more of a tracking v. streaming, and socio-economic debate that got (unfairly) reframed as the (nonetheless important) civil rights debate going on at the time. Students who learn wiith professors' offspring will naturally be more advanced after the first years of school, have paid higher property tax, and generally are happy with the advantages that come with highly educated parents.
It's not easy to share thise advantages, as it is not easy to watch them from afar and not gave access to them.
But viewed from a societal perspective, mixing advantaged students with less so, brings a richer experience and has benefits later in the imagination, innovation and generosity of citizens.
That idea is missing in India and its absence directly impacts the economy, civil unity and quality of life here, as much as bad roads or corruption.
Long way of saying, important topic and fascinating essay, Will!
I have to speak up for the New York City public school system. From kindergarten through high school, I attended and survived these schools very well. The one point about segregation I should make is that there were very few Catholics in these classes since they went to parochial schools in the neighborhood. We were all friends after school--playing stoop ball, potsie, and other NY sidewalk games in upper Manhattan (Inwood). Growing up in NY was an incredible experience.
Thanks Toby. And as of course you know better than I, so many great scientists came out of the NYPS in the 20th century. It probably would have been just fine going to the local PS....but that's not what we did. My impression is that the early 1970s were a low point in NYC governance, but I don't know how much that affected the schools at the time.
“...Children who bring a lot of literacy to school share it without loss to themselves.” Beautifully concise and cogent.
This seems more of a tracking v. streaming, and socio-economic debate that got (unfairly) reframed as the (nonetheless important) civil rights debate going on at the time. Students who learn wiith professors' offspring will naturally be more advanced after the first years of school, have paid higher property tax, and generally are happy with the advantages that come with highly educated parents.
It's not easy to share thise advantages, as it is not easy to watch them from afar and not gave access to them.
But viewed from a societal perspective, mixing advantaged students with less so, brings a richer experience and has benefits later in the imagination, innovation and generosity of citizens.
That idea is missing in India and its absence directly impacts the economy, civil unity and quality of life here, as much as bad roads or corruption.
Long way of saying, important topic and fascinating essay, Will!
BTW was looking forward to reading your dad's choice of bedside weapon during this phase of public service..?
He still had the bat!
I think your father rather enjoyed irritating people sometimes.
Very true:)