Private Schools Wokeness Over the Top

[Anonymous]

As a parent from a foreign background, this article resonated with me. I feel lost here and feel like I no longer fit in.

https://www.slowboring.com/p/who-is-included-by-inclusive-language

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a parent from a foreign background, this article resonated with me. I feel lost here and feel like I no longer fit in.

https://www.slowboring.com/p/who-is-included-by-inclusive-language

The author of the article cites a few Washington DC schools:
“Georgetown Day and Sidwell Friends here in D.C..”

It doesn’t seem like any of these schools hide the fact that they embrace diversity and equity , etc. I think it’s great that many schools are embracing these things. If a person doesn’t like a school’s ideologies they can obviously pick other schools..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent from a foreign background, this article resonated with me. I feel lost here and feel like I no longer fit in.

https://www.slowboring.com/p/who-is-included-by-inclusive-language

The author of the article cites a few Washington DC schools:
“Georgetown Day and Sidwell Friends here in D.C..”

It doesn’t seem like any of these schools hide the fact that they embrace diversity and equity , etc. I think it’s great that many schools are embracing these things. If a person doesn’t like a school’s ideologies they can obviously pick other schools..

It’s beyond diversity and equity. Its a religion

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a parent from a foreign background, this article resonated with me. I feel lost here and feel like I no longer fit in.

https://www.slowboring.com/p/who-is-included-by-inclusive-language

What this "Slow Boring" author seems not to understand or account for is that elite high schools are responding to the preferences of elite colleges, because the sole purpose of an elite high school is to help its students gain admission into an elite college. If it cannot fulfill this singular purpose it will not survive, no matter what other acculturation in the norms of fancy manners and society it may otherwise provide. College admission is king.

And what this author similarly seems to not understand about elite college "wokeness" is that it is the product not only of demands from the culture at large (and, crucially, the demographic of affluent teenagers that elite colleges cater to) but also its highly educated and abnormally intelligent faculty, who often lead the charge in determining intellectual and cultural norms on campus. Although this imperfect attempt at semi-meritocracy has been under attack in America for decades, for the most part smart people still run universities (not necessarily in the administration buildings, but in the lecture halls and research labs). So colleges tend to be on the progressive cutting edge, because the more educated you are, the more likely you are to hold progressive beliefs. If you really understand systemic racial and economic oppression you are going to support efforts to dismantle it (unless you are a sociopath or otherwise lacking in normal moral sensibilities, super-ego, empathy, or conscience). Even if those efforts to dismantle become absurd or performative (as, of course, they eventually do as dumber and less genuinely other-regarding people jump onto the PC train) the efforts are rooted in the result of education itself: a deeper, more nuanced, and more accurate understanding of how the world actually works.

If you don't like it, don't fret: the pendulum will swing again because not everyone with power and influence in American culture is smart or well-educated, or equipped with a functioning super-ego.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I believe in diversity and equity. The way it is pushed these days is more like a religion where other opinions are not allowed (look at the Hamline University debacle.. I am muslim and every muslim I know thinks what happens is insane). I am a person who is an admirer of Edward Said's book Orientalism as well as the People's History of the United States. I am Arab so am staunchly anti-imperialist. But I think schools have gone overboard. Also there is very little critique of class. I get it - they are private schools. But it is hypocritical to be pushing all of this and ignore the class aspect.

My kids are young - Kindergarten and first grade so they haven't been exposed to a lot of this yet. But I am worried that there is some indoctrination going on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent from a foreign background, this article resonated with me. I feel lost here and feel like I no longer fit in.

https://www.slowboring.com/p/who-is-included-by-inclusive-language

What this "Slow Boring" author seems not to understand or account for is that elite high schools are responding to the preferences of elite colleges, because the sole purpose of an elite high school is to help its students gain admission into an elite college. If it cannot fulfill this singular purpose it will not survive, no matter what other acculturation in the norms of fancy manners and society it may otherwise provide. College admission is king.

And what this author similarly seems to not understand about elite college "wokeness" is that it is the product not only of demands from the culture at large (and, crucially, the demographic of affluent teenagers that elite colleges cater to) but also its highly educated and abnormally intelligent faculty, who often lead the charge in determining intellectual and cultural norms on campus. Although this imperfect attempt at semi-meritocracy has been under attack in America for decades, for the most part smart people still run universities (not necessarily in the administration buildings, but in the lecture halls and research labs). So colleges tend to be on the progressive cutting edge, because the more educated you are, the more likely you are to hold progressive beliefs. If you really understand systemic racial and economic oppression you are going to support efforts to dismantle it (unless you are a sociopath or otherwise lacking in normal moral sensibilities, super-ego, empathy, or conscience). Even if those efforts to dismantle become absurd or performative (as, of course, they eventually do as dumber and less genuinely other-regarding people jump onto the PC train) the efforts are rooted in the result of education itself: a deeper, more nuanced, and more accurate understanding of how the world actually works.

