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Sassyz75
Turning a new page
Member since 5/05 9731 total posts
Name:
Dina
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Re: Mastic Beach, Shirley & Mastic Residents?
Posted by ave1024
Posted by Sassyz75
Not just race- please look at my posts I always say it's race and socio-economic class.. it's race AND class both...
Anyway- since we've moved to Amityville about 1 1/2 years ago I've spoken to every parent I've come into contact with re: school choice, etc.
One parent had children at the Catholic school where I send DD to pre-school, and he pulled his kids and put them in Copiague as they were falling so terribly behind, getting poor grades, etc... I feel that at least this particular Catholic school doesn't have the academic standards that the public schools have.
I also know that the school doesn't receive the same level of funding as the public schools do. The private school I'm referring to asks parishoners for old computer donations for the school (meaning, if you're getting a new one, donate your old crummy one to the school for the kids to use).
With that said, a lot of parents send their children two towns over- apparently St. William the Abbot has one of the better schools in the area vs. St. Martins and St. Rose of Lima. Grace Day is teeny tiny- they don't even have an 8th grade this year and many of the grades only have 12 to 15 children total (talk about culture shock when you go to HS).
Another thing that bothers me is the exposure to the arts- when I was in 4th grade I got to pick an instrument from almost any possible wind, string or percussion- in our local Catholic School that can't be done.. in Amityville it can. There is also no choice in lanuage- only Spanish.. no other choices such as French (Amityville you choose between Spanish and French... although other districts often have 3.. at least there's choice).
I just have a hard time sending my kid to a school where she won't have what I had- hardly any arts exposure being the MAIN sticking point (my mother is a professional jazz musician and Maddie has already shown such interest in this- to not have it supported in school as well as home would be tragic).
I can agree with the point regarding the arts. You probably won't also see much foreign language education until the later years as well.
I actually went to 16 years worth of catholic/private school. My parents sent me there because I grew up in the city and the public schools I would have went to were very rough. That was the decision they made, and I am very glad they did.
So I don't think you can say that you are guaranteed a "sub standard" education going to a private school. I think I turned out pretty well with my "private" education. Yes maybe if things were different and I went to public school I would have grown up to be a world famous pianist. But on the flip side I could have also grown up to be a crackhead and a street dealer.
Who knows. Looking back, I am glad they made those choices for me. If I want to take a violin class, i'll pay for one myself.
I don't think I was making a sweeping generalization about all private schools- I was comapring and contrasting what was offered at the schools I have to choose from as related to my daughter.. although I haven't seen St. Williams in Seaford.
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Posted 1/21/10 4:30 PM  |
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Nifheim
allo
Member since 1/09 5476 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Mastic Beach, Shirley & Mastic Residents?
 wow
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| Posted 1/21/10 4:37 PM |
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eddiesmommy
best buds!
Member since 5/09 11524 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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Re: Mastic Beach, Shirley & Mastic Residents?
I think no matter how you feel about the area, the fact of the matter is, and this post showed it, it has a bad reputation, even if it is a great little town, any town you have to defend to the death to get people to think its a great place to live, does not bode well for resale value.
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| Posted 1/21/10 4:41 PM |
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kimbalina
Bring on the glitter and bows!
Member since 6/08 15158 total posts
Name:
Kim
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Re: Mastic Beach, Shirley & Mastic Residents?
Posted by Nifheim
wow
My thoughts too!!!
It's nice that I was able to get so many people to respond! I am glad I asked, because I know a lot of people's opinion 
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| Posted 1/21/10 5:48 PM |
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lbelle821
Arghhhhh
Member since 2/06 5285 total posts
Name:
Lisa
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Re: Mastic Beach, Shirley & Mastic Residents?
i've posted before about my feeling on the area and don't want to get into it. My entire family still lives there. I still consider it "home" even though I live in NJ but I am really tired having to feel ashamed about where i came from. No, i probably would not move back there. For a lot of the reasons listed.
