Should schools scrap diversity targets ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:By design co-ed schools try to have gender parity which is good. Now, my question is if they should continue to have some race targets. What I see is that in private schools they want to accept racially diverse students, but income wise very homegenous families. It is ok to keep this approach? Is it fair? Just basic questions since dc is so diverse and there are so many schools, not sure schools really need affirmative action. Moreover many times the non-white recruitment is highly discrecional. For some schools mean admitting more African Americans and for others more Asians. But is not clear that this is a fair or inclusive system at all since the admissions are highly dependent on the income of the parents.

No. Next question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell does not give aid out like other schools of its caliber.

None of these schools let in LOW income families. The testing and the application fees filter them out. They let in middle class which compared to most of the students at these elite schools, appear LOW income. It wouldn't work. I mean it could but I sure wouldn't want to be the token low income kid at a school with super rich kids. Painful, brutal. Just imagine the play dates at their house no one would send their kid to? It doesn't work. Schools target middle to upper middle not true low income families. I was that middle class kid at a big 3 and it wasn't pleasant socially. I had friends and was well liked but there was always something different about how I was treated compared to others. This was so obvious when I found a parent checking my overnight bag post sleepover when a shirt went missing. It wasn't stolen. It was just in the laundry. No one else's bag got searched. I always wanted to go to my neighborhood school but didn't want to seem ungrateful for the opportunity so I just smiled and got my education.

The vast majority of true LOW income kids are not going to be able to do well in a Sidwell environment. They just aren't.

Convenient

No, instead of trying to throw LOW income students into a Sidwell situation, we should be raising the bar of education available to everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The premise of this thread- that there should be no attempt to achieve some degree of ethnic/racial diversity- is so blatantly racist. I’m disheartened by how many pages and posts there are here.

That’s fine except that every person has a different view of diversity. In my kids school about a third of students are African American and less than 1 percent is Hispanic and it is considered diverse. Given the subjectivity and arbitrariness of diversity I think it is better that admissions are race free. That by no means its racist. Think about public schools. Race is not considered a factor in admissions and by no means is racist. The only requirement is to live near the public school.

OK, Stephen Miller, let me help you out here. If the private school could fill itself with 400 kids from full pay families, and 95% of those kids are white, but instead they choose to give financial aid to 80 students, and the majority of those kids are non-white from a variety of different ethnic and racial backgrounds, that may not achieve perfect diversity, but that’s what it means to value diversity and make a worthwhile effort at it. I’m not sure what you’re doing here today. Don’t you have a hard-working Mexican farm worker to deport?

Ok Kamala. You totally convinced me.

The thing is, I consider that to be a compliment. Do you consider being compared to Stephen Miller a compliment?

If a failed politician is a compliment, good for you.

I’ll take my failed politician any day over your racist, fascist, insurrectionist.

[Anonymous]

I’m late to the conversation, but I propose race-blind admissions.

“Diversity” is a fraud—a shallow attempt on the part of wealthy powerbrokers to preserve their elite status. That is, they embrace the façade of diversity, bringing in a few black folks (not too many) to beef up the stats that can later be used to promote the school. Black and brown students are later exploited by the powers-that-be. For example, a few might be gathered for a picture, later to be posted on the website. Others might be part of a student panel, paraded on open-house nights to prospective parents. In return, they might be given a ”safe space,” a class on Black-lesbian literature, or some other breadcrumb, but nothing that reflects a genuine commitment to the educational welfare of Black students.

I want my DD to attend a school that embraces character excellence. She’s white. Her boyfriend is Black. They attend one of the Big Three; both are on scholarship, and both earn top grades. The boyfriend doesn’t want nor need to have his picture taken or to be paraded on a website. Rather, he wants to blend in and manifest the values that inform the school’s mission. My DD wants to play sports, bring her boyfriend to social gatherings and not engage in weird “woke talk” about privilege, victimhood, or DEI. Their race-blind approach has always struck me as mature and informed. They have my blessings, and I could not be prouder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The premise of this thread- that there should be no attempt to achieve some degree of ethnic/racial diversity- is so blatantly racist. I’m disheartened by how many pages and posts there are here.

That’s fine except that every person has a different view of diversity. In my kids school about a third of students are African American and less than 1 percent is Hispanic and it is considered diverse. Given the subjectivity and arbitrariness of diversity I think it is better that admissions are race free. That by no means its racist. Think about public schools. Race is not considered a factor in admissions and by no means is racist. The only requirement is to live near the public school.

