I understand what you're trying to say. The youngest siblings can have the advantage of seeings their older siblings success/failure and then attempt to emulate, or avoid that. They can also fall into the trap of being taken care of by the older siblings.
>> Especially when you have such a disparity in age: from 42 years old to 18 years old.
You're making the assumption that the successful children are all similar in age. They're not.
>> As a result, my oldest brother's only option was public school in an underfunded district for grades 1-12. College was out of the qusetion, even if he could make it!
None of your brothers classmates made it beyond high school?
Interesting, I'd be all for hearing more about your observations. Feel free to shoot me an email: [HN name].morris1 'at' gmail.
>> None of your brothers classmates made it beyond high school?
I can't say for sure because it's difficult to find the statistics from back then. The difference in expectations between the schools is definitely palpable. (I tutored there throughout HS.) Even in comparison today, his school's graduation rate is 63% and is ranked 482nd out of 489 districts by state assessment scores, while my school has a graduation rate of 94% and ranks in the top 5%.
>Even in comparison today, his school's graduation rate is 63% and is ranked 482nd out of 489 districts by state assessment scores, while my school has a graduation rate of 94% and ranks in the top 5%.
I am curious if you believe that this is because the schools was a bad school (under-funded, bad teachers and administrators), or because the parents of the kids that attended there were generally lower than average quality parents? (on drugs, welfare baby mommas, abusive, spend all their free time watching TV and not disciplining or spending any time with their children, non loving, single parent with 3 jobs to make ends meat, ETC.)
>> Especially when you have such a disparity in age: from 42 years old to 18 years old.
You're making the assumption that the successful children are all similar in age. They're not.
>> As a result, my oldest brother's only option was public school in an underfunded district for grades 1-12. College was out of the qusetion, even if he could make it!
None of your brothers classmates made it beyond high school?