When fellow parents inquire about my daughter’s kindergarten plans, I proudly respond that she’ll be attending our local public elementary school. This often elicits surprised reactions, followed by the question, “Is that a good school?”
To be honest, my instinctive reply might be a reluctant “No.” This response stems from the conventional metrics many parents use to gauge a school’s quality. Our local school lacks yoga classes, an active PTA, or extensive art programs. It operates with a limited budget and has seen a decline in enrollment. There are no organic lunch choices, structured after-school activities, or unique programs like knitting classes or restorative justice initiatives. It has a student body that includes 72% Latino, 15% Asian/Filipino, 5% white, and 5% black students, with 83% of them coming from low-income households. Historically, this school has been overlooked by many affluent families in our neighborhood. Yet, it stands resilient year after year, eager to serve the children in our community, regardless of their families’ social or economic status.
We had numerous alternatives. Charter schools are plentiful, and we gained admission to several. We are fortunate enough to afford private schooling, but this post serves as a manifesto, a heartfelt expression of why we chose our local public school as a mother, neighbor, and community member in a vibrant, diverse neighborhood in Los Angeles.
Here’s why we made this choice:
- A Supportive Community: This school is filled with caring parents, dedicated teachers, and committed administrators. It may not have the polished brochures or the latest professional development workshops, but it has heart.
- Accessibility for All: There is no lottery system, no complicated admissions process, and no secret enrollment policies. If you reside in the neighborhood, this school is yours.
- Potential for Greatness: Despite being disregarded by some families in the area, this school is bursting with potential and excellence.
- Shared Responsibility: Just like the strip of parkway outside my home is my responsibility, so is the local elementary school. It’s my duty to support, trust, and invest in it.
- Fostering Diversity: If I don’t intentionally expose my children to diverse socioeconomic and racial settings, I risk raising them in a bubble of privilege. Ignoring the realities of school segregation would mean failing to equip them to understand and address systemic racism and classism.
- Real-World Connections: Without peers from varied backgrounds and experiences, my children could easily normalize their privilege. Teaching them about structural inequalities requires context, which cannot be gained through superficial gestures like donating items or attending events.
- Rejecting the Escape Plan: Some might suggest that if things don’t work out, we can always find another school. While true in theory, I believe that as a community member advocating for equitable education, I cannot contribute to a system that sacrifices one child’s education for another’s. My child deserves the same quality of education as every other child in our community.
I anticipate that the experience will be a mix of chaos and joy, frustrations and triumphs. When I step away from the pressure to follow a scripted path of educational success, I find beauty in the simple moments, the challenges, and even the occasional homework assignment. My children’s lives and education don’t need to be perfectly curated to foster their growth into remarkable individuals.
As Martin Luther King Jr. wisely said, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
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In summary, choosing our local public school is about embracing community, valuing diversity, and committing to equitable education for all children.