OK, Stephen Miller, let me help you out here. If the private school could fill itself with 400 kids from full pay families, and 95% of those kids are white, but instead they choose to give financial aid to 80 students, and the majority of those kids are non-white from a variety of different ethnic and racial backgrounds, that may not achieve perfect diversity, but that’s what it means to value diversity and make a worthwhile effort at it. I’m not sure what you’re doing here today. Don’t you have a hard-working Mexican farm worker to deport?

Ok Kamala. You totally convinced me.

The thing is, I consider that to be a compliment. Do you consider being compared to Stephen Miller a compliment?

If a failed politician is a compliment, good for you.

I’ll take my failed politician any day over your racist, fascist, insurrectionist.

Thanks for recognizing that is a failed politician. Because of her is that we have the current president.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m late to the conversation, but I propose race-blind admissions.

“Diversity” is a fraud—a shallow attempt on the part of wealthy powerbrokers to preserve their elite status. That is, they embrace the façade of diversity, bringing in a few black folks (not too many) to beef up the stats that can later be used to promote the school. Black and brown students are later exploited by the powers-that-be. For example, a few might be gathered for a picture, later to be posted on the website. Others might be part of a student panel, paraded on open-house nights to prospective parents. In return, they might be given a ”safe space,” a class on Black-lesbian literature, or some other breadcrumb, but nothing that reflects a genuine commitment to the educational welfare of Black students.

I want my DD to attend a school that embraces character excellence. She’s white. Her boyfriend is Black. They attend one of the Big Three; both are on scholarship, and both earn top grades. The boyfriend doesn’t want nor need to have his picture taken or to be paraded on a website. Rather, he wants to blend in and manifest the values that inform the school’s mission. My DD wants to play sports, bring her boyfriend to social gatherings and not engage in weird “woke talk” about privilege, victimhood, or DEI. Their race-blind approach has always struck me as mature and informed. They have my blessings, and I could not be prouder.

Good for you. Love that approach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“Diversity” is a fraud—a shallow attempt on the part of wealthy powerbrokers to preserve their elite status. That is, they embrace the façade of diversity, bringing in a few black folks (not too many) to beef up the stats that can later be used to promote the school. Black and brown students are later exploited by the powers-that-be. For example, a few might be gathered for a picture, later to be posted on the website. Others might be part of a student panel, paraded on open-house nights to prospective parents. In return, they might be given a ”safe space,” a class on Black-lesbian literature, or some other breadcrumb, but nothing that reflects a genuine commitment to the educational welfare of Black students.

I wonder what these "Black and brown students" would think about you describing them in this way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Diversity” is a fraud—a shallow attempt on the part of wealthy powerbrokers to preserve their elite status. That is, they embrace the façade of diversity, bringing in a few black folks (not too many) to beef up the stats that can later be used to promote the school. Black and brown students are later exploited by the powers-that-be. For example, a few might be gathered for a picture, later to be posted on the website. Others might be part of a student panel, paraded on open-house nights to prospective parents. In return, they might be given a ”safe space,” a class on Black-lesbian literature, or some other breadcrumb, but nothing that reflects a genuine commitment to the educational welfare of Black students.

I wonder what these "Black and brown students" would think about you describing them in this way.

They would be sad that schools behave in that way with their fake diversity.

[Anonymous]

School admissions are so unfair and arbitrary that scraping diverts would definitely improve things, specially in terms of fairness in admissions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Diversity” is a fraud—a shallow attempt on the part of wealthy powerbrokers to preserve their elite status. That is, they embrace the façade of diversity, bringing in a few black folks (not too many) to beef up the stats that can later be used to promote the school. Black and brown students are later exploited by the powers-that-be. For example, a few might be gathered for a picture, later to be posted on the website. Others might be part of a student panel, paraded on open-house nights to prospective parents. In return, they might be given a ”safe space,” a class on Black-lesbian literature, or some other breadcrumb, but nothing that reflects a genuine commitment to the educational welfare of Black students.

I wonder what these "Black and brown students" would think about you describing them in this way.

Remember in the year of Floyd when the black alums of all the private schools started ranting on Instagram about their experiences? And how racist the schools were? And this is after 50+ years of the schools actively diversifying, recruiting minority students and faculty, but it was clear no matter what, it was never good enough.