However, the area is VERY different now than even what it was 15 years ago. Not saying it was top rated back then but definately a lot less gangs, molesters and trash.
For the record, all of my friends and I turned out to be great and successful products of William Floyd HS. But I will also say, none of us still live there.
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| Posted 1/21/10 6:00 PM |
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justbeachy
So close....
Member since 7/07 2900 total posts
Name:
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Re: Mastic Beach, Shirley & Mastic Residents?
As a NYC public school teacher I am CRACKING up at how people say WF is a "bad district."
A "bad" public school on LI is like a walk in the park compared to 95% of public schools in NYC.
Kim, I lived 2 towns over from Mastic/Shirley and worked at Southaven Park as a kid (probably close to where you live now). While I never actually lived there, I dated someone from there when I was a kid and spent some time there.
Would I buy there? No, I wouldn't. But it is one of the most blue-collar towns on the east end, with a lot of wonderful hardworking families. Unfortunately due largely to racial/immigration issues, crime and violence it has declined. And I agree, it has REALLY dropped off in the past 15 years.
But just keep this in mind - Anna Wintour (Editor of Vogue) has her summer home there. And we all KNOW how picky she is!
I also read the book posted by GreenFreak. If you get a chance, check it out. It's a GREAT story of how Mastic-Shirley became the town it is today. I learned a ton from it!
Good luck!
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| Posted 1/21/10 9:16 PM |
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MeeshMosh
last month on leave!
Member since 6/08 4551 total posts
Name:
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Re: Mastic Beach, Shirley & Mastic Residents?
HOLY THREAD!! lol
all i have to say is that i will not be sending my children to catholic school lol  i feel that needs to be the next debate.....  (jk jk)
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| Posted 1/21/10 9:47 PM |
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CunningOne
***
Member since 5/05 26975 total posts
Name:
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Re: Mastic Beach, Shirley & Mastic Residents?
Posted by MeeshMosh
HOLY THREAD!! lol
all i have to say is that i will not be sending my children to catholic school lol i feel that needs to be the next debate..... (jk jk)
Don't even get me going on this topic. I completely disagree with everything that was posted on the Catholic school education... MY kids go to Catholic school and I in no way feel they are getting a "sub-standard" education. They are getting everything, if not MORE, than the kids in the public school get. I send my kids to the Catholic school for the faith-based education, not because I think my public school district is bad.
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| Posted 1/21/10 10:15 PM |
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Sassyz75
Turning a new page
Member since 5/05 9731 total posts
Name:
Dina
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Re: Mastic Beach, Shirley & Mastic Residents?
Posted by MeeshMosh
HOLY THREAD!! lol
all i have to say is that i will not be sending my children to catholic school lol i feel that needs to be the next debate..... (jk jk)
FYI my posts weren't about all catholic/private schools but were about the catholic schools in my area as compared to the public school choices.
IMO at least 75% of the people that send their kids to the local catholic school in my town would send their kids to public school if it were a "good district".
The catholic school in my area is under funded and on the smaller side.. (my DD currently attends this school by the way and we are participating members of the parish).. it doesn't have the latest technology, offer sports programs, art programs, etc.. this isn't to say that all catholic schools are like that- it's a ridiculous generalization that I will not make. However, when I said "sub-standard" it was based upon my specific catholic school that I am aware of vs. the programs available at the public school which is a "bad district."
I will say, however, that the catholic school in my town doesn't have the same types of programs or funding that the public school does. The whole point was that people were afraid to put their kid in the public schools b/c of the racial and socio-economic makeup of the school..
I completely appreciate that my daughter has gotten a faith-based education.. but do not choose to continue her at that school as I don't think the academics and arts programs are strong at that particular school..
My posts were more a comment on parents in a town that they pay taxes in being "afraid" to let their kids mix with children that are different than them.. and that if we all just set aside our differences, the town and schools would be greater for it. It wasn't a social commentary on catholic education or private educations as a whole.
