Here, let me translate:

I really love my job and can't really donate my time to my child's education. My son has been identified as GATE, and I don't think I have much to offer in the way of educating him. My worry is when he hits Middle School, he will stop caring about school as he distances himself from my wife and I. He needs a strong school that offers him everything. Without that, he will never learn anything in school. It's all about the school and the teachers.

School is much more about what the child brings in than what the teacher can do. I have had students who write on a 4th grade level when they get to me. When they left, they were writing at an 8th grade level. I also have had a student come to me writing on a second grade level. When he left, he was writing at a second grade level. Finally, I have had students who have been tossed away by almost everyone but somehow they manage to get an amazing education. These kids beat the odds and got into Academic Magnet, the 11th best school in the nation . Individual effort goes a long way. Parent involvement goes a long way. Complaining doesn't.

Lastly, Charleston is a voucher district. If you live Downtown and want to drive your kid to Moultrie or Laing, you can. And, if your kid is really "gifted", he can attend School of the Arts or Buist Academy. Those are EXCELLENT schools! Not only are they A rated, but they are highly regarded in the Southeast.

So, don't cherry pick the bad schools and say that Charleston is flawed. I am happy to call the Peninsula my home, and I am happy to teach in District 20 schools. Bad-mouthing them without any real experience is counter-productive and puerile.