<p>so I spelled worng again c-h-a-p-e-r-o-n-e, chaperone.
You are correct!</p>
<p>redbug, how long have been and where in FL are you? you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to but that’s what happen in most places there ( and I am sure elsewhere US) and that’s why FL has three best art magnets. they are created to mix up students by instead of bussing in poor kids, more advantaged kids into super magnets that created in disadvantaged area on purpose. </p>
<p>One big hurdle is residential restriction, you have to have address or you can not apply. I hear family move to say, palmbeach area just so kids have shot at Dreyfoos, or even for its feeder middle school, means kids are still in elementary schools!
What eat me most is that, most magnets kids are not well off. maybe better than regular schools but funds are tight and often parents have to do fundraising to send kids to pre college (need air fare and supply even after kids are given full rides) and art teacher would rent kids pocket money so they’d get to see movies ( educational sort, say Avatar?) or art shows out of town.</p>
<p>I hear all these from my kid’s godmother in FL and I know few kids really really worked hard. I am awed but also feel bit uneasy because my kid have to deal with them if he get to be in, say, Cooper one day…</p>
<p>Redbug…as a product of Florida public schools and where almost all my high school friends now teach…I am so sympathetic. I think Florida, particularly north Florida, has some of the worst school districts in the country–DC, mississsippi and Louisiana could, however, compete head to head for the honors–There is one golden lining that you have hit on…kids that get out of the cultural void that is north florida public education really appreciate it when they discover good educational opportunities…I thought I had died and gone to heaven when I got to Duke…I had never written a research paper, I didn’t know the difference between a footnote, endnote and in text references and totally humiliated myself in my intro-philosophy course when I confused a teacher’s reference to “euthanasia” with “youth-in-asia”…thought it had something to do with young japanese people and kamikazees…all my classmates were from Exeter, Choate and the Madeira school and snickered and pitied me.</p>
<p>I knew little to nothing, couldn’t write worth squat, had an appalling accent that made me unintelligible to most yankees, but I once I entered college, I never missed a lecture, went to every free seminar/external speaker, I asked for help, sought mentors, and savored every new experience and piece of knowledge…so too your art kids will be so ready to take advantage of the facilities and opportunities wherever they go to study art or anything else. Some of the kids from art schools or from top academic schools like ours are going to be burned out and maybe won’t enjoy/take advantage of college opportunities. Florida produces kids like old gators…tough, and apparently fast asleep in the sun, but they move plenty fast when a tasty egret gets within reach.</p>
<p>Your description of Florida kids gave me my first laugh of the day. Thanks!
Actually I think this describes a lot of teenagers, especially the falling asleep in the sun part.
I wanted to just add that while I think it’s awful that the kids weren’t allowed to attend a National Portfolio Day event better yet on your own to plan a few trips (even in a junior year) to some schools that are receptive to portfolio interviews. I think portfolio day can be a pretty insane experience and most schools do a one-on-one interview, portfolio review and I would think you might even be able to do that as a junior. I know that SAIC had a “visit” day this year where they actually gave kids pointers on what contituted a good portfolio and then they could talk one on one with reviewers about their work. This can be a tough experience for kids who aren’t used to “talking” about their work and I would recommend one of those sorts of experiences. More thorough and more helpful than NPD can be at times. The one we attended literally had kids lined up for blocks and it was a mad house. Doing something at a particular school would be less stressful and more helpful.</p>
<p>But of course this isn’t helpful in terms of the kids getting time to go do this and the school being so uncooperative. That is a darn shame.</p>
<p>fammom I had no idea you were the real life “Charlotte Simmons”
of course you have made so much better choice than the girl in the certain area of study.
