<p>Oh, definitely, northstarmom. In order not to be called a geek and ostracized by my peers, I time my answers in class and only raise my hand every fourth question. And that’s why I have more than 3 friends.</p>
<p>What kind of message does that send? Knowing the answers=a bad thing. Being smart=shaming all your peers. </p>
<p>And don’t get me started on behavior problems in chiefly low income schools.</p>
<p>Just to clarify though, I’m not complaining persay. Just pointing out that there IS a big difference and a change does NEED to be made.</p>
<p>You cannot control others, so how you can change their way of thinking and behavior? You can only change yourself, how you feel about your surroundings in relation to your own personal priorities. There is always price to be paid for everything you do or pursue. That is up to you as a person to make a dicision what is more important in your life. You cannot let others to decide your future. Besides, if your peers cannot respect your goals, how you can call them your friends? They definately are not, you better separate yourself from them. However, we cannot start controling others, we still want to live in a free country.</p>
<p>^ Nice sentiment, MiamiDAP, but you try going through high school under constant teasing and with no friends. It sucks. Is it better to be smart and miserable or dumb and happy? A lot of kids don’t think so. I don’t really either. I’d like to be in a place where I don’t have to choose.</p>
<p>I was fortunate enough to attend a public school that had even a stronger curriculum than most private schools. Though we weren’t particularly resourceful (Our books are sometimes dilapidated, but we make do. It’s not like the pages are falling out.), our teachers were dedicated, and they cared about us enough to know us.
We never had the issue of teasing because you’re smart. In fact, by making fun of you, we’re essentially praising you.
I’ve never been exposed to schools southeasttitan mentioned, but I never knew high school students could be so shallow. You’d think they would logically want to get out of their slum by trying harder and encouraging others, but I guess it doesn’t work that way…
Our school is the best high school – private or public – in the city. :)</p>
<p>“I’d like to be in a place where I don’t have to choose”- YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE TO CHOOSE. Including when you are in college and for the rest of your life. Nobody should be surrounded by people who are not supportive. Yes, it is better be without them. That is a life lesson, not any kind of “sentiment”. And those others were stuck in a kitchen for the rest of their lives… There is nothing wrong with that job except if your goal was something else.</p>
<p>Not true, Miami. There are plenty of places where you don’t have to choose between being smart and having friends. College, for one. From what I’ve heard, most private schools would be another.</p>