Late Lunch Thoughts

I ventured up to North Santa Monica (Montana Ave) for a late lunch today. It is like a different world up there. Basically, just moms and kids. It has the crazy energy of a back to school night. Kids are acting crazy and moms are walking around wrangling little groups and making sure they don't run into the street. There is also a vibe of money. Lots of money.

It occurred to me: this is a really good way to raise children. Moms all around. Kids feeling safe. Two things it seems American society hasn't quite figured out yet - how to replace the hidden benefits of wives not participating in the workplace. There are two large things:

1. Overqualified teachers. Used to be, super talented women, without many other professional options, would become teachers. The benefits to society are obvious. Better teachers=better education=better society.

2. Crime and community look out. I doubt there is much crime in North Santa Monica. And it's not because the police are set up on every corner. It helps to have hundreds of eyes watching all the groups of kids running around with easy access to cell phones.

Now, this is not to suggest our society was better off keeping women - especially mothers - out of the workplace. Further, and perhaps more importantly, there is no going back, even if we thought it desirable. However, this societal development has left a gap - a gap in community look out and a gap in overqualified teachers. Now, it seems as though kids spent more time indoors playing video games and public schools are much worse off. Especially in California. I imagine the better off people send their kids to fancy private school and fancy after-school activities. But what happens to the rest of the people? The rest of the kids? The 90-95%.

There doesn't seem to be an obvious solution...