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Article calls out an interesting point by Elizabeth Warren.[1] In this country, it's extremely difficult to access the best schools without expensive housing. T

Article calls out an interesting point by Elizabeth Warren.[1] In this country, it's extremely difficult to access the best schools without expensive housing. That encourages families to overextend and puts them at risk of bankruptcy. There was a recent This American Life episode that demonstrated the human impact of our absurd system, where hyperlocal property taxes set school quality. I thought it was a particularly strong episode.[2] [1] The Two Income Trap, http://www.amazon.com/The-Two-Income-Trap-Middle-Class-Parents/dp/0465090907 http://www.amazon.com/The-Two-Income-Trap-Middle-Class-Paren... [2] This American Life #512, "House Rules" http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/512/house-rules http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/512/h...

HarryHirsch 13y ago
There was a recent This American Life episode that demonstrated the human impact of our absurd system, where hyperlocal property taxes set school quality. I thought it was a particularly strong episode. Oh yes. I remember my favorite bartender who after a divorce kept herself afloat working part-time retail and tending bar. There aren't many alternatives in nowhere rustbelt America. She rented an apartment that was in the only decent school district in town, all other schools were quite like juvie hall. About 75 % of her income must have gone to rent. When her youngest son had finished school she moved. I cannot fault this decision, education is important, and when you are near minimum wage a support system is important. Moving to where the jobs are isn't the panacea it's made out to be on this website.
gohrt 13y ago
Property taxes aren't the big factor they are made out to be. School quality varies greatly even within a taxing district, yet still highly correlated to location of high-income people. This is because wealthier neighborhoods have less street crime, more parental involvement in children's education at home, more parental involvement in schools, children who in aggregate are better fit for school success (general health and safety, other factors), teachers prefer to work with (and burn out more slowly with) better-behaved students. The way around these issues would be to randomize school assignment (with residential schools (rare), or bussing (common, with its won set of complications)
tsotha 13y ago
>In this country, it's extremely difficult to access the best schools without expensive housing. Where is that not true?

HarryHirsch 13y ago

There was a recent This American Life episode that demonstrated the human impact of our absurd system, where hyperlocal property taxes set school quality. I thought it was a particularly strong episode. Oh yes. I remember my favorite bartender who after a divorce kept herself afloat working part-time retail and tending bar. There aren't many alternatives in nowhere rustbelt America. She rented an apartment that was in the only decent school district in town, all other schools were quite like juvie hall. About 75 % of her income must have gone to rent. When her youngest son had finished school she moved. I cannot fault this decision, education is important, and when you are near minimum wage a support system is important. Moving to where the jobs are isn't the panacea it's made out to be on this website.

gohrt 13y ago

Property taxes aren't the big factor they are made out to be. School quality varies greatly even within a taxing district, yet still highly correlated to location of high-income people. This is because wealthier neighborhoods have less street crime, more parental involvement in children's education at home, more parental involvement in schools, children who in aggregate are better fit for school success (general health and safety, other factors), teachers prefer to work with (and burn out more slowly with) better-behaved students. The way around these issues would be to randomize school assignment (with residential schools (rare), or bussing (common, with its won set of complications)

tsotha 13y ago

>In this country, it's extremely difficult to access the best schools without expensive housing. Where is that not true?