Upper elementary at a Title 1 school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We changed our older child from a title 1 dcps dual language to oyster adams in 4th. The difference was mostly in a more prepared and (wealthy) peer group. Teaching in core subjects was equally strong in both schools, but the specials were much better at oyster adams. The kids’ behavior was not much better, but academically the kids were much stronger at Adams.

Thank you. How do you think the difference in academic strength translated into a different experience for your child? Do you mind sharing which school you switched from?

Bump (DP)

Are you still deciding or already regretting your decision?

OP here. Actually we’re at the Title 1 and I’m convinced it’s mostly racism scaring people away. They look at a playground of brown kids and assume they’re below grade level and misbehaved. They’re not. The games the big kids play with the little kids are adorable and sweet, and all of the 3rd-4th graders I know (classmates siblings and kids from activities) seem bright and are certainly well spoken. I understand not all Title 1 schools are created equal, but I’m happy my child has the experience of seeing kids that don’t look like her being leaders and doing better in some things than her. Those are life lessons that really can change how a person interacts with the world going forward.

Accusing everyone else but themselves of racism but then saying the Black and Brown kids are "well spoken" -- the classic condescending compliment that white people use toward Black and Brown people and only Black and Brown people -- is quite a flex.

Let's be honest here: no white person has ever described another white person as "well spoken."

I bet PP has "a lot of Black friends," too.

Thank you. I have found, over many years, that the clueless parents screaming about others' racism based on their school choices demonstrate a shockingly high level of paternalistic, white-saviour-type thinking about their children's classmates. They also have no understanding at all of the way that middle and upper class people of color go about making their schooling decisions. They'd rather not think about that.

Yep. UMC POC (especially black folks) are often the most wary of putting their kids into a settings with predominantly underperforming same-race peers. Frankly, it’s often better to be a black “only” (or one of a few) than to be a high SES+black “only” in a midst of low-SES black students.

[Anonymous]

Just do the best thing for you and your kids. Or other peoples' kids. Seriously. No one cares. Don't broadcast it or call others racist for their decisions. That's not productive.

We were at a Title I school and switched to a non Title I DCPS. there have been pros and cons to both schools, but frankly the cons at the title 1 far outweigh the ones at the new school. There are still great teachers, students and families at the old school and many very talented and bright kids who will do well wherever they go -- and this includes lower SES kids who are just very bright, good kids.

We tried to be engaged at the old school and be a force for good -- pushing for outdoor recess, less yelling and punitive culture, more and better extracurriculurs, and we had only modest success. I can't see that the school is better since our kids' time there. You are seriously oveestimating how much of an impact a few engaged families can have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We changed our older child from a title 1 dcps dual language to oyster adams in 4th. The difference was mostly in a more prepared and (wealthy) peer group. Teaching in core subjects was equally strong in both schools, but the specials were much better at oyster adams. The kids’ behavior was not much better, but academically the kids were much stronger at Adams.

Thank you. How do you think the difference in academic strength translated into a different experience for your child? Do you mind sharing which school you switched from?

Bump (DP)

Are you still deciding or already regretting your decision?

OP here. Actually we’re at the Title 1 and I’m convinced it’s mostly racism scaring people away. They look at a playground of brown kids and assume they’re below grade level and misbehaved. They’re not. The games the big kids play with the little kids are adorable and sweet, and all of the 3rd-4th graders I know (classmates siblings and kids from activities) seem bright and are certainly well spoken. I understand not all Title 1 schools are created equal, but I’m happy my child has the experience of seeing kids that don’t look like her being leaders and doing better in some things than her. Those are life lessons that really can change how a person interacts with the world going forward.

Accusing everyone else but themselves of racism but then saying the Black and Brown kids are "well spoken" -- the classic condescending compliment that white people use toward Black and Brown people and only Black and Brown people -- is quite a flex.

Let's be honest here: no white person has ever described another white person as "well spoken."

I bet PP has "a lot of Black friends," too.

Thank you. I have found, over many years, that the clueless parents screaming about others' racism based on their school choices demonstrate a shockingly high level of paternalistic, white-saviour-type thinking about their children's classmates. They also have no understanding at all of the way that middle and upper class people of color go about making their schooling decisions. They'd rather not think about that.

