A new Charter Middle School coming, is it right for D.C.?

[Anonymous]

Who is Mary Siddall? What did she mean at the end of the article buy that comment about white kids? Is she African American? I would guess if she were that would be considered an inflammatory race-baiting remark. If she's white it sounds as if she's got a lot of anger toward some members of her community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who is Mary Siddall? What did she mean at the end of the article buy that comment about white kids? Is she African American? I would guess if she were that would be considered an inflammatory race-baiting remark. If she's white it sounds as if she's got a lot of anger toward some members of her community.

You've hit the nail on the head, PP. This debate appears to be about how we should not set academic expectations too high out of fear that AA kids -- or, if you prefer the less blatantly racist proxy "FARMs" kids -- cannot meet them. It appears to be more politically correct to set the expectations low so that a sufficient number of AA -- whoops, I mean FARMS -- kids can meet them.

What a terrible thing to do to those kids -- setting the bar low enough that they are sure to meet it.

[Anonymous]

Where the school locates is going to be very revealing of their real targets.

[Anonymous]

I'll be happy to see it arrive, tho I doubt I'll send my child; any quality school is a boon for dc, if out of staters don't hijack it...I imagine some tiger moms may pay tuition from out of state for this school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where the school locates is going to be very revealing of their real targets.

I believe the school is seeking a home in Ward 4 between 14th and 16th Streets, NW. Who do you think the school is targeting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who is Mary Siddall? What did she mean at the end of the article buy that comment about white kids? Is she African American? I would guess if she were that would be considered an inflammatory race-baiting remark. If she's white it sounds as if she's got a lot of anger toward some members of her community.

Mary Siddall is a co-founder of "the premier non-profit network of young conservative and libertarian leaders, nationwide" http://americasfuture.org/about/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where the school locates is going to be very revealing of their real targets.

I believe the school is seeking a home in Ward 4 between 14th and 16th Streets, NW. Who do you think the school is targeting.

I don't know. But I'm sure that anchoring a school in the wealthiest parts of Ward 4 ("Gold Coast" - where wealthy AA families traditionally send their children to private schools) is a very different proposition from Wards 7 & 8.

It reveals that they're not as confident and well-prepared to bring their model to inner-city kids than they claim.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Who is Mary Siddall? What did she mean at the end of the article buy that comment about white kids? Is she African American? I would guess if she were that would be considered an inflammatory race-baiting remark. If she's white it sounds as if she's got a lot of anger toward some members of her community.

Mary Siddall is a co-founder of "the premier non-profit network of young conservative and libertarian leaders, nationwide" http://americasfuture.org/about/

She's also a DCUM with kids in DCPS (Ross Elementary, I think). Why do you think her comment shows as though she has anger toward some members of her community? I think that she's responding to the idea that a school with such high standards is only targeting rich white kids from West of the Park Northwest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Who is Mary Siddall? What did she mean at the end of the article buy that comment about white kids? Is she African American? I would guess if she were that would be considered an inflammatory race-baiting remark. If she's white it sounds as if she's got a lot of anger toward some members of her community.

Mary Siddall is a co-founder of "the premier non-profit network of young conservative and libertarian leaders, nationwide" http://americasfuture.org/about/

She's also a DCUM with kids in DCPS (Ross Elementary, I think). Why do you think her comment shows as though she has anger toward some members of her community? I think that she's responding to the idea that a school with such high standards is only targeting rich white kids from West of the Park Northwest.

Again, the racist and classist presumption here is that poor AA kids will not be able to meet high academic standards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So nice of Mark Lerner to be complaining about this school, given that he sits on the board of a PCS that has only 10% FARMS.

Pot, meet Kettle.

Washington Latin only is only 10% FARMs, and still the majority of parents can't be bothered to pay their parent association dues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Who is Mary Siddall? What did she mean at the end of the article buy that comment about white kids? Is she African American? I would guess if she were that would be considered an inflammatory race-baiting remark. If she's white it sounds as if she's got a lot of anger toward some members of her community.

Mary Siddall is a co-founder of "the premier non-profit network of young conservative and libertarian leaders, nationwide" http://americasfuture.org/about/

She's also a DCUM with kids in DCPS (Ross Elementary, I think). Why do you think her comment shows as though she has anger toward some members of her community? I think that she's responding to the idea that a school with such high standards is only targeting rich white kids from West of the Park Northwest.

Again, the racist and classist presumption here is that poor AA kids will not be able to meet high academic standards.

Quit howling. Considering the historical data regarding test scores and attendance, it's an entirely legitimate concern. Parents, educators, and policy makers in DC have been grappling with complexity of urban poverty in education for decades. What new methodology do you believe this group from Arizona brings to bear to enlighten all of us? Or are you just farting rainbows and stardust?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'll be happy to see it arrive, tho I doubt I'll send my child; any quality school is a boon for dc, if out of staters don't hijack it...I imagine some tiger moms may pay tuition from out of state for this school?

It is my (unverified) understanding that a Charter must only accept non-resident students if they fail to meet projected enrollment numbers from District applicants. In that case, the family must pay tuition equivalent to the current allotments. I assume BASIS will have no trouble finding interested applicants, however. That said, it is not unheard of for MD and VA residents to slip in under the radar...

[Anonymous]

I'm thrilled with this because if they DO locate in Ward 4, it only adds to the value of my Petworth house, for myself and my kids, and for future rental income. Plus there are a ton of AA, FARM kids in our neighborhood who are unbelievably frickin' smart, and ambitious, who have all the resources of this city at their disposal, and they deserve a great middle school as much as my kids do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where the school locates is going to be very revealing of their real targets.

I believe the school is seeking a home in Ward 4 between 14th and 16th Streets, NW. Who do you think the school is targeting.

I don't know. But I'm sure that anchoring a school in the wealthiest parts of Ward 4 ("Gold Coast" - where wealthy AA families traditionally send their children to private schools) is a very different proposition from Wards 7 & 8.

It reveals that they're not as confident and well-prepared to bring their model to inner-city kids than they claim.

It means they're not stupid. They know kids that are already behind aren't magically going to be able to excel in 7th grade algebra.