Liz Perelstein's response to the May 22nd article in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/22/education/scholarship-funds-meant-for-needy-benefit-private-schools.html?hp

Yesterday’s New York Times exposed yet another story about abuse of public funds intended to support greater educational opportunities for needy children.  The sad irony of what has taken on the moniker “School Choice” movement is one I think about a great deal, because I own and run a business coincidentally called The School Choice Group, which helps families to find the right schools for their children all over the world.  


While we are apolitical and not related to the various “school choice” movements springing up around the country (we predate them by more than a decade), The School Choice Group is founded on the belief that not all children are best served by the same type of education, and that a child educated in a school that is academically and personally compatible for him or her will thrive.  


In addition to the potential benefit of additional school options, reflecting the fact that each child is unique with his or her own strengths and weaknesses, I personally believe that creating competition within the education sector can result in innovation, creativity and enthusiasm.  The abuse of an idea that could benefit children and society because it has been taken over by extremists and used for political and religious purposes is appalling.  Using public funds intended to benefit needy children and to equalize educational opportunity, as described in this article, takes inexcusable to another level – might I say scandalous? 

The greatest irony of all is found in the last paragraph of the article.  The Headmaster of the Covenant Christian Academy is quoted as saying “You have to keep in mind that the curriculum goes beyond the textbook.”  Doesn’t “beyond the textbook” include what parents, teachers and school officials teach children through their actions?

                     What matters to Liz when considering a child's education.   

                                            What matters to you??

It’s the end of the school year.  Kids will be graduating, and many will be starting new schools in the fall.  For other families the end of the school year marks the start of admissions season for 2013 applications.

Whether she is starting a new school or thinking about a different school for the following year, take a moment to reflect on what you feel matters in your child’s education.  Here is my list of top characteristics:

1) Kids need to know how to get along with people – both people they choose and those they would not choose as friends or colleagues.

2) Today’s world is changing far more quickly than the world we entered when we became adults. Whether because they’re asked to move for their job or face an unexpected loss, kids need to be resilient and adaptable so that they can thrive in the face of uncertainty.

3) No school can prepare children for the pace at which technology is driving information our way.  Kids need to graduate eager to keep on learning.  They need to be able to access information and to evaluate the information they find.

4) Kids have so many options and choices when they leave school.  They need to graduate knowing how to make good decisions, to act on their decisions and to call it a day if the decision doesn’t turn out to be so good.

If I were choosing a school for my child, I’d want to make sure he learned all of these things.  What does your list look like?

Mount Kisco Child Care Center's Pre-K D