Yep. UMC POC (especially black folks) are often the most wary of putting their kids into a settings with predominantly underperforming same-race peers. Frankly, it’s often better to be a black “only” (or one of a few) than to be a high SES+black “only” in a midst of low-SES black students.

UMC Black families have different considerations than UMC white families. It's not great to point to them and say "well they are avoiding the title 1 school so I'm doing it for the same reason.". No, you're probably not.

[Anonymous]

I just think the OP needs to give it more than a few weeks of K before declaring that anyone who avoids the school is a racist. Maybe try out more than one teacher, get to know the principal a little, see how it goes when you have an actual problem, before you pass judgment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We changed our older child from a title 1 dcps dual language to oyster adams in 4th. The difference was mostly in a more prepared and (wealthy) peer group. Teaching in core subjects was equally strong in both schools, but the specials were much better at oyster adams. The kids’ behavior was not much better, but academically the kids were much stronger at Adams.

Thank you. How do you think the difference in academic strength translated into a different experience for your child? Do you mind sharing which school you switched from?

Bump (DP)

Are you still deciding or already regretting your decision?

OP here. Actually we’re at the Title 1 and I’m convinced it’s mostly racism scaring people away. They look at a playground of brown kids and assume they’re below grade level and misbehaved. They’re not. The games the big kids play with the little kids are adorable and sweet, and all of the 3rd-4th graders I know (classmates siblings and kids from activities) seem bright and are certainly well spoken. I understand not all Title 1 schools are created equal, but I’m happy my child has the experience of seeing kids that don’t look like her being leaders and doing better in some things than her. Those are life lessons that really can change how a person interacts with the world going forward.

Accusing everyone else but themselves of racism but then saying the Black and Brown kids are "well spoken" -- the classic condescending compliment that white people use toward Black and Brown people and only Black and Brown people -- is quite a flex.

Let's be honest here: no white person has ever described another white person as "well spoken."

I bet PP has "a lot of Black friends," too.

Thank you. I have found, over many years, that the clueless parents screaming about others' racism based on their school choices demonstrate a shockingly high level of paternalistic, white-saviour-type thinking about their children's classmates. They also have no understanding at all of the way that middle and upper class people of color go about making their schooling decisions. They'd rather not think about that.

Yep. UMC POC (especially black folks) are often the most wary of putting their kids into a settings with predominantly underperforming same-race peers. Frankly, it’s often better to be a black “only” (or one of a few) than to be a high SES+black “only” in a midst of low-SES black students.

As an UMC POC, since we're not a monolith, I don't agree with this at all. There are trade offs with each situation, and the #1 thing I worried about moving my son from a Title 1 DCPS to a HRCS was losing black male teachers, role models and class mates. I am constantly taking note of the amount of black children in the school and how he's situated in his class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We changed our older child from a title 1 dcps dual language to oyster adams in 4th. The difference was mostly in a more prepared and (wealthy) peer group. Teaching in core subjects was equally strong in both schools, but the specials were much better at oyster adams. The kids’ behavior was not much better, but academically the kids were much stronger at Adams.

Thank you. How do you think the difference in academic strength translated into a different experience for your child? Do you mind sharing which school you switched from?

Bump (DP)

Are you still deciding or already regretting your decision?

OP here. Actually we’re at the Title 1 and I’m convinced it’s mostly racism scaring people away. They look at a playground of brown kids and assume they’re below grade level and misbehaved. They’re not. The games the big kids play with the little kids are adorable and sweet, and all of the 3rd-4th graders I know (classmates siblings and kids from activities) seem bright and are certainly well spoken. I understand not all Title 1 schools are created equal, but I’m happy my child has the experience of seeing kids that don’t look like her being leaders and doing better in some things than her. Those are life lessons that really can change how a person interacts with the world going forward.

Accusing everyone else but themselves of racism but then saying the Black and Brown kids are "well spoken" -- the classic condescending compliment that white people use toward Black and Brown people and only Black and Brown people -- is quite a flex.

Let's be honest here: no white person has ever described another white person as "well spoken."

I bet PP has "a lot of Black friends," too.

Thank you. I have found, over many years, that the clueless parents screaming about others' racism based on their school choices demonstrate a shockingly high level of paternalistic, white-saviour-type thinking about their children's classmates. They also have no understanding at all of the way that middle and upper class people of color go about making their schooling decisions. They'd rather not think about that.

