It wasn’t my daughter’s friend group that caused us to change schools. It wasn’t the out-of-district distance and daily commute that gnawed at our sanity. And it wasn’t even the less-than-ideal neighborhoods of my daughter’s old school that prompted us to change. Although switching to the public system to begin her high school was very good for my wallet, it was the lack of public-school funding and support that was the death knell of our commitment to the system.
In a span of two years from when my daughter entered high school to becoming a Junior, we both witnessed the sharp decline of public education. We saw government claw backs, special programs like music and arts being delisted, intermural being drastically reduced and support from the teachers simply all but vaporized. It seemed like everyone was going through the motions but not making any difference. I had been a staunch supporter of public education simply because I went through it and I’d like to think it prepared me for university. And while the aspiration of public education is still achievable, the system grinds to a halt from funding and administration perspectives. And when the out-of-country exchange component to my daughter’s International Baccalaureate programs was cancelled and parents weren’t even given the choice to subsidize what the school couldn’t pay. We made the final decision to leave.
Setting aside the requirements to be admitted into a religious school’s IB program, our biggest worry wasn’t religion, or cohort pre-requisites or even her academics—it was social. How will my daughter who is entering midway into a new high school fare when all social structures, friend groups and cliques are already well-established?
How will my daughter who is entering midway into a new high school fare when all social structures, friend groups and cliques are already well-established?
For one, the kids in this IB program were already very committed in Grade 11. Anyone not committed to the program would have dropped out, already. So those who stay are in it for what doors will be opened in the future. Given such a dedicated cohort, my daughter found fast friends who were both inspiring and supportive.
Beyond the classrooms, every student looked forward to the opportunities of student exchanges and international programs as the most significant part of the program isn’t at risk. They will still be exposed to new experiences in culture, language and global perspectives.
And finally, my daughter’s favorite reason for changing into a neighborhood Catholic school is that her new friends now live in the same neighborhood. Ever since daycare, my daughter had never attended school in her catchment area—whether my or her mom’s house. Now with kids in the neighborhood, they all have more opportunities to network beyond the regular 9 to 3:15 school day.
When it comes to education, it’s not just how smart your child is or isn’t; it’s the environment that plays a significant role, too. In other words, it’s not just the seed, but the soil. Johnny Appleseed, indeed.
