Abacus Mom

Lenore Skenazy's Free Range Kids is Coming

I had the pleasure of speaking this evening with Lenore Skenazy, the columnist who wrote "Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Take The Subway Alone" for the now sadly deceased New York Sun.  Skenazy's provocative column led to a book deal with Wiley.  Her upcoming book,  Free Range Kids: Giving Our Children the Freedom We Enjoyed Without Going Nuts With Worry, is due out this spring.  Skenazy also has a website, freerangekids.wordpress.com.   Since I think I agree with Skenazy's ideas about education, I can't wait to read her book.

Do Manhattan Private Schools Suffer During an Economic Meltdown?

My phone is ringing.  People keep asking: are private school students pulling out?

Yes.  And so are private school applicants.

So this year admission should be easier.  If layoffs and the market decline continue, more parents will be thinking twice about private school, opening up places for those with the money to pay.

There is still much pent up demand for the most elite schools.  I anticipate it will be only the less competitive schools that truly suffer, as people decide to go suburban or public instead.

Look for longer and active wait lists this year.  The private schools have no idea what their yields will be.