If you don't like it, don't fret: the pendulum will swing again because not everyone with power and influence in American culture is smart or well-educated, or equipped with a functioning super-ego.

Not OP but it seems like you aren't that educated yourself, given the fact that you have no idea who Matt Yglesias is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I believe in diversity and equity. The way it is pushed these days is more like a religion where other opinions are not allowed (look at the Hamline University debacle.. I am muslim and every muslim I know thinks what happens is insane). I am a person who is an admirer of Edward Said's book Orientalism as well as the People's History of the United States. I am Arab so am staunchly anti-imperialist. But I think schools have gone overboard. Also there is very little critique of class. I get it - they are private schools. But it is hypocritical to be pushing all of this and ignore the class aspect.

My kids are young - Kindergarten and first grade so they haven't been exposed to a lot of this yet. But I am worried that there is some indoctrination going on.

There is no indoctrination going on or is it treated as a religion. You sound like FOX news.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I believe in diversity and equity. The way it is pushed these days is more like a religion where other opinions are not allowed (look at the Hamline University debacle.. I am muslim and every muslim I know thinks what happens is insane). I am a person who is an admirer of Edward Said's book Orientalism as well as the People's History of the United States. I am Arab so am staunchly anti-imperialist. But I think schools have gone overboard. Also there is very little critique of class. I get it - they are private schools. But it is hypocritical to be pushing all of this and ignore the class aspect.

My kids are young - Kindergarten and first grade so they haven't been exposed to a lot of this yet. But I am worried that there is some indoctrination going on.

Couldn't agree more about the importance of critiquing class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent from a foreign background, this article resonated with me. I feel lost here and feel like I no longer fit in.

https://www.slowboring.com/p/who-is-included-by-inclusive-language

What this "Slow Boring" author seems not to understand or account for is that elite high schools are responding to the preferences of elite colleges, because the sole purpose of an elite high school is to help its students gain admission into an elite college. If it cannot fulfill this singular purpose it will not survive, no matter what other acculturation in the norms of fancy manners and society it may otherwise provide. College admission is king.

And what this author similarly seems to not understand about elite college "wokeness" is that it is the product not only of demands from the culture at large (and, crucially, the demographic of affluent teenagers that elite colleges cater to) but also its highly educated and abnormally intelligent faculty, who often lead the charge in determining intellectual and cultural norms on campus. Although this imperfect attempt at semi-meritocracy has been under attack in America for decades, for the most part smart people still run universities (not necessarily in the administration buildings, but in the lecture halls and research labs). So colleges tend to be on the progressive cutting edge, because the more educated you are, the more likely you are to hold progressive beliefs. If you really understand systemic racial and economic oppression you are going to support efforts to dismantle it (unless you are a sociopath or otherwise lacking in normal moral sensibilities, super-ego, empathy, or conscience). Even if those efforts to dismantle become absurd or performative (as, of course, they eventually do as dumber and less genuinely other-regarding people jump onto the PC train) the efforts are rooted in the result of education itself: a deeper, more nuanced, and more accurate understanding of how the world actually works.

If you don't like it, don't fret: the pendulum will swing again because not everyone with power and influence in American culture is smart or well-educated, or equipped with a functioning super-ego.

I don't think this is entirely correct. Many of the teachers have a desire to be social activists, and they are using your kids to fulfill their desires, regardless of what is best for them or what you would want for them. I am so incredibly tired of the DE&I tripe. Those calling it a religion are on the mark. That is what it is at this point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent from a foreign background, this article resonated with me. I feel lost here and feel like I no longer fit in.

https://www.slowboring.com/p/who-is-included-by-inclusive-language

What this "Slow Boring" author seems not to understand or account for is that elite high schools are responding to the preferences of elite colleges, because the sole purpose of an elite high school is to help its students gain admission into an elite college. If it cannot fulfill this singular purpose it will not survive, no matter what other acculturation in the norms of fancy manners and society it may otherwise provide. College admission is king.

And what this author similarly seems to not understand about elite college "wokeness" is that it is the product not only of demands from the culture at large (and, crucially, the demographic of affluent teenagers that elite colleges cater to) but also its highly educated and abnormally intelligent faculty, who often lead the charge in determining intellectual and cultural norms on campus. Although this imperfect attempt at semi-meritocracy has been under attack in America for decades, for the most part smart people still run universities (not necessarily in the administration buildings, but in the lecture halls and research labs). So colleges tend to be on the progressive cutting edge, because the more educated you are, the more likely you are to hold progressive beliefs. If you really understand systemic racial and economic oppression you are going to support efforts to dismantle it (unless you are a sociopath or otherwise lacking in normal moral sensibilities, super-ego, empathy, or conscience). Even if those efforts to dismantle become absurd or performative (as, of course, they eventually do as dumber and less genuinely other-regarding people jump onto the PC train) the efforts are rooted in the result of education itself: a deeper, more nuanced, and more accurate understanding of how the world actually works.