Suspect same still applies today. Schools try to do the right thing, they get criticized for not being good enough. It's never good enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Diversity” is a fraud—a shallow attempt on the part of wealthy powerbrokers to preserve their elite status. That is, they embrace the façade of diversity, bringing in a few black folks (not too many) to beef up the stats that can later be used to promote the school. Black and brown students are later exploited by the powers-that-be. For example, a few might be gathered for a picture, later to be posted on the website. Others might be part of a student panel, paraded on open-house nights to prospective parents. In return, they might be given a ”safe space,” a class on Black-lesbian literature, or some other breadcrumb, but nothing that reflects a genuine commitment to the educational welfare of Black students.

I wonder what these "Black and brown students" would think about you describing them in this way.

Remember in the year of Floyd when the black alums of all the private schools started ranting on Instagram about their experiences? And how racist the schools were? And this is after 50+ years of the schools actively diversifying, recruiting minority students and faculty, but it was clear no matter what, it was never good enough.

Suspect same still applies today. Schools try to do the right thing, they get criticized for not being good enough. It's never good enough.

Yes, specially at a time where Hispanics are being deported and they are not even part of the discussion of diversity as African Americans are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The truth is I am not so far the concrete benefit of diversity in private schools where in fact culturally and socioeoconomically is very homegenous. I am non-white and I don’t think my kids are more tolerant when the share of white kids is lower in school.

Tolerant of what, exactly?

I'm not white and my kid goes to private. I do think there is a difference between attending a 95-98% white private and even a 80-85% white private. Even if all those kids are upper middle to upper ses. I would not feel comfortable sending my kid to a school where they are the lone minority in a white class.

But you’re good with everyone being rich if you can brag on the visible diversity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Diversity” is a fraud—a shallow attempt on the part of wealthy powerbrokers to preserve their elite status. That is, they embrace the façade of diversity, bringing in a few black folks (not too many) to beef up the stats that can later be used to promote the school. Black and brown students are later exploited by the powers-that-be. For example, a few might be gathered for a picture, later to be posted on the website. Others might be part of a student panel, paraded on open-house nights to prospective parents. In return, they might be given a ”safe space,” a class on Black-lesbian literature, or some other breadcrumb, but nothing that reflects a genuine commitment to the educational welfare of Black students.

I wonder what these "Black and brown students" would think about you describing them in this way.

Remember in the year of Floyd when the black alums of all the private schools started ranting on Instagram about their experiences? And how racist the schools were? And this is after 50+ years of the schools actively diversifying, recruiting minority students and faculty, but it was clear no matter what, it was never good enough.

Suspect same still applies today. Schools try to do the right thing, they get criticized for not being good enough. It's never good enough.

Yes, specially at a time where Hispanics are being deported and they are not even part of the discussion of diversity as African Americans are.

No it’s not enough when their murder is being sanctioned at the highest level.

Latino’s have been pursued by the independents for a long time now. There just hasn’t been much interest from them. The Latino school fairs have low turnouts and they aren’t applying to independents in high numbers. What are the schools supposed to do to get them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The truth is I am not so far the concrete benefit of diversity in private schools where in fact culturally and socioeoconomically is very homegenous. I am non-white and I don’t think my kids are more tolerant when the share of white kids is lower in school.

Tolerant of what, exactly?

I'm not white and my kid goes to private. I do think there is a difference between attending a 95-98% white private and even a 80-85% white private. Even if all those kids are upper middle to upper ses. I would not feel comfortable sending my kid to a school where they are the lone minority in a white class.

But you’re good with everyone being rich if you can brag on the visible diversity.

Seriously. Because, magically, I became white when I reached upper middle class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell does not give aid out like other schools of its caliber.

None of these schools let in LOW income families. The testing and the application fees filter them out. They let in middle class which compared to most of the students at these elite schools, appear LOW income. It wouldn't work. I mean it could but I sure wouldn't want to be the token low income kid at a school with super rich kids. Painful, brutal. Just imagine the play dates at their house no one would send their kid to? It doesn't work. Schools target middle to upper middle not true low income families. I was that middle class kid at a big 3 and it wasn't pleasant socially. I had friends and was well liked but there was always something different about how I was treated compared to others. This was so obvious when I found a parent checking my overnight bag post sleepover when a shirt went missing. It wasn't stolen. It was just in the laundry. No one else's bag got searched. I always wanted to go to my neighborhood school but didn't want to seem ungrateful for the opportunity so I just smiled and got my education.

The vast majority of true LOW income kids are not going to be able to do well in a Sidwell environment. They just aren't.

Yeah these schools do let in "LOW” income kids and the majority of kids at any income level are not going to do well in a Sidwell environment.