Yep. UMC POC (especially black folks) are often the most wary of putting their kids into a settings with predominantly underperforming same-race peers. Frankly, it’s often better to be a black “only” (or one of a few) than to be a high SES+black “only” in a midst of low-SES black students.

UMC Black families have different considerations than UMC white families. It's not great to point to them and say "well they are avoiding the title 1 school so I'm doing it for the same reason.". No, you're probably not.

Absolutely this. It's a valid discussion, but totally separate discussion from the one in this thread. This thread got bumped when someone said, "Are you still deciding or already regretting your decision?" That's a loaded question and it's relevant to respond WHY someone wouldn't be regretting their decision a month into the school year. It's also not the same as "could every child do equally well in a Title 1 school." There's nothing wrong with some thread drift, but responding to a specific question isn't the same as making broad generalizations out of context.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We changed our older child from a title 1 dcps dual language to oyster adams in 4th. The difference was mostly in a more prepared and (wealthy) peer group. Teaching in core subjects was equally strong in both schools, but the specials were much better at oyster adams. The kids’ behavior was not much better, but academically the kids were much stronger at Adams.

Thank you. How do you think the difference in academic strength translated into a different experience for your child? Do you mind sharing which school you switched from?

Bump (DP)

Are you still deciding or already regretting your decision?

OP here. Actually we’re at the Title 1 and I’m convinced it’s mostly racism scaring people away. They look at a playground of brown kids and assume they’re below grade level and misbehaved. They’re not. The games the big kids play with the little kids are adorable and sweet, and all of the 3rd-4th graders I know (classmates siblings and kids from activities) seem bright and are certainly well spoken. I understand not all Title 1 schools are created equal, but I’m happy my child has the experience of seeing kids that don’t look like her being leaders and doing better in some things than her. Those are life lessons that really can change how a person interacts with the world going forward.

Accusing everyone else but themselves of racism but then saying the Black and Brown kids are "well spoken" -- the classic condescending compliment that white people use toward Black and Brown people and only Black and Brown people -- is quite a flex.

Let's be honest here: no white person has ever described another white person as "well spoken."

I bet PP has "a lot of Black friends," too.

Thank you. I have found, over many years, that the clueless parents screaming about others' racism based on their school choices demonstrate a shockingly high level of paternalistic, white-saviour-type thinking about their children's classmates. They also have no understanding at all of the way that middle and upper class people of color go about making their schooling decisions. They'd rather not think about that.

Yep. UMC POC (especially black folks) are often the most wary of putting their kids into a settings with predominantly underperforming same-race peers. Frankly, it’s often better to be a black “only” (or one of a few) than to be a high SES+black “only” in a midst of low-SES black students.

UMC Black families have different considerations than UMC white families. It's not great to point to them and say "well they are avoiding the title 1 school so I'm doing it for the same reason.". No, you're probably not.

Bullcrap

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We changed our older child from a title 1 dcps dual language to oyster adams in 4th. The difference was mostly in a more prepared and (wealthy) peer group. Teaching in core subjects was equally strong in both schools, but the specials were much better at oyster adams. The kids’ behavior was not much better, but academically the kids were much stronger at Adams.

Thank you. How do you think the difference in academic strength translated into a different experience for your child? Do you mind sharing which school you switched from?

Bump (DP)

Are you still deciding or already regretting your decision?

OP here. Actually we’re at the Title 1 and I’m convinced it’s mostly racism scaring people away. They look at a playground of brown kids and assume they’re below grade level and misbehaved. They’re not. The games the big kids play with the little kids are adorable and sweet, and all of the 3rd-4th graders I know (classmates siblings and kids from activities) seem bright and are certainly well spoken. I understand not all Title 1 schools are created equal, but I’m happy my child has the experience of seeing kids that don’t look like her being leaders and doing better in some things than her. Those are life lessons that really can change how a person interacts with the world going forward.

Accusing everyone else but themselves of racism but then saying the Black and Brown kids are "well spoken" -- the classic condescending compliment that white people use toward Black and Brown people and only Black and Brown people -- is quite a flex.

Let's be honest here: no white person has ever described another white person as "well spoken."

I bet PP has "a lot of Black friends," too.

