99 percent FARM

[Anonymous]

"strong level of resistance with some DC residents (especially those from the lower class black communities) against integration and diversity."

PP, your composition was okay until you dropped this line. Perhaps you are the one against integration and diversity. Why live in DC if you have a problem with its population? Move to VA or better yet WV.

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I volunteer once a week at a school on Capitol Hill that is listed as 99% FARMS. I don't think that it is actually a full 99% low income, but that designation indicates that a very high percentage of the student population is low-income.

The behavior that I have personally witnessed is much more than "boy banter/playful aggression." I have seen serious fighting (in which children get hurt) and heard horrible language. Many of the children are outright defiant to teachers. They seem to have no respect for adults and either run around the room or wander the halls. Sadly, the classes in which I've seen this behavior have been very young children -- 1st and 2nd graders.

FARMS rate related to behavior???

Though you probably don't want to hear it, the sad reality is that some low-SES families are low-SES because of dysfunctionality in the home, which may include its own culture of abuse, violence and other problems, and kids typically model their own behavior after the environment they grow up in. I think a majority of low-SES students are perfectly nice, normal, well-behaving kids but there is definitely a percentage who do not know what "normal" is, and that creates a negative, chaotic and disruptive environment in many DC schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"strong level of resistance with some DC residents (especially those from the lower class black communities) against integration and diversity."

PP, your composition was okay until you dropped this line. Perhaps you are the one against integration and diversity. Why live in DC if you have a problem with its population? Move to VA or better yet WV.

i think the PP is right, but needed to be more clear -- DC's diverse population is not a problem, but the lack of diversity (i.e. middle class of any color) in DCPS IS a problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"strong level of resistance with some DC residents (especially those from the lower class black communities) against integration and diversity."

PP, your composition was okay until you dropped this line. Perhaps you are the one against integration and diversity. Why live in DC if you have a problem with its population? Move to VA or better yet WV.

i think the PP is right, but needed to be more clear -- DC's diverse population is not a problem, but the lack of diversity (i.e. middle class of any color) in DCPS IS a problem.

Until you've experienced it, you may naively think this is not true. However, there is definitely a segment of the population who believe that whites are the enemy, that they are not to be trusted and they have passed this down to their kids. It seems crazy in the 21st century, but when you live in a segregated community of any kind this is the kind of mindset that happens. I'm still hopeful that this can be changed. However, in answer to the OP's question - and as someone who actually works in a school with a high poverty rate - there is no way that I would send my child to a high poverty school, just no way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I personally would not place my child in a school that is 99% FARMS. The social atmosphere will be different. Usually kids from these types of backgrounds come to school with lots of social, cognitive,emotional, and behavoirial problems. I'm not saying that all FARM students fit this profile. However, in DC it's most likely that these children come from dysfunctional homes where there is child abuse, substance abuse issues, and a list of other problems. It could be a cultural shock listening to a four year verbalizing profanity and misogynistic words, but can't even recite the alphabet. It will be a cultural shock to witness how angry, maladjusted, and unstable these students are. Most of these students never been read to, never been told the words, "I love you", or their emotional needs were never met from the time they were infants. Teachers spend a great deal of time trying to diffuse negative social behavior that teaching sometimes take a backseat. Which means your child's needs aren't going to get met because the priorities of the FARM students are so much more important. The needs of the FARM students are a priority. The entire educational setting will be focus on assisting those students with the various issues that they bring to school. The fact of the matter is that many poor inner-city children in DC are born to parents who don't give a damn. So, when unstable parents bring children into the world, it is up to the schools to provide some form of stability, love, attention, and other unmet needs to these children. I think there are some phenomenal teachers and specialists out there who do an amazing job with these students. However, it's a difficult task. It's the reason why so many DCPS are problematic. We have a culture of children who are born from generations of poverty, child abuse, and other issues. Teachers are forced to take on the role of a parent in these classrooms.

