| No |
dp: Well, if they kids in other schools, what does that say? |
+1 |
That's a little unfair. I was told that KIPP and DC Prep (not sure about CC) were expressly for a population which needed more/different services. Putting a relatively well off privileged white child in the school might prevent a needier child from getting the spot. The services I imagine as being wrap around, countering negative influences outside school, social supports for parents and so forth. Whether it's a good idea to have this separation, and what are the implications of educating separately (but equal...etc...) - that's what the schools are designed for and succeed at. But, not sure I agree with the whole premise that military style discipline is a good model for anyone. |
| I was the only black kid at my school in California. Black people do this all the time. |
| DCUM is so racist. I'd been away for a while and it really takes my breath away. |
True. I was the only black kid in my middle school until my younger siblings came. Black people, and other minorities, do it all the time but it typically follows our housing or income levels. We are the only blacks in the neighborhood, etc. But in DC, whites are choosing schools where the students are more like their children and so are middle and upper class blacks. It seems to be aligned with income as much as it is with race. There are schools within blocks of each other with vastly different race and at-risk profiles. |
KIPP doesn’t use military style discipline. I don’t know why that rumor persists (I’ve had a child there for years and am involved enough in the school community to know). |
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I spent a week observing at KIPP AIM Academy last fall, and I was really impressed. The facilities for both students and teachers were gorgeous and well maintained. Class sizes were small. There was a social worker who knew students well, and showed a great deal of empathy. Discipline was focused on a restorative justice model that was meant to maintain relationships, not focus on punishment. More important, daily routines were designed to keep students out of trouble. The school also had lots of positive incentive programs for maintaining expected behavior. The teaching I observed was great. Expectations were high, and so was compassion. The principal and vice principal were engaged in the community; I saw them in the hallways frequently. As someone with a background in education I had been highly skeptical of KIPP and its corporate sponsors until I saw inside a school for myself.
That said, I’m also a Brightwood resident. I’ve popped into Whittier a few times, and I know a couple of people with children there. I’d recommend observing a half day there if it’s your in-boundary school. While the test scores are not amazing, I think that owes mostly to the SES of the families who enroll there. Leadership and teaching appear quite good. |
Because that is what their videos show, the ones that THEY promoted and you can find all over the web and YOUTUBE. This is especially true of middle and high. This is the model and how KIPP initially marketed themselves, SLANT!!! Kids chanting and having to sit a certain way and clap out responses. How I remember those posters and TLF and TFA promoted this, most of their teachers came from those schools. This is why folks have that impression! Seems like the newer schools and preK early-years are different, so it def depends on the age group you are talking about. |
I wasI would only do it if you raise your kid in the community KIPP draws from, have many friends and playmates of same, so feels seamless. Do you like the KIPP model? Many parents embrace it because it is supplementing some structures they can't provide or support in their home or community. Is that the case for your family? It's very testing oriented with a strong emphasis on discipline through group chants and stuff like that. |
Pretty sure I got it from that Morgan spurlock show where he teaches for a day at a Kipp. |
Lots of stuff online about KIPP and SLANT and other such routines, if you like it go for it, but not for my kid! |
Blacks are less that 5% of the CA population so what would you expect. It would be noteworthy had you been the only black kid in some school in South Africa. |
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Why would you move to a city dubbed, "chocolate city," if you had concerns about you or your child being the minority? He/She will be just as fine as the only black/brown child would be in an all white environment. Whatever that means to you..... I think it would be a good exercise to consider the reality of many minorities since you made the decision to create that environment for your child. Also, let it guide how you interact and treat others (or allow them to be treated or talked about) when you're in the majority and they're in the minority.
Short answer - get a good teacher and you'll get a good education, regardless of the other peoples skin in the classroom. |