I am Transferring My Household From Florida to Connecticut for Higher Colleges

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 elevate my children in Florida. That is very true because the pandemic. That is once I really feel like Florida grew to become 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 additional cautious. It felt actually unsafe and scary to stay in Florida, a lot in order that we moved to South Carolina quickly. I additionally noticed a shift towards extra conservative politics, displayed extra aggressively.

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

I would like higher colleges for my children

Miami colleges weren’t nice once I went via them, and now I’ve heaps extra considerations about colleges in Florida, particularly in St. Augustine, the place we stay. Once we checked out colleges 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 good friend needed to withdraw her autistic daughter from faculty as a result of she did not have the assets 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 vibrant decor, a brand new playground, and a packed library. I might see these items in a non-public faculty in Florida, however in Connecticut, my children will get them with no $30,000 tuition invoice.

I am involved about security

Weapons are an enormous fear of mine in Florida, the place there’s even a regulation that lecturers can carry in colleges. Once we requested about that on the Connecticut faculty, the lady 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 colleges confirmed children precise movies of evacuations after shootings. I do not need my youngsters to look at children submitting out of a constructing with police in all places.

I already do not permit my daughter to go to one in every of my girlfriends’ properties as a result of I do know there are weapons in her home. In Connecticut, I nonetheless plan to ask new pals about gun security however really feel like it is going to be a neater dialog to broach.

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

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

Connecticut felt a lot hotter and open to me. I liked seeing the range 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 necessary to me that she sees an array of cultures.

I believe my children could have extra decisions in Connecticut

Nowhere is ideal. Individuals are fast to level out issues with Connecticut, like excessive taxes or the truth that the Sandy Hook faculty capturing 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 your best option for our household proper now. I am wanting ahead to the children experiencing 4 seasons, however I am much more excited for them to have high quality schooling and decisions, regardless of who they develop as much as be.