Reply to APS/SA boundary redrawing

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Reply to "APS/SA boundary redrawing - meeting tonight"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]
Not the person you're responding to, but [b]I wish people would see all of Arlington as their community[/b], just like we should see all of America and those within it as American. You can support the 2nd Amendment and be my friend. We can disagree, but that's okay. We can get along. But if you never see me, then you can't understand our differences, just like I can't appreciate yours.

Arlington is small - I don't see why we can't all go to the same schools. Sure, there are some that are just too far, [b]but most of these schools are actually pretty close together, compared to many other parts of the country[/b]. I take my kids to playdates in NW DC. I don't see a problem with going to school across Rt 50, meet some new and different people and be better for it. I don't think that's whining at all. Being open minded is not bad.[/quote]

NP, that's a nice idea but it isn't the reality.  Arlington may be small but it is incredibly dense.  There are a million threads in real estate touting the benefits of almost every other part of the region besides Arlington.  People don't move here for large houses and large lots.  They move here for convenience and close-in proximity.  Traffic and commutes play a huge part in many people's decisions regarding where to live here, in a way that just isn't the case in other parts of the country.  Upending the school system in a way that would have serious impacts on working families' day-to-day life is a huge deal, and calling people racists or classists is ridiculous. Right now, we have two stop signs between our house and our kids' school.  The commute to do extended day drop-off before heading to work is literally 1min, then the few minutes to get them in the building.  Yesterday I had to get one of my kids to south Arlington for an activity right after school.  Granted it was raining, but the 3.5mi trip took thirty minutes.  On a day with good weather that trip is still 15-20min.

Day in and day out that's a tremendous amount of time to add to families' daily routines and commutes.  A weekend playdate, sure, I'll go wherever.  [b]Every single day, might as well have bought the larger and nicer house in Oakton if I'm going to add all that time to our daily commutes.   [/quote][/b]

I wrote that. I lived in Oakton. That commute is far worse than a few ~15 mins to get the kids. We're dense, but that doesn't mean it has to be so segregated. Schools used to be a melting pot. I think the county should encourage broader engagement. Maybe it can't happen at the elementary level, but it could happen at middle or high school more. And people are willing to drive - look at the success of the option schools. [/quote]

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