Once in a while, we all need a reminder of how lucky we are to live where we do. Remember when you were in school? If I try hard enough, I can. And while I certainly did not grow up destitute, nor did I go to school in a one-room schoolhouse, I know I didn’t get a chance to do this in middle school:

My baby’s in a marching band! In sixth grade! Here on the North Shore, my kids are being exposed to so much more than back in Michigan. I don’t know how much people are following the goings on in my old home state, but they just nearly averted a governmental shutdown. It’s a state without money. And because of the way schools are funded, there are public schools without money. My kids’ old district barely got $7,500 per student, whereas here, there’s more than $11,000 per student to spend. So you can imagine – there was no elementary band, choir or orchestra. Fifth grade strings was supported solely by the district’s parent-led foundation. Music programs were simple class affairs, and while very, very nice, nothing compared to the full-length concerts I’ve been priviliged to attend here.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Thanks to where we live, Zack can also actively participate in an interscholastic sport - cross country. In sixth grade, he’s afforded the opportunity to be a part of an athletic team working together toward a goal. Of course, this is to say nothing of the actual academic programs we enjoy. Seriously – if you’ve never lived anywhere else and your kids haven’t attended in another district, you don’t know just how wonderful it is here. So while we all occasionally complain about the price of a house and the high taxes, remember it’s for something so incredibly worthwhile, hug your kids, thank your teachers and administrators, and…

Go Attea Flyers!

Technorati Tags: North Shore Chicago public schools, North Shore housing prices, middle school activities, Glenview, Attea Middle School

This entry was posted on Monday, October 1st, 2007 at 9:39 pm and is filed under Glenview(t) , Thoughts(t) , Kids(t) , Check this out!(t) . You can leave a response.