Also, it will be extremely difficult for you to establish friendships with the parents. There is a provincial attitude and a strong level of resistance with some DC residents (especially those from the lower class black communities) against integration and diversity. So, you may encounter some negative attitudes and behaviors from the parents as well.

You have to ask yourself do you want to take a risk and make your child the sacrificial lamb?

PP, your portrayal of the nature of poverty in DC suggests great ethnographic insight. How, prey tell, did you acquire this level of nuanced understanding?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I personally would not place my child in a school that is 99% FARMS. The social atmosphere will be different. Usually kids from these types of backgrounds come to school with lots of social, cognitive,emotional, and behavoirial problems. I'm not saying that all FARM students fit this profile. However, in DC it's most likely that these children come from dysfunctional homes where there is child abuse, substance abuse issues, and a list of other problems. It could be a cultural shock listening to a four year verbalizing profanity and misogynistic words, but can't even recite the alphabet. It will be a cultural shock to witness how angry, maladjusted, and unstable these students are. Most of these students never been read to, never been told the words, "I love you", or their emotional needs were never met from the time they were infants. Teachers spend a great deal of time trying to diffuse negative social behavior that teaching sometimes take a backseat. Which means your child's needs aren't going to get met because the priorities of the FARM students are so much more important. The needs of the FARM students are a priority. The entire educational setting will be focus on assisting those students with the various issues that they bring to school. The fact of the matter is that many poor inner-city children in DC are born to parents who don't give a damn. So, when unstable parents bring children into the world, it is up to the schools to provide some form of stability, love, attention, and other unmet needs to these children. I think there are some phenomenal teachers and specialists out there who do an amazing job with these students. However, it's a difficult task. It's the reason why so many DCPS are problematic. We have a culture of children who are born from generations of poverty, child abuse, and other issues. Teachers are forced to take on the role of a parent in these classrooms.

Also, it will be extremely difficult for you to establish friendships with the parents. There is a provincial attitude and a strong level of resistance with some DC residents (especially those from the lower class black communities) against integration and diversity. So, you may encounter some negative attitudes and behaviors from the parents as well.

You have to ask yourself do you want to take a risk and make your child the sacrificial lamb?

PP, your portrayal of the nature of poverty in DC suggests great ethnographic insight. How, prey tell, did you acquire this level of nuanced understanding?

By being an AA inner city child growing up in DC. Also, by 20 plus years working in social services.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"strong level of resistance with some DC residents (especially those from the lower class black communities) against integration and diversity."

PP, your composition was okay until you dropped this line. Perhaps you are the one against integration and diversity. Why live in DC if you have a problem with its population? Move to VA or better yet WV.

Excuse me, I'm an AA Washingtonian born and raised here. I'm not going anywhere! DC is my home. I'm also an advocate of diversity. Look I know what I'm talking about because those are my experiences attending DCPS and working in social services. I'm sorry if my reality and experiences are not PC enough for you. However, this is the reality of many children growing up in DC. I also stand corrected when I say that many folks here in DC are against integration because it's the truth. Sometimes the truth hurts, but pretending that certain realities don't exist doesn't help with matters. So, please have a seat and let me school you on what it is like being a minority child growing up in DC. If you really care, then volunteer your time to make things better instead of hiding behind the veil of PC.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I appreciate the quick responses, particularly from those working or volunteering in such schools. And thanks, PP, for this link - http://www.dc.gov/DCPS/Beyond+the+Classroom/Food+Services/Application+for+Free+and+Reduced+Meals. I wasn't familiar with this program, but it makes sense that it likely explains the high prevalence of 99% in the rankings on the DCPS profiles.

For the person who asked, no I'm not Asian, I'm white, looking at schools that are generally listed on profiles.dcps.gov as >90-95% black, some Latino, and 0% or 1% white. I grew up being one of a couple of poor kids in a wealthy public school district (not DC) where there was more racial diversity than economic diversity. I'm trying to figure out what it would be like to be in the opposite dynamic.

Several of the schools are also 40-65% OOB, which to me takes away from the "neighborhood" feel, though it's not clear if they're a couple blocks OOB or farther.

