In Utah on biannual trip, wtf?

[_madeleine]

As we speak I am looking at a clear cut mountain crushed by devastating mining and layer of smog making the skyline appear blurry...mother earth appears to be in good hands under this progressive, diverse, earth-loving state.

The smog gets unbearable in the winter...Jan/Feb. When I worked in downtown SLC, I would take a day off, take my daughter out of school for a day, and we would spend the day in Park City, just to get some sun and fresh air.

Now I work in PC, which never has the smog. If you're looking for green community, and people who care about their children's education, Park City is it. Real Estate however, is ridiculous.

As for schools, check out the Catholic schools, I know a few people who are not Catholic and send their children to them. Because as you say, the public schools stink. I sent my daughter to a charter high school, which was better than public.....Academy for Math, Engineering and Science. They recruit a lot of minorities, so the diversity of the student body is much better than your average UT public school. They don't have a sports program, or LDS seminary, but students who want those can participate in Cottonwood high's programs.

Also keep in mind, most schools in the SL valley are open enrollment, meaning, any student can enroll in them. I had my daughter in a elementary school that had better test scores than our local elementary.

[_madeleine]

Eccles (not Marriott) School of Business has billboards around town bragging over their ranking. The medical school at the UofU is rated pretty high as well. The U has good education but isn't going to be ivy league. There is nothing ivy league in Utah. lol.

There are private colleges in UT, such as Westminster. They attract a lot of international students.

[_Blixa]

In terms of universities in utah not feeling the plight as many others, this can be seen in the lack of choice. If this population only has U of U, Utah State, and BYU as the only quality schools with one of these that is completely subsidized by tithing then I guess demand will likely remain.

What? The attacks on higher ed in this country have nothing to do with "demand" or "choice." I suspect you don't even know what I'm talking about.

by the way, bragging about a community college is kind of a stretch, not to many people care where a community college ranks. I applaud and love community colleges but we need to remain objective.

Objective about what? I'm pointing out that even the community college is quite good. I've said nothing about "rankings," because as a university for professor for over 25 years, I think they don't tell you much about anything. You don't have a clue about the University of Utah, as well as other colleges in the State. You also don't have a clue about education in general.

Also I do like that one book store in downtown Salt Lake City that sells used and new books and rare Mormon texts. These types of stores are a dime a dozen where I currently live.

Wow! You live in a place with dozens of bookstores that carry rare Mormon texts? Coherent communication has never been your strong suit in posts.

You've got some ground to cover if you think there is only one bookstore in SLC that sells new and used books (and Mormon rarities).


You have a lot of biases against Utah that are pretty stupid, lostindc. Good luck.

[_lostindc]

In terms of universities in utah not feeling the plight as many others, this can be seen in the lack of choice. If this population only has U of U, Utah State, and BYU as the only quality schools with one of these that is completely subsidized by tithing then I guess demand will likely remain.

What? The attacks on higher ed in this country have nothing to do with "demand" or "choice." I suspect you don't even know what I'm talking about.

by the way, bragging about a community college is kind of a stretch, not to many people care where a community college ranks. I applaud and love community colleges but we need to remain objective.

Objective about what? I'm pointing out that even the community college is quite good. I've said nothing about "rankings," because as a university for professor for over 25 years, I think they don't tell you much about anything. You don't have a clue about the University of Utah, as well as other colleges in the State. You also don't have a clue about education in general.

Also I do like that one book store in downtown Salt Lake City that sells used and new books and rare Mormon texts. These types of stores are a dime a dozen where I currently live.

Wow! You live in a place with dozens of bookstores that carry rare Mormon texts? Coherent communication has never been your strong suit in posts.

You've got some ground to cover if you think there is only one bookstore in Salt Lake City that sells new and used books (and Mormon rarities).


You have a lot of biases against Utah that are pretty stupid, lostindc. Good luck.

Thanks for not addressing anything. I am guessing stats is far from your academic background, perhaps social sciences?

It is always the same folks that graduated from these schools (utah, wvu, utah state, etc) that are the first to denounce rankings. No surprise.

As far as ground to cover, really there is not much ground to cover, only the non-objective would consider SLC a place that requires much exploration in comparison to other major cities.

I offer you rankings from http://www.greatschools.org/ but you fail to produce any objective data and return with bias. I offer you collegiate rankings from the u.s. news yet you return with a 25 year resume in academia. I have done my time in academia and that gives me little to no credibility in terms of denouncing rather good rankings. Should not your academic background have landed you a job in this thriving progressive state?

Instead we are now looking at one poster that offers stats to back up the idea that Utah is lacking in high quality education and another poster that offers opinions with no real stats.

You avoid addressing the overcrowded classrooms, lack of textbooks, poor salary structure for teachers, and below average rankings. Do you care to address any of these things or are you going to cherry pick message board posts for grammatical errors?

[_Blixa]

Sorry you continue to miss the boat, lostindc. I guess you'll not like living in Utah. Maddy and I both had some suggestions for you. Have a great time living in a state where you think there is an educational conspiracy against critical thinking.

[_lostindc]

What? The attacks on higher ed in this country have nothing to do with "demand" or "choice." I suspect you don't even know what I'm talking about.

No, not really, you failed to communicate.

Objective about what? I'm pointing out that even the community college is quite good. I've said nothing about "rankings," because as a university for professor for over 25 years, I think they don't tell you much about anything. You don't have a clue about the University of Utah, as well as other colleges in the State. You also don't have a clue about education in general.

I mean if were going to be a grammar nazi lets take time to proofread.

Wow! You live in a place with dozens of bookstores that carry rare Mormon texts? Coherent communication has never been your strong suit in posts.

See above

You've got some ground to cover if you think there is only one bookstore in Salt Lake City that sells new and used books (and Mormon rarities).

Sorry I upset your beloved Utah. I grew up in Pittsburgh and realize that it is a hurting city with little opportunities. I offer no arguments otherwise because I can be objective.

You have a lot of biases against Utah that are pretty stupid, lostindc. Good luck.

I guess we will ignore the travel brochure you have been constructing throughout the thread.

[_lostindc]

Sorry you continue to miss the boat, lostindc. I guess you'll not like living in Utah. Maddy and I both had some suggestions for you. Have a great time living in a state where you think there is an educational conspiracy against critical thinking.

Maddy did offer some great suggestions.

Have a good time ignoring stats.

[_harmony]

Sorry you continue to miss the boat, lostindc. I guess you'll not like living in Utah. Maddy and I both had some suggestions for you. Have a great time living in a state where you think there is an educational conspiracy against critical thinking.

Maddy did offer some great suggestions.

Have a good time ignoring stats.

I'm still waiting for the link. No doubt it will be here before I retire.

[_lostindc]

I'm still waiting for the link. No doubt it will be here before I retire.

No doubt you will read the previous posts for said link.

[_madeleine]

Well, there isn't a NFL team here. There is RSL (soccer), which were doing pretty well this year. The Jazz stink and they play in an arena named after a company I can't support, so, I don't go to anything there. AAA Bees baseball can be a fun night out, especially on the 4th of July when they do fireworks after the game. Have some 3.2 beer, eat peanuts, yell at the umpire.

You have to let go of the "I'm so miserable in UT" sort of thing, or else, you will always be miserable. SLC is not Pittsburgh, and never will be. You can't compare the two. Different culture, different size, different economy, etc.

It takes some work to live happily here, it is doable most of the time, but in the end....I would move from this place in a second, if only the family wanted to....they don't.