New York Times article- Middle School Stakes

The New York Times ran an article today highlighting parent's concerns in Manhattan regarding picking the "right" middle school. I began chuckling when I read about one parent's "bathroom test" for schools, in which she stakes out a stall, closes the door, and then monitors all that she hears as students come and go.

Although this provides a humorous visual, I imagine that she is desperately trying to get a sense of the second family that will be holding her child for the next few years. I was also interested with the strikingly different school attributes that concerned students (lockers) and parents (academics).

Underlying all of this is the fear of the unknown and no basis for trusting that the schools have students' best interests at heart, coupled with the knowledge that middle school is a foundational experience that can have a dramatic affect on student's life.

I am hopeful that Park families don't have to know this level of anxiety.