If you don't like it, don't fret: the pendulum will swing again because not everyone with power and influence in American culture is smart or well-educated, or equipped with a functioning super-ego.

Not OP but it seems like you aren't that educated yourself, given the fact that you have no idea who Matt Yglesias is.

Wow did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed? I am not the PP but I also totally missed the fact that this blog post was written by Matt Yglesias.

[Anonymous]

One thing I like about the article is the moniker "Fancy-Pants Prep school." I think we need to replace "Big 3" with that term because it actually fits better for what people actually mean when they ask questions about said schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I believe in diversity and equity. The way it is pushed these days is more like a religion where other opinions are not allowed (look at the Hamline University debacle.. I am muslim and every muslim I know thinks what happens is insane). I am a person who is an admirer of Edward Said's book Orientalism as well as the People's History of the United States. I am Arab so am staunchly anti-imperialist. But I think schools have gone overboard. Also there is very little critique of class. I get it - they are private schools. But it is hypocritical to be pushing all of this and ignore the class aspect.

My kids are young - Kindergarten and first grade so they haven't been exposed to a lot of this yet. But I am worried that there is some indoctrination going on.

There is no indoctrination going on or is it treated as a religion. You sound like FOX news.

This is the problem. Every response to a critique of what's going on mentions fox news. I'm not republican. I don't watch fox news. In fact I hate them - they are racist, islamophobic, and support numerous wars in the Middle East. What is happening is not normal. Again, did you hear about the Hamline University incident where they fired a professor. Thankfully, the largest Muslim organization in the country also criticized Hamline University. The Right jumped on the issue and criticized Islam but if you read what the student actually said, you will see her using all the woke buzz words.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I believe in diversity and equity. The way it is pushed these days is more like a religion where other opinions are not allowed (look at the Hamline University debacle.. I am muslim and every muslim I know thinks what happens is insane). I am a person who is an admirer of Edward Said's book Orientalism as well as the People's History of the United States. I am Arab so am staunchly anti-imperialist. But I think schools have gone overboard. Also there is very little critique of class. I get it - they are private schools. But it is hypocritical to be pushing all of this and ignore the class aspect.

My kids are young - Kindergarten and first grade so they haven't been exposed to a lot of this yet. But I am worried that there is some indoctrination going on.

Harsh question: Why should someone who claims to be “from a foreign background “ and from a religion that hardly represents a common viewpoint in the US expect to “fit in” — or even want to “fit in”? Surely you must realize that it’s the culture and values behind what you deem “wokeness” that has given you and your kids not just the chance of fitting in, but of being accepted at all by schools and universities that, not too long ago, we’re almost exclusively white, male, American, and, in many cases aggressively Christian?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent from a foreign background, this article resonated with me. I feel lost here and feel like I no longer fit in.

https://www.slowboring.com/p/who-is-included-by-inclusive-language

What this "Slow Boring" author seems not to understand or account for is that elite high schools are responding to the preferences of elite colleges, because the sole purpose of an elite high school is to help its students gain admission into an elite college. If it cannot fulfill this singular purpose it will not survive, no matter what other acculturation in the norms of fancy manners and society it may otherwise provide. College admission is king.

And what this author similarly seems to not understand about elite college "wokeness" is that it is the product not only of demands from the culture at large (and, crucially, the demographic of affluent teenagers that elite colleges cater to) but also its highly educated and abnormally intelligent faculty, who often lead the charge in determining intellectual and cultural norms on campus. Although this imperfect attempt at semi-meritocracy has been under attack in America for decades, for the most part smart people still run universities (not necessarily in the administration buildings, but in the lecture halls and research labs). So colleges tend to be on the progressive cutting edge, because the more educated you are, the more likely you are to hold progressive beliefs. If you really understand systemic racial and economic oppression you are going to support efforts to dismantle it (unless you are a sociopath or otherwise lacking in normal moral sensibilities, super-ego, empathy, or conscience). Even if those efforts to dismantle become absurd or performative (as, of course, they eventually do as dumber and less genuinely other-regarding people jump onto the PC train) the efforts are rooted in the result of education itself: a deeper, more nuanced, and more accurate understanding of how the world actually works.

If you don't like it, don't fret: the pendulum will swing again because not everyone with power and influence in American culture is smart or well-educated, or equipped with a functioning super-ego.

Not OP but it seems like you aren't that educated yourself, given the fact that you have no idea who Matt Yglesias is.

I think it's adorable that you think Matt Yglesias is an essential figure in American letters. You are confusing American pop culture with intellectualism.

[Anonymous]

Is there actually some “fancy pants private school” policy or event that people want to debate about as being “too woke?” People already have claws out and hurling insults, but it’s already getting boring because there is no defined topic of debate.