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The past several weeks have been a rude awakening for me.

I'm a big believer in public schools.  Both my husband and I  are products of public schools.  We both went on to college and then started successful careers, all on the back of public education.

While we toyed with sending our oldest to private school because they offered after school care while our neighborhood school did not, we couldn't drag ourselves away from all the good things our neighborhood school could offer.

And while much of that is still true, this year my daughter is in a class that is clearly struggling with a teacher that is clearly struggling.

I get that every teacher is different, and I am ok with that.  I think it is good for my kids to be exposed to different styles of teaching.  But that's not what is going on here.

Does this lay at the feet of public school or do private schools face problems like this too?

I've had a few friends tell me that I pretty much need to grin and bear it.  Sometimes by the luck of the draw you have a year when the goal is to "just get through".

Will this ruin my kid's shot at an Ivy League school?  No, of course not.  But I worry that she won't advance as far as she could.

My biggest worry lies with the kids in her class that are struggling themselves.  Those who in their short time in school are already falling behind.  How will they ever get caught up?  Some of them may not have parents who can be engaged as my husband and I can.

So here we are dealing with the luck of the draw.