Thank you. I have found, over many years, that the clueless parents screaming about others' racism based on their school choices demonstrate a shockingly high level of paternalistic, white-saviour-type thinking about their children's classmates. They also have no understanding at all of the way that middle and upper class people of color go about making their schooling decisions. They'd rather not think about that.

Yep. UMC POC (especially black folks) are often the most wary of putting their kids into a settings with predominantly underperforming same-race peers. Frankly, it’s often better to be a black “only” (or one of a few) than to be a high SES+black “only” in a midst of low-SES black students.

UMC Black families have different considerations than UMC white families. It's not great to point to them and say "well they are avoiding the title 1 school so I'm doing it for the same reason.". No, you're probably not.

Bullcrap

Huh?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We changed our older child from a title 1 dcps dual language to oyster adams in 4th. The difference was mostly in a more prepared and (wealthy) peer group. Teaching in core subjects was equally strong in both schools, but the specials were much better at oyster adams. The kids’ behavior was not much better, but academically the kids were much stronger at Adams.

Thank you. How do you think the difference in academic strength translated into a different experience for your child? Do you mind sharing which school you switched from?

Bump (DP)

Are you still deciding or already regretting your decision?

OP here. Actually we’re at the Title 1 and I’m convinced it’s mostly racism scaring people away. They look at a playground of brown kids and assume they’re below grade level and misbehaved. They’re not. The games the big kids play with the little kids are adorable and sweet, and all of the 3rd-4th graders I know (classmates siblings and kids from activities) seem bright and are certainly well spoken. I understand not all Title 1 schools are created equal, but I’m happy my child has the experience of seeing kids that don’t look like her being leaders and doing better in some things than her. Those are life lessons that really can change how a person interacts with the world going forward.

Accusing everyone else but themselves of racism but then saying the Black and Brown kids are "well spoken" -- the classic condescending compliment that white people use toward Black and Brown people and only Black and Brown people -- is quite a flex.

Let's be honest here: no white person has ever described another white person as "well spoken."

I bet PP has "a lot of Black friends," too.

Thank you. I have found, over many years, that the clueless parents screaming about others' racism based on their school choices demonstrate a shockingly high level of paternalistic, white-saviour-type thinking about their children's classmates. They also have no understanding at all of the way that middle and upper class people of color go about making their schooling decisions. They'd rather not think about that.

Yep. UMC POC (especially black folks) are often the most wary of putting their kids into a settings with predominantly underperforming same-race peers. Frankly, it’s often better to be a black “only” (or one of a few) than to be a high SES+black “only” in a midst of low-SES black students.

UMC Black families have different considerations than UMC white families. It's not great to point to them and say "well they are avoiding the title 1 school so I'm doing it for the same reason.". No, you're probably not.

Bullcrap

Ah, good point. UMC white kids also get stereotyped as unruly, poor performing too. I forget the long sordid history of racism against white people and how they are funneled into the school to prison pipeline.

/sarcasm

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We changed our older child from a title 1 dcps dual language to oyster adams in 4th. The difference was mostly in a more prepared and (wealthy) peer group. Teaching in core subjects was equally strong in both schools, but the specials were much better at oyster adams. The kids’ behavior was not much better, but academically the kids were much stronger at Adams.

Thank you. How do you think the difference in academic strength translated into a different experience for your child? Do you mind sharing which school you switched from?

Bump (DP)

Are you still deciding or already regretting your decision?

OP here. Actually we’re at the Title 1 and I’m convinced it’s mostly racism scaring people away. They look at a playground of brown kids and assume they’re below grade level and misbehaved. They’re not. The games the big kids play with the little kids are adorable and sweet, and all of the 3rd-4th graders I know (classmates siblings and kids from activities) seem bright and are certainly well spoken. I understand not all Title 1 schools are created equal, but I’m happy my child has the experience of seeing kids that don’t look like her being leaders and doing better in some things than her. Those are life lessons that really can change how a person interacts with the world going forward.

Accusing everyone else but themselves of racism but then saying the Black and Brown kids are "well spoken" -- the classic condescending compliment that white people use toward Black and Brown people and only Black and Brown people -- is quite a flex.

Let's be honest here: no white person has ever described another white person as "well spoken."

I bet PP has "a lot of Black friends," too.