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| Posted 1/21/10 10:49 PM |
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Mrs213
????????
Member since 2/09 18986 total posts
Name:
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Re: Mastic Beach, Shirley & Mastic Residents?
there are some areas in those towns you really need to stay away from
there are some nice neighborhoods there as well but unfortunately more bad then good  so you really want to research the neighborhood
manor park is a nice area of mastic but is in south manor school district (william floyd not the best)
I wouldn't rule it out though...
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| Posted 1/21/10 10:56 PM |
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kimbalina
Bring on the glitter and bows!
Member since 6/08 15158 total posts
Name:
Kim
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Re: Mastic Beach, Shirley & Mastic Residents?
Posted by SupaBonBon
As a NYC public school teacher I am CRACKING up at how people say WF is a "bad district."
A "bad" public school on LI is like a walk in the park compared to 95% of public schools in NYC.
Kim, I lived 2 towns over from Mastic/Shirley and worked at Southaven Park as a kid (probably close to where you live now). While I never actually lived there, I dated someone from there when I was a kid and spent some time there.
Would I buy there? No, I wouldn't. But it is one of the most blue-collar towns on the east end, with a lot of wonderful hardworking families. Unfortunately due largely to racial/immigration issues, crime and violence it has declined. And I agree, it has REALLY dropped off in the past 15 years.
But just keep this in mind - Anna Wintour (Editor of Vogue) has her summer home there. And we all KNOW how picky she is!
I also read the book posted by GreenFreak. If you get a chance, check it out. It's a GREAT story of how Mastic-Shirley became the town it is today. I learned a ton from it!
Good luck!
I read that book a few months back, and still was considering the area. After all I lived in Condo's across from BNL for 12 years.
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| Posted 1/22/10 7:52 AM |
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MrsDrMatt
Live and RUN like a Ninja!
Member since 5/06 3104 total posts
Name:
MrsDrMatt
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Re: Mastic Beach, Shirley & Mastic Residents?
Hey Kimbalina if you buy a house there can you inviite us all over?!?!?!
Seriously good luck with your home search!!!
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| Posted 1/22/10 9:08 AM |
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JBmommy
LIF Infant
Member since 8/09 252 total posts
Name:
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Re: Mastic Beach, Shirley & Mastic Residents?
Honestly I dont know much about the area except for the negative...I feel like it is in Newsday alot for sex offenders and dwi's. JMHO I would say if you can afford to look in an area with less of the above I would do that. GOOD LUCK!!!
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| Posted 1/22/10 9:08 AM |
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kimbalina
Bring on the glitter and bows!
Member since 6/08 15158 total posts
Name:
Kim
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Re: Mastic Beach, Shirley & Mastic Residents?
Posted by MrsDrMatt
Hey Kimbalina if you buy a house there can you inviite us all over?!?!?!
Seriously good luck with your home search!!!
I will host an LIF BBQ!!! You are ALL INVITED! 
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| Posted 1/22/10 10:26 AM |
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MeNBobs
*****
Member since 4/07 3765 total posts
Name:
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Re: Mastic Beach, Shirley & Mastic Residents?
Posted by kimbalina
Posted by MrsDrMatt
Hey Kimbalina if you buy a house there can you inviite us all over?!?!?!
Seriously good luck with your home search!!!
I will host an LIF BBQ!!! You are ALL INVITED!
I'm in. I'll wear my old Catholic school uniform.
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| Posted 1/22/10 11:12 AM |
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VickiC
Rocking the party
Member since 5/05 4937 total posts
Name:
Vicki
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Re: Mastic Beach, Shirley & Mastic Residents?
Posted by Sassyz75
I don't think I was making a sweeping generalization about all private schools- I was comapring and contrasting what was offered at the schools I have to choose from as related to my daughter.. although I haven't seen St. Williams in Seaford.
