Public Schools Getting Too Fancy????

[badshotbob]

I was in the newly completed high school my kids will go to in a couple years - it was amazing. This place has it all - huge open atrium 4 story cafeteria, pool, gyms, concert halls, theater stages, on and freaking on. And this one isn't fancy by comparison to some of the wealthier areas around. They are building middle schools like this too with almost as much gaudiness for over the top design and architecture. Ok, so they're nice facilities. Do our kids really need this to learn, or is it just another way to make sheep out of them? You know - life is cushy, life is grand, there is no wrong answer, you can't fail, everyone is equal, blah blah blah.

Not to mention the property taxes soaring out of sight to pay for these places. It's as if the districts are all competing to see who can build the fanciest facility.

Is it like this where you live? What do you think?

[buckmine]

Do the teachers have there own stairway system seperate from the students?

I know of one highschool designed this way in MN.

[hntngirl]

I don't think it's like that everywhere. Two years ago they built a K-8 school right behind my house. Honestly, it looks like a detention center. All grey with corrugated metal all over parts of the outside walls. And they put alot of planning into things like huge, high windows for natural light so they could cut electricity costs. I've been inside and there are very little frills. Not the prettiest building to look at, but my youngest daughter goes there and I'm happy with the education she's getting.

[Handles]

Here's a couple of things that I have noticed regarding building of schools.

1. Townfolk hear about the rival high school over at Northcornstalk and all the "stuff" that it has from kids that have been there for events.
2. Townfolk start talking about how their school doesn't have enough "stuff" and that Southcornstalk should be better.
3. People start talking to the admin and school board about getting a new school based on desire, or admin and school board start talkin to people about a new school based on desire and needs.
4. Architecs are brought in to design a fancy new school (usually the same firm that designed Northcornstalks school)
5. A referendum is brought up and townsfolk vote on it.
6. Schools ususally do NOT put the construction of a multi million dollar building up for bid, but rather "gift" it to a company that the architect firm suggests. (This is where school districts and therefore taxpayers get the shaft as prices and deadlines tend to overrun the original quote.)
7. Some townsfolk will embrace the new school, Some will hate it. If it helps the football team beat Northcornstalk because of the new phyed facilities and weight room, prettymuch everyone will be happy.