(or didn’t you? hummmm Duke shumuke…)</p>
<p>PM…THank you BandD with your crappy spelling and constant apologies for your foreign background you have once again provided me with insight/tips on more bits of US popular culture via CC…I had to google Charlotte Simmons – only read Wolfe’s Bonfire of the Vanities and some nonfiction–can’t believe I missed it! will check out of library immediately–sounds scarily apropo…note to self to make sure it doesn’t come kid’s way any time soon. Also, note to self to share with my old college roomate who may be the model for Wolf’s worst character–sex starved richy-rich roomate! OMG that sounds like her! she has calmed down now to become a pillar of her exclusive gated community and leader of the United Way and charitable balls and dowdy golf player but perhaps Mr. Wolfe was spying on her 25 years ago?!?</p>
<p>you are so cool yet I warn you, everyone (critics, common people young and old alike) pretty much laughed at poor old man in white tux (here I did type “tax” first, see?) when “Charlotte” came out first. I liked it since I love his style and it was still new to me, domicile (spelled wrong?) frat formal etc etc…
I did give even tacky-er cover designed paperback version to my college bound jock nephew for “what you should not do” going away gift. I donno he ever read it, though.</p>
<p>Thank you B&D, I had to Google it too - now it’s on my next book to read list. Altho H will die if I bring one more book into the house, as I am a true book junkie. Interesting to see part of it modeled after U Florida (according to Wikipedia anyway). Maybe my D read it too and that’s why she’s so against big universities! LOL.</p>
<p>It was sort of in “you should read this” list when I took HS tours, four -five years ago. I spotted stand displayed on the shelves of the library of the better ( possible OK college prep) NYC public HSs, so suppose it is safe to give to teens, that is, only you = parent are sure not the one main characters could be modeled after. ( or school librarian had no clue what’s in it? Since he write so few novels… and sometimes get mixed up with Thomas Wolfe. I am serious!)</p>
<p>got it! the word is “sexile” !!!</p>
<p>Was in local library yesterday and they had the book, but it was too big for me to read in the 3 weeks allotted time. So will have to buy it (darn… LOL)</p>
<p>DON’T!!
I don’t think it really worth $. not even for paperbacks. Sorry Mr. Wolfe, I luv you though.
Won’t the library extend/renew your time if noone is on the wait list?
Here, the skimpi-est NYPL does that.
Or you can return, then let someone you know take it out right away, then let you keep another 3weeks.
Worse comes to worse, it really is page turner and light enough you don’t have to think much while reading, lots of exclamation marks taking up spots in the pages.
I bet you could do it. I don’t think it took me two weeks if not one.
( subway commute 1.5hours RT a day + lunch hour sneak 45 min, maybe hour or so before bed + during laundry 3 hours weekends)
Go for it!</p>
<p>I have a 2 hr commute each way - wish it was on a train/subway, but gotta drive. I can do 45 min at lunch for sure. If I can’t get it from Amazon cheap, I’ll try it. We have a 1 wk renew time, and I read alot, so it will probably work. My favorite teacher, my advisor in college (biology), said never go anywhere without a book. That way, you’ll never be bored. D and I ALWAYS have a book. He was so right!</p>
<p>Well, I saw it in Barnes and Noble (no indie bookstores around here), and ended up buying it. So far it’s pretty good. B&D was right, an easy read. If anyone would like to read it after I’m done. PM me, and I’ll mail it to you. First come, first served!</p>
<p>You DID!
I am sure you are going to pay for the shipping for the next person as well, right?
We need more people like you or noone will pay for / read books made out of paper anymore.
I warned you don’t blame me when you are done.</p>
<p>No blame, and yes, I will pay for shipping, that goes without saying! I hate the e-book readers. Give me paper and cardboard I can hold in my hand.</p>
<p>Thanks for offer redbug…got my own copy in order to highlight passages for my ex-college-roomate so she knows where I think SHE should have an ah-ha moment of self-identification (so far, of course, I don’t see me in any of this!)…it should provide endless arguments at our next get together. Generally we play civilized games of scrabble with lots and lots of wine but this should mix up the conversational soup considerably…</p>
<p>Famm- that is so funny that you play scrabble, we are wondertwins. I am wildly addicted to scrabble.</p>
<p>What a terrible shame son’s have chosen different paths (see soon to be added squee) … however, I sense one day that our paths will cross nonetheless so come with your scrabble dictionary and board…did you see that proper nouns are now acceptable…horrors!</p>