As someone who is a graduate of St. William's I can tell you that I received a great education. I then transitioned to public HS and did very well, going on to AP Calculus and got my Regents Diploma too.
St. William's constantly receives awards and is a MidAtlantic State Accreditied institution, which I think is hard to achieve (but I'm not sure). I know they teach multiple languages, have an extensive computer lab and have a music program ( I used to take flute for many years.)
If you are considering private school, I would look at them over St. Rose & St. Martin any day.
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| Posted 1/22/10 1:27 PM |
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Sassyz75
Turning a new page
Member since 5/05 9731 total posts
Name:
Dina
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Re: Mastic Beach, Shirley & Mastic Residents?
Posted by VickiC
Posted by Sassyz75
I don't think I was making a sweeping generalization about all private schools- I was comapring and contrasting what was offered at the schools I have to choose from as related to my daughter.. although I haven't seen St. Williams in Seaford.
As someone who is a graduate of St. William's I can tell you that I received a great education. I then transitioned to public HS and did very well, going on to AP Calculus and got my Regents Diploma too.
St. William's constantly receives awards and is a MidAtlantic State Accreditied institution, which I think is hard to achieve (but I'm not sure). I know they teach multiple languages, have an extensive computer lab and have a music program ( I used to take flute for many years.)
If you are considering private school, I would look at them over St. Rose & St. Martin any day.
I've heard many children in Amityville attend St. Williams and that they have a bus in the area that take the kids.(although it's sort of cliquey in Amityville and if you don't send your kid to St. Martins you aren't supporting the community...)
Catholic schools week is coming up and I might check it out to round out my options.. thanks for giving me your experience- I want to have all the facts/options available to us before I make my decision....
Edited to say- it's middle states accredited.. actually St. Martins just got that as well- so not really sure how much that means- or what it even means for that matter.
Message edited 1/22/2010 2:40:45 PM.
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| Posted 1/22/10 2:37 PM |
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Ambersmom
Straight up nasty
Member since 5/05 7740 total posts
Name:
Sharon
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Re: Mastic Beach, Shirley & Mastic Residents?
I grew up in Merrick (one of the supposed "safe towns") and have been living in Mastic Beach for over a year. I have to tell you, I have BETTER neighbors and have had less problems here than I did in Merrick. We lived right off Horatio (main road to Calhoun High School) and we dealt with daily garbage thrown on our lawn, things stolen from our cars, our stoop, our garage. EVERYTHING was kept under lock and key (including holiday ornaments, those were stolen too). I have left things outside for DAYS that I would never think of leaving out in Merrick. The reputation of the neighborhood as a whole is not the greatest but until you live here, you can't truly judge. I have a great pizza parlor within walking distance, the schools are convenient, there's the YMCA/pool within a mile, plenty of shopping, etc. Main Street MB is not the greatest but it's trying to improve. We're also trying to become an incorporated village in MB and Shirley which will hopefully raise the standards within the community. We're minutes from the beach, etc. There is alot of community programs and events (far more than I ever saw growing up in Merrick) and although the higher school levels are not defined as the greatest, there is success to be found here. We have a ROTC program and our Football team is constantly exceeding expectations. The schools really do try to engage the parents and from what my teacher friends tell me, the cirriculum that my daughter is learning in Kindergarten (at Tangier Smith) is much more advanced than they are seeing in their schools.
I also got my house for a song...a 3 year old house that orignally sold for $366, I got for $245. The area may not be pristeen and it has it's issues, but I've never felt unsafe here and it's home. It's the home I can afford on my own, for my family. And I happen to think it's beautiful. 
Opinions are like *holes..everyone has one. Nothing about the community is going to change unless people try to main objective and open minded to the idea of improvement. I believe the Incorporated Village initiatives can bring about those changes.
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| Posted 1/22/10 2:59 PM |
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mavaesq
LIF Infant
Member since 6/09 126 total posts
Name:
Valerie
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Re: Mastic Beach, Shirley & Mastic Residents?
