Are your kids embarrassed to be at a top school?

[Anonymous]

I promise I'm not a troll. DC got into 2 of the Big 3 and whenever we have run in to kids who are in these schools they or their parents always seem to hesitate or look reluctant when naming their school.

Say DD met a friend at camp and at pick up we ask, where does Larla go to school? These are just normal casual conversations sometimes because the the kids want to make plans to do something and we're trying to learn more about the family and in public people ask that because it helps them determine where the child lives for driving purposes.

The parent will kind of whisper the answer. It's so different from public school parents who will proudly say their chlid's school or from parents who have kids at Stone Ridge, Visi, Burke, Field, Norwood, Holton and other schools. It's almost as if they are embarrassed to be associated with their school in some settings. Is it because they think ordinary public school parents will be envious? Is it like the "I went to school in Cambridge" false modesty? Because they are afraid we are going to rob them because we assume they are wealthy? Recently, it because of the GDS controversy?

This has occurred over and over again in many different settings and it's always bothered me. What gives?

[Anonymous]

Probably a GDS family. Since they pissed of the neighborhood over enrolling kids there. Also perhaps they are embarrassed how woke the school is and they are in a more conservative circle?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I promise I'm not a troll. DC got into 2 of the Big 3 and whenever we have run in to kids who are in these schools they or their parents always seem to hesitate or look reluctant when naming their school.

Say DD met a friend at camp and at pick up we ask, where does Larla go to school? These are just normal casual conversations sometimes because the the kids want to make plans to do something and we're trying to learn more about the family and in public people ask that because it helps them determine where the child lives for driving purposes.

The parent will kind of whisper the answer. It's so different from public school parents who will proudly say their chlid's school or from parents who have kids at Stone Ridge, Visi, Burke, Field, Norwood, Holton and other schools. It's almost as if they are embarrassed to be associated with their school in some settings. Is it because they think ordinary public school parents will be envious? Is it like the "I went to school in Cambridge" false modesty? Because they are afraid we are going to rob them because we assume they are wealthy? Recently, it because of the GDS controversy?

This has occurred over and over again in many different settings and it's always bothered me. What gives?

Honestly, I think the people you have encountered don't reflect the entire community. I've actually found that people love disclosing that their kids go to Sidwell
I have not seen or experienced what you describe above so I wouldn't worry about. Unless you have issues with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Probably a GDS family. Since they pissed of the neighborhood over enrolling kids there. Also perhaps they are embarrassed how woke the school is and they are in a more conservative circle?

Do unto others, dude. Why such bizarre animosity? What if people talked sh*t about your kid's school? Oh, and as a Tenley resident, they did not piss off the neighborhood, btw. Just five anc members

[Anonymous]

Of course not. Never encountered this. It’s a school, not the Nobel Prize.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Probably a GDS family. Since they pissed of the neighborhood over enrolling kids there. Also perhaps they are embarrassed how woke the school is and they are in a more conservative circle?

Do unto others, dude. Why such bizarre animosity? What if people talked sh*t about your kid's school? Oh, and as a Tenley resident, they did not piss off the neighborhood, btw. Just five anc members

OP said a Big 3 so wasn’t GDS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I promise I'm not a troll. DC got into 2 of the Big 3 and whenever we have run in to kids who are in these schools they or their parents always seem to hesitate or look reluctant when naming their school.

Say DD met a friend at camp and at pick up we ask, where does Larla go to school? These are just normal casual conversations sometimes because the the kids want to make plans to do something and we're trying to learn more about the family and in public people ask that because it helps them determine where the child lives for driving purposes.

The parent will kind of whisper the answer. It's so different from public school parents who will proudly say their chlid's school or from parents who have kids at Stone Ridge, Visi, Burke, Field, Norwood, Holton and other schools. It's almost as if they are embarrassed to be associated with their school in some settings. Is it because they think ordinary public school parents will be envious? Is it like the "I went to school in Cambridge" false modesty? Because they are afraid we are going to rob them because we assume they are wealthy? Recently, it because of the GDS controversy?

This has occurred over and over again in many different settings and it's always bothered me. What gives?

As you can see from reading just a few mean responses on this thread, it's tricky and people are mean and judgmental. My kids attend a private school and I've definitely heard judgment-laden comments around our choice. Fwiw, I've seen similar behavior from people who choose to send their kids to a public charter. My advice: don't sweat it and do what's best for your family.

[Anonymous]

BTW, it’s “I went to school in Boston.”

[Anonymous]

If op said Big 3,

That must now include Basis as it’s the top DC area school??

[Anonymous]

Yes I think it's the "I went to school in Cambridge/Boston" false modesty, and it is crazy that the comparison exists.

[Anonymous]

According to my teens, it's not cool right now on social media, especially tiktok, to go to private school. The parents are probably not aware, but the kids are.

[Anonymous]

LOL OP - nice try at dissing the specific schools you mentioned. Nobody cares and you need to move on and grow up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:According to my teens, it's not cool right now on social media, especially tiktok, to go to private school. The parents are probably not aware, but the kids are.

+1

[Anonymous]

Yes I think it's the "I went to school in Cambridge/Boston" false modesty, and it is crazy that the comparison exists.

[Anonymous]

I feel embarrassed to say my kid goes to private.