Talking with faculty members can be a good way to assess a
school on its most personal level. Ask the principal or other
official if he or she can arrange meetings, or even set up a
time when you might visit a few classrooms. At your meetings,
ask the teachers about the school in general, and their class in
particular. Open-ended questions such as, 'What's it like
teaching here?' can tell you a lot. Find out about their
teaching methods, their rules, and how they deal with discipline
and behavior problems. Also, how big is their average class, and
what's their policy on homework? For the school you eventually
select, it's especially good to speak with your child's teachers
in advance: this helps you establish a rapport, and shows that
you're interested in your child's education. Too often, the
parent's first contact with a teacher is when a problem has
arisen. In addition to what's said, you can learn a lot by what
you see, if given a chance to tour the classrooms. Are students
and teachers bored, or do they