Posted by Ambersmom
I grew up in Merrick (one of the supposed "safe towns") and have been living in Mastic Beach for over a year. I have to tell you, I have BETTER neighbors and have had less problems here than I did in Merrick. We lived right off Horatio (main road to Calhoun High School) and we dealt with daily garbage thrown on our lawn, things stolen from our cars, our stoop, our garage. EVERYTHING was kept under lock and key (including holiday ornaments, those were stolen too). I have left things outside for DAYS that I would never think of leaving out in Merrick. The reputation of the neighborhood as a whole is not the greatest but until you live here, you can't truly judge. I have a great pizza parlor within walking distance, the schools are convenient, there's the YMCA/pool within a mile, plenty of shopping, etc. Main Street MB is not the greatest but it's trying to improve. We're also trying to become an incorporated village in MB and Shirley which will hopefully raise the standards within the community. We're minutes from the beach, etc. There is alot of community programs and events (far more than I ever saw growing up in Merrick) and although the higher school levels are not defined as the greatest, there is success to be found here. We have a ROTC program and our Football team is constantly exceeding expectations. The schools really do try to engage the parents and from what my teacher friends tell me, the cirriculum that my daughter is learning in Kindergarten (at Tangier Smith) is much more advanced than they are seeing in their schools.
I also got my house for a song...a 3 year old house that orignally sold for $366, I got for $245. The area may not be pristeen and it has it's issues, but I've never felt unsafe here and it's home. It's the home I can afford on my own, for my family. And I happen to think it's beautiful.
Opinions are like *holes..everyone has one. Nothing about the community is going to change unless people try to main objective and open minded to the idea of improvement. I believe the Incorporated Village initiatives can bring about those changes.
You exemplify the type of people I know living in that area. Best of luck with the initiatives. I know the potential is there :)
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| Posted 1/22/10 3:35 PM |
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JBmommy
LIF Infant
Member since 8/09 252 total posts
Name:
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Re: Mastic Beach, Shirley & Mastic Residents?
Posted by Sassyz75
Posted by ave1024
Posted by kokopelia
HMM These dont look two cheap.... maybe you guys have ALOT of money and that is why you say the houses there are all low priced Refer to MLS Number 2207864 and 2187236 oh and just for kicks, one on the water 2250761
Those are waterfront properties which will sell for $$$$ regardless of where they are located. People that have that kind of cash are most likely sending their kids to private school.
There are equivalent waterfront properties in Amityville, and most likely those parents are sending their kids to private school as well since the Amityville SD is pretty much just as bad as William Floyd.
I knew it would only be a matter of time before Amityville got thrown into the mix...
When people say "bad" school district- it basically comes down to race and class of people.. why don't people in Amityville send their kids to the school system? Because they don't want their affluent kids rubbing shoulders with kids that aren't like them (whether that be from a race persepective.. or class perspective- it's both).
So- to insulate their children, they send their kids to private schools- where they pay for educations that aren't as good as what they'd get in the public school system.
And the only reason why I say that is b/c I live in Amityville - I have a daughter and have just made the choice to send DD to public school next year (she's currently enrolled in Catholic school- but the school doesn't have the funding or resources that the public school has).
Maybe people will think we're crazy.. but honestly, I think it's completely unrealistic to continue to separate and segregate our child from the other people that live in her community. I would like to think that maybe I wouldn't have been so hesitant with my decision had I gone to school in a district more representative of the actual world- (i went to Massapequa, where not one African American student attended but a district that now has a major drug problem- hence PP's comment that many "nice" areas had their detriments, too).
You should be ok at the elementary age but middle school and high school is a whole new ballpark. Taking race out of it (white people make up 10% of the population at AHS), the test scores are poor, medicore at best.
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| Posted 1/22/10 3:40 PM |
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Re: Mastic Beach, Shirley & Mastic Residents?
