Involved neighbors

Bob Krumm tells us where the state can find $225 million--like they actually 'need' anymore. Of course, it does require a bit of effort from the grown-ups. Here's number five from the list Bob posts:

5. Family and Community Involvement. This may be the most important element of all. One of the knocks on magnet schools is that it often removes the most involved parents from the neighborhood schools. While that is likely an effect, children of uninvolved parents are less likely to succeed whether or not they are surrounded by peers whose parents are involved. We need more family and community involvement in education. An answer might be to stop forcing kids to attend schools outside their own neighborhoods so that communities can actually develop around their neighborhood schools.

I do believe that a rising tide lifts all boats and so increased involvement by some parents has a good chance of enhancing the lives of other people's children as well.

I also believe that we need to get back to smaller neighborhood schools. Bob's right--our neighborhoods took a hit when parents ended up with children in a couple of schools 'over there' and traveling began eating up whatever time they may have had to volunteer at or monitor the schools.