[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Rich76_911s

Under this assumption if you sent two identical twins to two different schools one bad and one great, the results would be closely matched.

I just don't think it is that simple. If it was simply all about parenting why do so many people, already in great schoold districts, spend thousands of dollars annually to send their kids to private (arguably better) schools? Under the engaged parents argument this is either a waste of money, or an attempt to make up for bad parenting.

In no way, shape, or form am I saying that a lack of parenting is not playing a significant role in this. I'm just saying that the best parents in the world sending thier kid to a bad school is at a significant disadvantage to a mediocer parent sending thier kid to a good school. Which is a problem we need to work on.

Who needs to work on it, and who needs to start others to start working on it. Should that burden be taken by the parents? Or is it too large of a problem for parents to simply demand more. What do they bring to the bargaining table. Either shape up or we ship out? Sometimes it isn't that easy.

Many of the parents I know who send their kids to expensive private schools are not "involved" in the education of their children. That high dollar school is a status symbol, just like a Rolex or a big house. For that matter sometimes even the kids appear to be some form of status symbol, as the parents certainly aren't particularly interested in them. Private school isn't always the sign of engaged parents.

My in-laws live in a very small central KS town, the school there is mediocre at best. But the parents are involved with their kids and refuse to let them quit or fail at school. So far every kid old enough for college has attended and graduated. It starts at home.