Thank you. I have found, over many years, that the clueless parents screaming about others' racism based on their school choices demonstrate a shockingly high level of paternalistic, white-saviour-type thinking about their children's classmates. They also have no understanding at all of the way that middle and upper class people of color go about making their schooling decisions. They'd rather not think about that.

Yep. UMC POC (especially black folks) are often the most wary of putting their kids into a settings with predominantly underperforming same-race peers. Frankly, it’s often better to be a black “only” (or one of a few) than to be a high SES+black “only” in a midst of low-SES black students.

As an UMC POC, since we're not a monolith, I don't agree with this at all. There are trade offs with each situation, and the #1 thing I worried about moving my son from a Title 1 DCPS to a HRCS was losing black male teachers, role models and class mates. I am constantly taking note of the amount of black children in the school and how he's situated in his class.

You don't agree with the fact that UMC POC often think like this...or their decision to do so? FWIW -- I'm more in your camp on evaluating schools, but I know plenty of black folks that try to avoid schools with a large low SES black populations. I that racist? On some level, it might be actually. But its behaviorally no different than what many (not all) white folks do when it comes to school choices, even if the points of departure and implcations are different

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We changed our older child from a title 1 dcps dual language to oyster adams in 4th. The difference was mostly in a more prepared and (wealthy) peer group. Teaching in core subjects was equally strong in both schools, but the specials were much better at oyster adams. The kids’ behavior was not much better, but academically the kids were much stronger at Adams.

Thank you. How do you think the difference in academic strength translated into a different experience for your child? Do you mind sharing which school you switched from?

Bump (DP)

Are you still deciding or already regretting your decision?

OP here. Actually we’re at the Title 1 and I’m convinced it’s mostly racism scaring people away. They look at a playground of brown kids and assume they’re below grade level and misbehaved. They’re not. The games the big kids play with the little kids are adorable and sweet, and all of the 3rd-4th graders I know (classmates siblings and kids from activities) seem bright and are certainly well spoken. I understand not all Title 1 schools are created equal, but I’m happy my child has the experience of seeing kids that don’t look like her being leaders and doing better in some things than her. Those are life lessons that really can change how a person interacts with the world going forward.

Accusing everyone else but themselves of racism but then saying the Black and Brown kids are "well spoken" -- the classic condescending compliment that white people use toward Black and Brown people and only Black and Brown people -- is quite a flex.

Let's be honest here: no white person has ever described another white person as "well spoken."

I bet PP has "a lot of Black friends," too.

Thank you. I have found, over many years, that the clueless parents screaming about others' racism based on their school choices demonstrate a shockingly high level of paternalistic, white-saviour-type thinking about their children's classmates. They also have no understanding at all of the way that middle and upper class people of color go about making their schooling decisions. They'd rather not think about that.

Yep. UMC POC (especially black folks) are often the most wary of putting their kids into a settings with predominantly underperforming same-race peers. Frankly, it’s often better to be a black “only” (or one of a few) than to be a high SES+black “only” in a midst of low-SES black students.

As an UMC POC, since we're not a monolith, I don't agree with this at all. There are trade offs with each situation, and the #1 thing I worried about moving my son from a Title 1 DCPS to a HRCS was losing black male teachers, role models and class mates. I am constantly taking note of the amount of black children in the school and how he's situated in his class.

You don't agree with the fact that UMC POC often think like this...or their decision to do so? FWIW -- I'm more in your camp on evaluating schools, but I know plenty of black folks that try to avoid schools with a large low SES black populations. I that racist? On some level, it might be actually. But its behaviorally no different than what many (not all) white folks do when it comes to school choices, even if the points of departure and implcations are different

That would be classism if they are avoiding low SES Black student groups, or racism if they are OK with low SES white student groups but not Black. Or a complicated mixture because those are so tied in DC. Or there may be other factors at play that they are avoiding in largely low SES Black schools that are not apparent to or not applicable to white parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We changed our older child from a title 1 dcps dual language to oyster adams in 4th. The difference was mostly in a more prepared and (wealthy) peer group. Teaching in core subjects was equally strong in both schools, but the specials were much better at oyster adams. The kids’ behavior was not much better, but academically the kids were much stronger at Adams.

