Ho-Ho-Kus Kids

      The kids from Ho-Ho-Kus were no longer bussed to Ridgewood High School after I graduated in 1977. Rumor had it that the Real Estate professionals working in Ho-Ho-Kus were telling prospective buyers they could live in Ho-Ho-Kus and pay Ho-Ho-Kus taxes, which were less than in Ridgewood, and yet receive a Ridgewood education. This rumor, true or not, caused an uproar in Ridgewood and eventually led to denying all Ho-Ho-Kus children a Ridgewood education.

       This was too bad on so many levels. The kids from Ho-Ho-Kus were good kids, whose parents shared the same commuter trains and buses into New York City with the Ridgewood parents. From my experience they were well educated by the long Ho-Ho-Kus school and were a true addition to the educational experience of us all. They participated in sports and all the social organization at RHS. What more could people ask of them? Oh yeah, the tax dollars their parents paid were lower than in Ridgewood. Though last time I looked Ho-Ho-Kus wasn't Ridgewood in terms of tranquility and space. Ho-Ho-Kus has always been ringed and intersected by highways and main thoroughfares like Franklin Turnpike. Ridgewood is quite bucolic in comparison.

       My point being that after all these years what was really accomplished? Not much as far as I can tell. The town of Ridgewood became more provincial after the Ho-Ho-Kus kids were sent to other local high schools. These kids had a charm from their being educated all together in the lone school K-8. Ridgewood was probably the only town in the area with the sophistication to see it and appreciate it for what it was: some precious which these kids will always share and remember. I wonder now if the people in Allendate who host students from all over at Northern Highlands High School know what I am referring to. Sadly, I don't think they do.