The right to choose schools

A recent post by Foodmomiac really got me thinking about my son's education. He's only two, but in the next couple of years we will have to decide where he will attend school. I happen to live in the same school district as Foodmomiac, and I hate to say it, but the neighborhood school is low on my list of school considerations.

I do believe that the new principal is fantastic. I thought his recent crisis communications were spot on. I know that the parents who send their kids to the school are involved and helpful.  Many of them live on my block. It's just that I don't know how comfortable I am sending my son to a public school in the nation's third largest city.  I'm not averse to public schooling in the right setting - I am a product of public school.  However, I attended school in a suburb of Detroit, where everyone's biggest worry was what kind of car their parents would get them at age 16.  Now I'm not saying this is the kind of existence I want my son to have, but part of me, the part that can afford it (for now) knows that for however long we can provide it for him, a private school education is well worth the money.

I also realize that if I choose not to send my son to the local public school, it doesn't mean that I won't support the school or its efforts. I already attend many of the school's public functions and give to the neighborhood kids' whenever they come knocking on our door for donations to their school programs. 

I suppose this whole rant may sound snooty or spoiled, but it all comes down to choice - if we earn it, or are lucky enough, we can have a choice of where to send our children to school.  My husband and I are working hard to create opportunities for our family. I want my son to have all the things and more (car excluded) that I had growing up. And while we can afford live in this terrific city, I want my son to experience the best that I can provide for him.  Perhaps, down the road, this will mean public school.  Perhaps it will be the school in my neighborhood. I will investigate all these options. But for now, I have a choice, and I'm just not sure I'm ready to take the leap.  Even if it means some of my friends will be angry at me.

An original post to Chicago Moms Blog.