Good points to ponder about not just the kids' relationships but the parents' as well. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"strong level of resistance with some DC residents (especially those from the lower class black communities) against integration and diversity."

PP, your composition was okay until you dropped this line. Perhaps you are the one against integration and diversity. Why live in DC if you have a problem with its population? Move to VA or better yet WV.

Excuse me, I'm an AA Washingtonian born and raised here. I'm not going anywhere! DC is my home. I'm also an advocate of diversity. Look I know what I'm talking about because those are my experiences attending DCPS and working in social services. I'm sorry if my reality and experiences are not PC enough for you. However, this is the reality of many children growing up in DC. I also stand corrected when I say that many folks here in DC are against integration because it's the truth. Sometimes the truth hurts, but pretending that certain realities don't exist doesn't help with matters. So, please have a seat and let me school you on what it is like being a minority child growing up in DC. If you really care, then volunteer your time to make things better instead of hiding behind the veil of PC.

Thanks PP- to the OP, unless your kid is quite tough, I wouldn't do it. I was that little white girl in my (not DC but similar demographics) inner city public school and it was rough at times. It did give me a unique perspective I guess but the quality of education was sometimes low- for many reasons. What PP writes about above is the truth- however painful. And it hasn't changed considerably since I was a kid 30 years ago. I know this because I live in DC- eotp and when I go home to visit. Nothing has changed in these poor isolated communities. Not sure what schools you are thinking of but fwiw even though its a major stretch for us- my kid is in private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"strong level of resistance with some DC residents (especially those from the lower class black communities) against integration and diversity."

PP, your composition was okay until you dropped this line. Perhaps you are the one against integration and diversity. Why live in DC if you have a problem with its population? Move to VA or better yet WV.

perhaps you should take those very think slices of ham off your eyes and actually look around you

[Anonymous]

My daughter is in PK3 at a 99% FARM school and is in the minority racially and economically. She does fine. She is a bright, outgoing kid and she seems to really like it there. It was a rough adjustment from her daycare, but after about three weeks, she was happy and excited to go to school. The school is two blocks from my house and though we entered the lottery last year, it was the only school that we got into, so we decided to give it a try. I am not sold on the school for older grades and I do not consider myself to be a revolutionary, school turning around parent, but it works fine for us now. She is learning a lot and her teachers are warm and welcoming. I think all this sacrificial lamb talk is a little dramatic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"strong level of resistance with some DC residents (especially those from the lower class black communities) against integration and diversity."

PP, your composition was okay until you dropped this line. Perhaps you are the one against integration and diversity. Why live in DC if you have a problem with its population? Move to VA or better yet WV.

Excuse me, I'm an AA Washingtonian born and raised here. I'm not going anywhere! DC is my home. I'm also an advocate of diversity. Look I know what I'm talking about because those are my experiences attending DCPS and working in social services. I'm sorry if my reality and experiences are not PC enough for you. However, this is the reality of many children growing up in DC. I also stand corrected when I say that many folks here in DC are against integration because it's the truth. Sometimes the truth hurts, but pretending that certain realities don't exist doesn't help with matters. So, please have a seat and let me school you on what it is like being a minority child growing up in DC. If you really care, then volunteer your time to make things better instead of hiding behind the veil of PC.

PP, I'm glad you're AA like me. Our opinions clearly differ, but in my experience white people have being resistant to integration and diversity. I send my child to a predominantly white school, black children are less than 5%. My attempts at scheduling play dates and making friends with the majority have failed miserably presumably because of the color of my skin. I really cannot attribute it to anything else.

[Anonymous]

10:29 that doesn't necessarily have anything to do with race, many families have hectic lives. We're middle class white and are in a very diverse school and with activities and school work, we rarely have time to think about play dates - but when we do, we have a very tough time getting play dates regardless of race or SES.

[Anonymous]

I'm 10:29 -Integration and diversity are for people in the majority. Minorities have always had to deal with integration and diversity.