Posted by MeeshMosh
HOLY THREAD!! lol
all i have to say is that i will not be sending my children to catholic school lol i feel that needs to be the next debate..... (jk jk)
I think it's short-sighted to think that ALL parochial and private schools will be top-notch- it's just like everything else- some will be excellent, some won't be. I teach in NYC and last year I got two kids who'd been in private school, and I have to say, I was NOT impressed. In fact, one kid was reading on a second grade level in the 6th grade.
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| Posted 1/22/10 4:15 PM |
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MeeshMosh
last month on leave!
Member since 6/08 4551 total posts
Name:
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Re: Mastic Beach, Shirley & Mastic Residents?
WOAH. i was kidding about the catholic school comment... i really wont be sending my kids, but i didnt mean for it to start drama -- i was trying to make light of everything!
and FTR i went to catholic school from K-12th grade and i even went to a catholic college so i know what the catholic school system is like
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| Posted 1/22/10 6:46 PM |
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MeeshMosh
last month on leave!
Member since 6/08 4551 total posts
Name:
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Re: Mastic Beach, Shirley & Mastic Residents?
Posted by MrsProfessor
Posted by MeeshMosh
HOLY THREAD!! lol
all i have to say is that i will not be sending my children to catholic school lol i feel that needs to be the next debate..... (jk jk)
I think it's short-sighted to think that ALL parochial and private schools will be top-notch- it's just like everything else- some will be excellent, some won't be. I teach in NYC and last year I got two kids who'd been in private school, and I have to say, I was NOT impressed. In fact, one kid was reading on a second grade level in the 6th grade.
ITA!
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| Posted 1/22/10 6:47 PM |
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browneyes
All moms are working mothers!
Member since 8/08 4311 total posts
Name:
Super Mom
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Re: Mastic Beach, Shirley & Mastic Residents?
My sister works at Willam Floyd and she said out of everywhere shes worked this is by far the worse schools shes been in. Not only has she been Bite, and smacked by students she also has 2 restraing orders agianst PARENTS! There are a select hand full of good kids that try but sadly there so many that dont give a Cr_p that the "good" ones get lost in the mix sadly theres no time to priase the ones that shine when you are tryin to keep the others from doing drugs/having sex and beating ppl up during the day.
Everyone will have there own opinions on each school this is just mine from what i have seen my sis dealing with. Also my Sil is a sr at W/f and she hates it. She is not learning anything and is scared to even take the bus. She spends most of her time at Boces so she dosnt have to be in the school for a long time..
its sad that sometimes this happens but its true.
Message edited 1/22/2010 7:23:16 PM.
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| Posted 1/22/10 7:22 PM |
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strongisland
All you need is love
Member since 8/07 2474 total posts
Name:
T
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Re: Mastic Beach, Shirley & Mastic Residents?
Posted by browneyes
My sister works at Willam Floyd and she said out of everywhere shes worked this is by far the worse schools shes been in. Not only has she been Bite, and smacked by students she also has 2 restraing orders agianst PARENTS! There are a select hand full of good kids that try but sadly there so many that dont give a Cr_p that the "good" ones get lost in the mix sadly theres no time to priase the ones that shine when you are tryin to keep the others from doing drugs/having sex and beating ppl up during the day.
Everyone will have there own opinions on each school this is just mine from what i have seen my sis dealing with. Also my Sil is a sr at W/f and she hates it. She is not learning anything and is scared to even take the bus. She spends most of her time at Boces so she dosnt have to be in the school for a long time..
its sad that sometimes this happens but its true.
Im curious as to where else she has worked? i would like to see the comparison and i also wanted to add...i have heard more than one story of a teacher being bitten --this is not just a WF problem! unfortunately, there are those 'types' of kids all over...i also wouldn't say that there are only a select few/handful of kids that are good..there has to be more good than bad kids...the bad kids always stand out more though...
(i have friends and family who live there as well as friends who teach in the district--so i get the inside scoop too!!)
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| Posted 1/23/10 12:31 PM |
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