[Apple Blossom]

My sister lives in Grand Rapids and she and I have had a long discussions about the problems with their school system.

Let me start by saying that she sends her children to private Christian school as does most of the white poplulation in Grand Rapids that can afford it. There are so many Christian schools that they even have sport teams to compete with each other.

Why is this a bad thing you ask? The main reason my sister gave for pulling their kids out of public school was the racial (and gang) conflicts and associated violence. I explained that they have created their own racial tension since what they have left in school are mostly black and hispanic students. If the white kids were still in public school they might act as a "buffer" rather than having 2 groups go at it head to head. It is possible that friendships or associations would overlap the racial boundary that exists now, either with sports, clubs, after school activities (yearbook, newspaper, etc).

Residents of Grand Rapids pay some of the highest property taxes for these public schools, but they pay AGAIN the tuition to the Christian schools their children actually attend. While many would think this absurd (I know I do), she explains that they just can't put their kids at risk for getting beat up, etc. and that the private schools are better academically. I have told her that they have created their own problem by taking most of the white kids out...that's why the racial trouble exists. What really makes me nuts is that there is a special offering at her church to help families with tuition costs who can't afford to send their kids to Christian school.

They have made this bed, now it's time to un-make it or lie in it.

[TitanicMan2003]

I went to City High, about the only high school in the whole district without all these problems (at least it didn't 4 years ago), so of course that's always the one they talk about cutting the budget for.

What I find for a lot of the area Christan schools (a generalization, I know, I've had good friends who have gone to these schools) is that the kids tend to be very cliquish they've gone to school with each other since they were small, then to the same high school, then probably to to the same college and end up working with/for each other and never venture out past their own groups. I know that my brother, sister and I all asked our parents at some time or another if they would have sent us to Christian High if they had the money, and each time they said no.

In any case, my brother and sister never put up with GRPS. My parents got them into East Kentwood High through schools of choice. They decided that after I graduated, they wanted nothing more to do with GRPS (don't get me started on all the boneheaded things that district did, I'll never shut up).

MGY

[em2ss]

I'm having a bit of a hard time understanding what you're saying. Racial tension is caused by white people (and others that can afford it) moving their kids to better schools? Did I get that right?

And summing up by saying that the people who simply want their children educated and safe at school are the ones to blame. Did I somehow take what you said wrong?

[Snoopers-868th]

This looks to me like the problem is not with the Christian schools it is with the public schools who primarily have the unmotivated left and parents who don't much care about the condition of the public school system. I don't blame your sister--as I would have done the same thing.

[television is just wrong]

wow, and we are lead to believe that only white people are racist and hateful. (sarc) as if I didn't know.