Parents of high schoolers, does your child go to a big or small

[Miniv]

tell me more about your house and property if you wouldn't mind. We have been thinking of relocating to Oregon and the house is just about the right size for us.

Minimama - Let us know exactly what you are looking for and what part of Oregon you want to investigate. There are several parts of the state that are TOTALLY different from eachother and there are members of Lil Beginnings that live in just about every part. I'm sure one of us can help you in your research.

MA

 

[minimama]

Hey Ma,

Yup! I know Oregon pretty well. I have a sister in Grants Pass, Mom's in Oregon City, best friend is in Coos Bay and I have several other friends scattered throughout.

:

I have always loved Oregon. If I found the right place, to move to, I might go just about anywhere in the state. I love Eugene and Ashland area. Love Salem. Not as crazy about the desert areas though, still beautiful, but not my kind of place. I love a lot of Washington too. There was a place just north of Eugene in Harrisburg we were just looking at but it sold. I figure just wasn't meant to be for that one.

The reasons I had asked for a description is she had posted that she was planning on placing her place up for sale. Thought it would be nice to know what her place is like and see if it would fit our needs.

Oh, I also loved Astoria when we were there last. I have another friend up there too.

 

[Kim Rule]

My son is in a very good high school, although it is big. He is not being very successful in it, mostly because of his lack of effort. I have been trying to get him into an alternative high school...on the outside it may be one of those places that the "bad kids go" however, it's more like a school for oddballs like my son to go, and be successful. I have subbed at one of these alternative high school, and then I did some investigating. There is a no homework policy. That means that students must get their work done in class. There is time scheduled for studying, and doing projects and assignments. The staff is on hand so that if students need help, they can get it. Classes are arranged so that they are small, and if students need to make up credits, they can do it there. The atmosphere is informal...students call their teachers by their first names. But it is a busy place where students are there to work. If a student doesn't want to go, and follow the rules, they are out..and that's it. I hope my son gets in. You'll see in another thread why...

I have also taught in middle school. My first 3 years of teaching were in a smaller district. Now I work in the largest district in the state...there are advantages to both. There is technology and funding available to the larger district simply because the population in the district is in a higher socio-economic range. There are federal programs that are more prevelent in the smaller district because of their lower socio-economic range. The focus is on learning in both districts...and both have overcrowded schools. I'm not sure what the answer is...the educational system in our country has to work a lot of kinks out...but don't get me started on that!

: The best bet is that you visit each area and potential school, and see what your gut feeling is about them...you will know best what is best for your children.

Kim R.

 

[Miniv]

Minimama,

Minisaremighty (Kathy), CAM (Debra), and I all live on the Eastern side of the Cascades in Central Oregon... which is probably not where you want to look, from what you describe. Nootka (Liz) lives in the Astoria area and wcr (Kathi) lives in Southern Oregon.

Personally, if we were to relocate to the western side of the state (the rainy side :bgrin ) we would be focussing on either the Medford/Ashland area in Southern Oregon, or Sheridan - which is northeast of Salem and outside of McMinnville. Larry and I have spent some time and done some research into both areas. Just for fun, you might want to get on line and do property searches at:

http://www.realtor.com/

MA

 

[minisaremighty]

This has been a very interesting thread!!! I totally agree about the kids learning at home. I homeschooled their early years and plan to do high school if it is necessary.

Was fun hearing about the different schools. We don't have a lot of choice here for diversity as we have none. We have about 3% hispanic and less than 1% african american.

Minimama, as MA said, I live on the deserty side :bgrin It's very different than the wet side, for sure! I agree with the places that MA mentioned, as they are the same ones that we considered leaving the dry side for.

 

[MiniHGal]

Well....I guess it depends on the big school--education, teachers, etc.

My high school was about 1500 and 'bursting at the seams'--literally! However, they had good classes, great teachers, and very good choir/band/sports. I guess I just did well in the large setting. I also was never--not once!--offered drugs of any kind, including alcohol and cigarettes. My friends weren't interested in that stuff, and I never went to parties like that...so? Now, in college, I have been asked if I want to drink(never smoke..in general everyone agrees that is nasty), but its been very informal and no pressure (more like, if you want to, sure, if not thats great too).

We didn't have very much diversity, but I also didn't notice any racial slurs, etc.

I would not have wanted to go to a small high school--not enough stuff to get involved with.

 

[tigeresss]

I'm not a parent but thought I'd post anyway. My school has about 850 students and I absolutely love it. I know almost all people if not by name then by their face. My grad class of about 250 people is like one big family...we all know eachother and have all grown up with eachother. Whereas my friends school which has 4000 students...they don't know anybody that goes to their school and when I went to visit it seemed like a very frustrating learning enviroment. Those big schools are like giant shopping malls, they have fast food places inside, starbucks as well those sensor doors that open by themselves. It's absolutely rediculous and I can't imagine having to go to a school like that.

Up here it isn't reccomended that students that are homeschools do grades 11 and 12 homeschooled. The Unis tend to be a lot harder to get into. Atleast that's what I've been told from friends that homeschool, did homeschool and by school councilers.

 

[Jenn]

Jenn,

First - you were very fortunate that no "hard" drugs were available to you at your high school. That is unusual.

Oh, I'm sure they were available and had I gone looking for them, I probably could have found them. However, I was never offered drugs or pressured to try drugs. I didn't even see my first joint until the summer after high school (and no, I didn't accept it!).

I think a lot of it has to do with the kind of decisions a child makes. I really believe in teaching children a good decision making model at an early age (ie. if you do this, THIS will happen, whereas if you choose this, THIS will happen) - I think that carries a person through life fairly well. It's important that children know that their choices have consequences, good or bad, and I also think they should be aware of how their decisions can effect others.