A few years ago, I was on the grant-writing committee at My Kid’s school.  We found many grants for lovely programs that we weren’t eligible for due to lack of space.  For example, one enticing program gives instruments to public schools for music programs.  It was just what we were looking for.  But, we weren’t [...]

I wish the fundraisers at my daughter’s school were for real extras like cheerleader uniforms or choir trips. Instead, the PTA raises money to pay for teachers aides, capitol improvements, school supplies, staff development and enrichment programs so that the principal can devote more of the budget to salaries and avoid laying off teachers and [...]

My 10-year-old did not want spend Sunday afternoon at another test and interview at another school since that was already the focus of her Saturday. We went to the school and were directed to the cafeteria where we turned in copies of our children’s report cards and signed in. The children’s names were called and [...]

I was on the phone with one of  my clown mommy friends today. Her kid’s got MAJOR food/allergy issues. I’ve got MAJOR middle school application issues. We’ve not been well served… We are articulate…. You Or… Someone…. May have reason to be worried… Just sayin’…

The Best Thing, the very best thing, –about these weird random, open to all of New York City, middle school application process events—- is the opportunity to reconnect with the parent-friends who we met for the first time when our kids were in preschool or Pre-K or Kindergarten… or… church school, or soccer, or Girl [...]

Standing in line waiting with our kid who has a ticket to take the test to get into NEST+m, one of the most selective public schools in all of New York City. Thousands will take the test. 60 or maybe 80 or, at the very outside–100 students AT MOST will be invited to enter 6th [...]

Yesterday, I heard from another parent that her daughter had gotten a letter inviting her to interview at the school my own daughter listed as her number one middle school choice and we have received no such letter.  The other parent said the interviews are tomorrow. Today, I went to the school and talked to [...]

I read Cathie Black’s editorial in the Daily News today. The focus on the interpretation of test score statistics seems an odd choice for the new Schools Chancellor, like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic, given the host of other pressing issues affecting the daily educational lives of the students and teachers populating the [...]

Cathie Black is on the cover of New York magazine, a publication she once ran. In the profile piece, she says, “I want to empower our principals because the empowerment of principals, I believe, is critical to the success of the system.” But, when asked, ‘What powers do school principals currently lack?’, she gave an [...]

I guess I kind of scared The Husband when I told him my mind had wandered to thoughts of Indian boarding schools while I was thinking about the strict systems of merits and demerits and rote learning at Brooklyn East Collegiate Charter School and Eva Moskowitz’s Harlem Success Academies profiled in this weeks issue of [...]