what is the Centennial on the Canal?

[jsenter]

Here's the link to API scores for the various schools in the state of Oklahoma:

http://sde.state.ok.us/NCLB/pdf/api2007.pdf

[solitude]

I think most citizens in this town just expect everything handed to them without doing much effort on their own.

Metro, I guess you were just going to ignore the responses to your outrageous comment? Is just ignoring the responses more of your "PR 101?"

In case you missed my response to your comment ---

Good thing you're not running for office. That kind of statement can haunt a person forever if they have aspirations for public service. On the other hand, if you believe what you said - you probably shouldn't run again. (I read in an old thread where you ran for city council in Bethany or Warr Acres.) Contempt for "most" people in this city is not a good foundation to build good things on.

Do you really believe what you wrote? I know so many people who work very hard and get so very little in return. People that work 50+ hours a week and still can't afford health insurance. People who work so much to afford the basics of raising a family, that 'family time' is less and less as they face recalled mortgages, rising insurance premiums, rising food costs - and children in Iraq to boot. Worry and the costs of just making ends meet consume their days. For others, it's not bleak - but it's not easy, and they work hard and expect nothing handed to them.

Think about what "most" means in your comment. That is such an offensively broad statement about a majority of people in this city.

Will you defend your statement, Metro, and tell us why you think most people in this city expect everything handed to them without much effort? What gives you that idea? Because we're not all ready to shell out upwards of half a million dollars to live in Downtown Oklahoma City? Are we not working hard enough? Your comparisions with Manhattan are laughable as well. If anybody has their hands out it's developers who want the taxpayers (at every level) to hand them grants, put a new face on downtown through MAPS so they can then take monetary advantage of the "new" downtown....on and on it goes. Maybe these are the citizens you were referring to.

[onthestrip]

Regarding the posts above, I think they refer to this as different strokes for different folks. And Im willing to bet most downtwon dwellers arent raising kids at the moment.

But back to the prices. I have the money and desire to live downtown, but it boils down to being a poor investment imo. I just dont think they are worth the prices being asked. I probably will just stick to a nice neighborhood close to downtown where I feel there is more bang for my buck.

[traxx]

You can make a difference in your world without lowering your standards, and ruining your children by making poor choices concerning their education.

I have no problems with downtown, and enjoy Bricktown frequently, but that doesn't mean I want to live there. I want to live in a nice neighborhood with good schools, one where parents are actually involved, and where they're actually concerned about the well-being of their children. That's not the case in most of the inner city OKC public schools. And only a select few inner city neighborhoods are actualyl well-maintained, and "nice neighborhoods."

And, choosing better schools, and a better neuighborhood for your children is called "making wide decisions" not "living a sheltered life". There's nothing sheltered about living in the PC North area, or living in the Edmond area.

I live in Edmond, but attend an inner city church, so my work is being done there. I can work in the inner city, while choosing the best neighborhood for my family, one where I can feel they're safe, and offer them a decent education.

Concerning schools, I think the API scores speak for themselves. When you have Deer Creek Elementary scoring a perfect 1500 (and the Edmond Schools scoring well above 1400, with a few scoring a perfect 1500), and Douglass scoring a 400 or something like that, I think the difference in education offered is obvious. The drug problem is a a side issue. It doesn't change the education that the schools are offering. And if you bring up your children right, you usually don't have to worry about it. I want my children to be around other students that actually care about their future and care about their well-being. I went to Northwest Classen, and was often taunted by the lower class students there because I wanted the best for myself, and wanted to succeed academically. I don't want my children to have to go through that. I want them to be challenged to succeed, not discouraged from succeeding.

Metro likes to live downtown, you like to live in the suburbs, so what's the problem? Why dig on metro because of where he chooses to live? He doesn't have to live in the suburbs just because you deem them superior to downtown.

BTW, are you related to mranderson?

[solitude]

So do you propose we just keep things the way they are? There has to be people willing to take these risks and help out the community that has been neglected to turn things around. Yes OKC Public Schools need much improvement but they are getting better, and hopefully MAPS for Kids will help them become even better. FYI, they are working on building a new elementary school downtown, so that should help things out as well.

I agree with jsenter in that nobody should subject their child to experiments and "take risks" to help turnaround a school district. The school district should turnaround and then ask parents to entrust them with their kids. It's obvious you have no children, Metro.

Metro, you have chose to respond to posts after a couple of us asked for explanations for your "most people in this city want everything handed to them," comment. Could you please tell us why you have such a low opinion of your fellow Oklahoma Citians?

[solitude]

Bump as Metro is online and I'm waiting to hear how he can possibly defend his statement.

[johnnyincog]

i cant find my step ladder, can i borrow your soap box to change a light bulb?

[solitude]

i cant find my step ladder, can i borrow your soap box to change a light bulb?

You definitely need to change the light bulb as that was not a very 'bright' comment.

What's wrong with trying to hold somebody accountable for their words on a forum? Especially when it is somebody who makes almost daily proclamations that make it seem like he is Mr. Downtown himself. I don't think anybody should be able to get away with saying "I think most citizens in this town just expect everything handed to them without doing much effort on their own," - without explaing what the hell they meant! Especially when it's somebody who corrects every single poster here on the most minor of details.

But it looks like Metro is not interested in explaining his inflamatory remark that was a slap at "most" people in our city.

[FritterGirl]

You definitely need to change the light bulb as that was not a very 'bright' comment.

What's wrong with trying to hold somebody accountable for their words on a forum? Especially when it is somebody who makes almost daily proclamations that make it seem like he is Mr. Downtown himself. I don't think anybody should be able to get away with saying "I think most citizens in this town just expect everything handed to them without doing much effort on their own," - without explaing what the hell they meant! Especially when it's somebody who corrects every single poster here on the most minor of details.

But it looks like Metro is not interested in explaining his inflamatory remark that was a slap at "most" people in our city.

[johnnyincog]

people complain too much. especially on the internet. it's annoying. i dont think the huddled masses of okctalk need our own cesar chavez fighting against the injustices of internet discussion boards.

[solitude]

people complain too much. especially on the internet. it's annoying. i dont think the huddled masses of okctalk need our own cesar chavez fighting against the injustices of internet discussion boards.

Then what are you doing?

[johnnyincog]

trying to get someone to come put this thread back on topic, and turn it back into a light hearted discussion of downtown. but i guess also just being an ass.

[sgt. pepper]

jsenter, interesting link, please post it on the chalk board forum where it belongs so everybody can get back on the subject of this forum.

[Pete]

All of this is way off topic and way too angry.

Thread closed.