Thank you. How do you think the difference in academic strength translated into a different experience for your child? Do you mind sharing which school you switched from?

Bump (DP)

Are you still deciding or already regretting your decision?

OP here. Actually we’re at the Title 1 and I’m convinced it’s mostly racism scaring people away. They look at a playground of brown kids and assume they’re below grade level and misbehaved. They’re not. The games the big kids play with the little kids are adorable and sweet, and all of the 3rd-4th graders I know (classmates siblings and kids from activities) seem bright and are certainly well spoken. I understand not all Title 1 schools are created equal, but I’m happy my child has the experience of seeing kids that don’t look like her being leaders and doing better in some things than her. Those are life lessons that really can change how a person interacts with the world going forward.

Accusing everyone else but themselves of racism but then saying the Black and Brown kids are "well spoken" -- the classic condescending compliment that white people use toward Black and Brown people and only Black and Brown people -- is quite a flex.

Let's be honest here: no white person has ever described another white person as "well spoken."

I bet PP has "a lot of Black friends," too.

Thank you. I have found, over many years, that the clueless parents screaming about others' racism based on their school choices demonstrate a shockingly high level of paternalistic, white-saviour-type thinking about their children's classmates. They also have no understanding at all of the way that middle and upper class people of color go about making their schooling decisions. They'd rather not think about that.

Yep. UMC POC (especially black folks) are often the most wary of putting their kids into a settings with predominantly underperforming same-race peers. Frankly, it’s often better to be a black “only” (or one of a few) than to be a high SES+black “only” in a midst of low-SES black students.

As an UMC POC, since we're not a monolith, I don't agree with this at all. There are trade offs with each situation, and the #1 thing I worried about moving my son from a Title 1 DCPS to a HRCS was losing black male teachers, role models and class mates. I am constantly taking note of the amount of black children in the school and how he's situated in his class.

You don't agree with the fact that UMC POC often think like this...or their decision to do so? FWIW -- I'm more in your camp on evaluating schools, but I know plenty of black folks that try to avoid schools with a large low SES black populations. I that racist? On some level, it might be actually. But its behaviorally no different than what many (not all) white folks do when it comes to school choices, even if the points of departure and implcations are different

That would be classism if they are avoiding low SES Black student groups, or racism if they are OK with low SES white student groups but not Black. Or a complicated mixture because those are so tied in DC. Or there may be other factors at play that they are avoiding in largely low SES Black schools that are not apparent to or not applicable to white parents.

Well, in DC proper, there really aren't any low SES white groups to speak of, so it's a bit theoretical to assume that high-SES blacks would be ok with poor whites, but not poor blacks. I think that most high-SES black folks would like there to be at least a critical mass of same-race/-SES peers for their children -- or if not necessarily high-SES, at least solidly middle class. That's a bit hard to find in DC (outside of private schools that can curate for that). Whereas, if you are white or Asian, any place in DC that has a critical mass of folks that look like you, will invariably have a critical mass of same-race/SES peers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We changed our older child from a title 1 dcps dual language to oyster adams in 4th. The difference was mostly in a more prepared and (wealthy) peer group. Teaching in core subjects was equally strong in both schools, but the specials were much better at oyster adams. The kids’ behavior was not much better, but academically the kids were much stronger at Adams.

Thank you. How do you think the difference in academic strength translated into a different experience for your child? Do you mind sharing which school you switched from?

Bump (DP)

Are you still deciding or already regretting your decision?

OP here. Actually we’re at the Title 1 and I’m convinced it’s mostly racism scaring people away. They look at a playground of brown kids and assume they’re below grade level and misbehaved. They’re not. The games the big kids play with the little kids are adorable and sweet, and all of the 3rd-4th graders I know (classmates siblings and kids from activities) seem bright and are certainly well spoken. I understand not all Title 1 schools are created equal, but I’m happy my child has the experience of seeing kids that don’t look like her being leaders and doing better in some things than her. Those are life lessons that really can change how a person interacts with the world going forward.

Accusing everyone else but themselves of racism but then saying the Black and Brown kids are "well spoken" -- the classic condescending compliment that white people use toward Black and Brown people and only Black and Brown people -- is quite a flex.

Let's be honest here: no white person has ever described another white person as "well spoken."

I bet PP has "a lot of Black friends," too.

