I’m Moving My Family From Florida to Connecticut for Better Schools

This as-told-to essay is predicated on a dialog with Ellie Doyle. It has been edited for size and readability.

I used to be born and raised in Miami, however I do not need to increase my children in Florida. That is very true for the reason that pandemic. That is after I really feel like Florida turned actually loopy. My state was well-known for not implementing COVID-19 precautions. My sister was in kidney failure, and I donated my kidney to her, so we wanted to be further cautious. It felt actually unsafe and scary to reside in Florida, a lot in order that we moved to South Carolina briefly. I additionally noticed a shift towards extra conservative politics, displayed extra aggressively.

That is why my husband and I are shifting our 5-year-old daughter and 1-year-old twins from Florida to Connecticut. Listed here are the explanations we determined to make that transfer earlier than our oldest begins kindergarten within the fall.

I would like higher faculties for my children

Miami faculties weren’t nice after I went via them, and now I’ve heaps extra considerations about faculties in Florida, particularly in St. Augustine, the place we reside. After we checked out faculties in Florida, I observed that some library cabinets have been naked. It was a poignant visible illustration of insurance policies like e-book banning.

There are additionally tons of funding cuts in Florida. My nephew’s gifted program not too long ago ended, and a pal needed to withdraw her autistic daughter from faculty as a result of she did not have the sources she wanted. I would like my children to be in a district the place they’re supported, it doesn’t matter what their wants are.

The college we visited in Connecticut had brilliant decor, a brand new playground, and a packed library. I would see this stuff in a non-public faculty in Florida, however in Connecticut, my children will get them with out a $30,000 tuition invoice.

I am involved about security

Weapons are an enormous fear of mine in Florida, the place there’s even a legislation that lecturers can carry in faculties. After we requested about that on the Connecticut faculty, the girl giving us a tour checked out us like we have been nuts.

My sister taught in elementary faculty in Florida and was actually traumatized by the truth that faculties confirmed children precise movies of evacuations after shootings. I do not need my youngsters to observe children submitting out of a constructing with police in every single place.

I already do not permit my daughter to go to considered one of my girlfriends’ houses as a result of I do know there are weapons in her home. In Connecticut, I nonetheless plan to ask new associates about gun security however really feel like it will likely be a better dialog to broach.

I would like faith to be much less of part of day by day life

The place we reside in Florida, every little thing from day care to the native honest is organized by church buildings. That is wonderful for people who find themselves spiritual, however we’re not, so I do not need spiritual tales in my children’ day-to-day experiences. Right here, every little thing appears, in a roundabout manner, guided by faith.

Connecticut felt a lot hotter and open to me. I beloved seeing the variety in my daughter’s soon-to-be faculty. In Florida, she’s by no means had a Black or Hispanic classmate, and as a Hispanic mother, I really feel it is actually essential to me that she sees an array of cultures.

I feel my children could have extra selections in Connecticut

Nowhere is ideal. Persons are fast to level out issues with Connecticut, like excessive taxes or the truth that the Sandy Hook faculty taking pictures occurred right here. Personally, I am unhappy to be farther from my household. I do know my mother and father are going to overlook the children a lot.

But Connecticut is the only option for our household proper now. I am trying ahead to the children experiencing 4 seasons, however I am much more excited for them to have high quality training and selections, regardless of who they develop as much as be.