Medford Public schools

Here's a posting I recently made to the medfordmass Yahoo mailing list, in response to an inquiry about the state of the Medford school system:

I'm a parent with two children in the Medford school system. We've only just started our long educational process, as the girls are in first grade and kindergarten, so we don't have too much experience with the system yet. That being said, here's what I have to add:

• The facilities are incredible. The new schools are very beautiful and functional, airy and optimistic. While that doesn't a respected school system make, it sure is a great foundation to build on.




• We've been very satisfied with the teachers so far, in an admittedly tiny sample.




• Full time, free, kindergarten is an amazing thing. While we are blessed with two girls who love school, which makes it easier, I think it is a great idea and am glad it is available here, unlike many other neighboring towns.




• I'm worried about the "lowest common denominator" problem in public schools. Both of my girls are very very bright and I am already seeing the oldest getting bored. It will probably take a little bit of time for the teacher to get the students sorted out, but even last year, in kindergarten, I could see how a few troublemakers could really drag the entire class down.




• I don't like the idea of going to a charter school, as I believe they are an unfair drain on the public school resources, but we have to keep it as an option for them. Charter schools have the option of turning down a student, as well as promising more involved parents, as they have already taken a big step. Uninvolved parents are, I think, an even bigger drag on a school system than rowdy kids.




• Although Medford does not have a great academic track record, esp. compared to many of the surrounding towns, I believe that an influx of parents like us who will demand excellence from the school system, and not be happy with the status quo, will force improvement from within, the best kind of improvement. We're hoping to stay involved and push both the school system and our children to work harder and be smarter.