The School I Choose

The mantra this week is that parents should get to choose the schools their children attend; that their zip code shouldn’t choose it for them. It’s quite the idyllic belief – that out there, somewhere is the perfect school.

As a parent, I’m still looking. Here’s what I hope to find.

• I choose a school that values children for the unique individuals they are.
• I choose a school with a strong, active PTA.
• I choose a school where the parents of the other children value education as much as I do.
• I choose a school that has well-paid faculty who are happy to come to work.
• I choose a school where the teachers receive meaningful professional development and are treated as professionals.
• I choose a school that teaches all students, regardless of background or ability.
• I choose a school that has enough technology to prepare my child for the world after school.
• I choose an elementary school with a safe and exciting playground.
• I choose a school that can afford a resource officer, even though I live in a community that looks like it would never need one.
• I choose a school with enough counselors to tend to every child’s social and psychological needs.
• I choose a school not driven mad by testing.
• I choose a middle school with teachers who work in teams to help children transition into adolescent learners.
• I choose a school that offers art, music, PE, and computer instruction at all levels.
• I choose a school that has a strong collaborative relationship with a Career Tech center.
• I choose a school that fosters reading for reading’s sake and writing for writing’s sake.
• I choose a school with every student receiving support to be on grade level in reading and math.
• I choose a school that doesn’t arbitrarily mandate retention based on flawed tests.
• I choose a high school that offers a variety of courses that allow students to explore their career possibilities.
• I choose a school that encourages the study of Current Events.
• I choose a school that teaches people not to be defined by their mistakes.
• I choose a school where the parents support their children in sports while also respecting the boundaries between the field and the stands.
• I choose a school with good breakfasts and lunches.
• I choose a school that can raise money for band trips and cheerleader uniforms but doesn’t have to for teacher supplies.
• I choose a school that operates under mandates fully funded by the state.
• I choose a school focused on children rather than A-F Report Cards.
• I choose a school with no bullying.
• I choose a school with board members who listen to the professionals in their district.
• I choose a school that is a partner with its community.
• I choose a school where the teachers have manageable class sizes.
• I choose a school with teachers who will laugh when students properly pull off a flash mob.
• I choose a school with at least one nurse.
• I choose a school with at least one librarian.
• I choose a school with spirit.
• I choose a school that takes field trips and has class parties.
• I choose a school with fully-equipped science labs.
• I choose a school that teaches social studies and civic engagement to all students.
• I choose a school that values service-learning.
• I choose a school that has well-maintained buses with comfortable seats.
• I choose a school with a safe room, a roof that doesn’t leak, and functioning heat and air.
• I choose a school that encourages participation in Math Counts, Geography Bee, Science Fair, Competitive Speech and Debate, and Robotics.

Maybe I haven’t found the perfect school yet. I haven’t even created the perfect list, I’m sure. I came up with these 40 things in about 15 minutes. Nonetheless, I’m still grateful for the schools my children attend(ed). I know most feel the same way.