February 22, 2008
Parents Fret 4-Year-Olds May Have Sub-Ivy Lives
They may have grown up privileged and prepped for success from birth, but a record number of four-year-olds are facing rejection from New York's top kindergarten programs. Fortunately, the parents of the doomed children are probably still young enough to procreate again and hope for better chances with their younger progeny.
According to the Sun, many top kindergartens in New York City have admission rates in the single digits (take that Harvard). To make matters worse, some wee ones weren't savvy enough to pick a safety pre-school. At Hunter College High School's highly-regarded kindergarten program, a "record 1,550 4-year-olds [were] applying for just 48 spots" translating into less than a 5% admission rate. The competition makes sense, as there are more multiple births, which mean more same-aged children vying for spots.
The selection process has become more precarious because private schools have stopped accepting "first-choice" letters from parents whose children apply to multiple schools: Now, parents are waiting for other kids to make a choice and remove themselves from various establishments' waiting lists. But the insanity extends to public schools as well - parents regularly camp out to register for good public school pre-K programs.
For the children, they must endure this stressful period nervously eating paste and soiling themselves.
|
Oh those poor precious snowflakes.
velvet rope kindergarten?
i didnt into my first-choice preschool and look where it got me... sigh
velvet rope kindergarten?
Beat me to it. Some entrepreneurs need to start a few new schools. Steal the counselors that place the kindergartners into exclusive prep schools and you would have instant credibility.
An important lesson for any over-achiever is that life is full of these little setbacks. You can't go hide in your toy chest and piss yourself every time. I'm speaking from experience, here.
I feel really bad for these kids. Can you imagine being under this kind of stress before you can even write a tell-all memoir about how your parents ruined your life.
I mean to be sincere but reflexively snarked: I think it is really hard on them, and unfair and is why we're seeing children suffering from adult-style stress-related issues.
They should be watching Sesame Street and chilling out in their jammies.
jesus man...i just went to the random public school kindergarten near my house. it was safe but what's the consideration beyond that? just focus on being a decent parent, encouraging your children to read and play outside and what not...who gives a shit about the preschool
I attended an exclusive private preschool/kindegarten/elementary school before switching to public schools thereafter. I gotta say, all the trouble is worth it. Yeah the private schools are chic and give your parents bragging rights, but the quality of education is certainly there. In the end, that's what counts.
There's no pressure on the kids at these places btw. All the pressure is on the adults.
I agree. My NYC private preschool was the best academic experience of my life to date.
Also they are changing the public preK admission policy so that no camping out will be necessary or allowed. It will all be centralized and much more fair, which of course everyone will complain about because it won't give the A-Types an edge.
I agree. My NYC private preschool was the best academic experience of my life to date.
Also they are changing the public preK admission policy so that no camping out will be necessary or allowed. It will all be centralized and much more fair, which of course everyone will complain about because it won't give the A-Types an edge.
So much backwards class and privilege in the big bad USA. This society needs to get a life. Who wouldn't want their kids in an atmosphere that teaches them how to think critically and read high school level by the age of 4? Its not that its wrong. Its just gated and costs money. The public school system sucks. That's why people who can afford it compete so hard to send their kids to better places. But why are there such "better" places to begin with? Because the public school system is out to lunch. No child left behind. Yeah, right. Rich kids aren't predispossed to higher learning. Of course it helps to grow up around intelligent parents. But even underprivileged kids can gain a lot from better teachers at school no matter what's going on at home. Ain't that the real back story?
"I agree. My NYC private preschool was the best academic experience of my life to date."
Ha ha ha are you effing serious? oh man...that's tragic...really really tragic
oh man..