Thank you. I have found, over many years, that the clueless parents screaming about others' racism based on their school choices demonstrate a shockingly high level of paternalistic, white-saviour-type thinking about their children's classmates. They also have no understanding at all of the way that middle and upper class people of color go about making their schooling decisions. They'd rather not think about that.

Yep. UMC POC (especially black folks) are often the most wary of putting their kids into a settings with predominantly underperforming same-race peers. Frankly, it’s often better to be a black “only” (or one of a few) than to be a high SES+black “only” in a midst of low-SES black students.

UMC Black families have different considerations than UMC white families. It's not great to point to them and say "well they are avoiding the title 1 school so I'm doing it for the same reason.". No, you're probably not.

Bullcrap

Ah, good point. UMC white kids also get stereotyped as unruly, poor performing too. I forget the long sordid history of racism against white people and how they are funneled into the school to prison pipeline.

/sarcasm

An unacceptable educational setting is an unacceptable educational setting for children of any race or SES. No need to parse it and certainly no need to ascribe racist motives.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:We changed our older child from a title 1 dcps dual language to oyster adams in 4th. The difference was mostly in a more prepared and (wealthy) peer group. Teaching in core subjects was equally strong in both schools, but the specials were much better at oyster adams. The kids’ behavior was not much better, but academically the kids were much stronger at Adams.

Thank you. How do you think the difference in academic strength translated into a different experience for your child? Do you mind sharing which school you switched from?

Bump (DP)

Are you still deciding or already regretting your decision?

OP here. Actually we’re at the Title 1 and I’m convinced it’s mostly racism scaring people away. They look at a playground of brown kids and assume they’re below grade level and misbehaved. They’re not. The games the big kids play with the little kids are adorable and sweet, and all of the 3rd-4th graders I know (classmates siblings and kids from activities) seem bright and are certainly well spoken. I understand not all Title 1 schools are created equal, but I’m happy my child has the experience of seeing kids that don’t look like her being leaders and doing better in some things than her. Those are life lessons that really can change how a person interacts with the world going forward.

Accusing everyone else but themselves of racism but then saying the Black and Brown kids are "well spoken" -- the classic condescending compliment that white people use toward Black and Brown people and only Black and Brown people -- is quite a flex.

Let's be honest here: no white person has ever described another white person as "well spoken."

I bet PP has "a lot of Black friends," too.

Thank you. I have found, over many years, that the clueless parents screaming about others' racism based on their school choices demonstrate a shockingly high level of paternalistic, white-saviour-type thinking about their children's classmates. They also have no understanding at all of the way that middle and upper class people of color go about making their schooling decisions. They'd rather not think about that.

Yep. UMC POC (especially black folks) are often the most wary of putting their kids into a settings with predominantly underperforming same-race peers. Frankly, it’s often better to be a black “only” (or one of a few) than to be a high SES+black “only” in a midst of low-SES black students.

UMC Black families have different considerations than UMC white families. It's not great to point to them and say "well they are avoiding the title 1 school so I'm doing it for the same reason.". No, you're probably not.

Bullcrap

Ah, good point. UMC white kids also get stereotyped as unruly, poor performing too. I forget the long sordid history of racism against white people and how they are funneled into the school to prison pipeline.

/sarcasm

An unacceptable educational setting is an unacceptable educational setting for children of any race or SES. No need to parse it and certainly no need to ascribe racist motives.

Ideally, yes. Operationally, there is a huge difference. Why are you denying this fact? Maybe think about that.

[Anonymous]

Well, in DC proper, there really aren't any low SES white groups to speak of, so it's a bit theoretical to assume that high-SES blacks would be ok with poor whites, but not poor blacks. I think that most high-SES black folks would like there to be at least a critical mass of same-race/-SES peers for their children -- or if not necessarily high-SES, at least solidly middle class. That's a bit hard to find in DC (outside of private schools that can curate for that). Whereas, if you are white or Asian, any place in DC that has a critical mass of folks that look like you, will invariably have a critical mass of same-race/SES peers.

This is an excellent point. I wish policymakers and the education research intelligentsia in DC would devote a lot more time and attention to the educational choices and concerns of middle class AA families in DC. As it is---the dialogue usually toggles between "at risk"/Title I and [mostly]white gentrifiers.