Let's Talk About African - American Children

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:



As a parent at one of the schools you mention I think its disrespectful and unfair of you to characterize the parents of Beauvoir and Sidwell as more uptight. Stop with all these awful generalizations.

OP - good luck with your choices.

I think that all we can go on is generalizations, and that is OK. With these issues, there is no way to get objective info. It is always that way when it comes to race.

Not OP, my ds is a Beauvoir alum. Was acquainted with some wonderful families. My ds loved his time there. Experienced some families there who were "uptight," just ignored them and kept steppin'. Found that the divvying up of AA children into classrooms a little hard to take, i.e., 2 or 3 to each class or none in a class. A very traditional curriculum, during his 5 years there ds studied only: Harriet Tubman, Jacob Lawrence, Duke Ellington, and Ella.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:



As a parent at one of the schools you mention I think its disrespectful and unfair of you to characterize the parents of Beauvoir and Sidwell as more uptight. Stop with all these awful generalizations.

OP - good luck with your choices.

I think that all we can go on is generalizations, and that is OK. With these issues, there is no way to get objective info. It is always that way when it comes to race.

Not OP, my ds is a Beauvoir alum. Was acquainted with some wonderful families. My ds loved his time there. Experienced some families there who were "uptight," just ignored them and kept steppin'. Found that the divvying up of AA children into classrooms a little hard to take, i.e., 2 or 3 to each class or none in a class. A very traditional curriculum, during his 5 years there ds studied only: Harriet Tubman, Jacob Lawrence, Duke Ellington, and Ella.

There is absolutely no Afro-centric education at Beauvoir. But you won't get that at any of the Big Three or Big Ten. That's fine with us, an AA family. We paid over 100k for a Beauvoir education that stressed the basics, with a heavy emphasis on values, and which prepped DS for the next step.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:



As a parent at one of the schools you mention I think its disrespectful and unfair of you to characterize the parents of Beauvoir and Sidwell as more uptight. Stop with all these awful generalizations.

OP - good luck with your choices.

I think that all we can go on is generalizations, and that is OK. With these issues, there is no way to get objective info. It is always that way when it comes to race.

Not OP, my ds is a Beauvoir alum. Was acquainted with some wonderful families. My ds loved his time there. Experienced some families there who were "uptight," just ignored them and kept steppin'. Found that the divvying up of AA children into classrooms a little hard to take, i.e., 2 or 3 to each class or none in a class. A very traditional curriculum, during his 5 years there ds studied only: Harriet Tubman, Jacob Lawrence, Duke Ellington, and Ella.

There is absolutely no Afro-centric education at Beauvoir. But you won't get that at any of the Big Three or Big Ten. That's fine with us, an AA family. We paid over 100k for a Beauvoir education that stressed the basics, with a heavy emphasis on values, and which prepped DS for the next step.

Correct, no Afro-centric education at Beauvoir. The Eurocentric education that dh and I paid over 100k for did indeed stress the basics -- very creatively. We appreciated Beauvoir's life rules as they reinforced our family's values. The summer before 3rd grade, we prepped ds in multiplication facts and paragraph writing. All in all, a very traditional, expensive, and conservative education.

[Anonymous]

Sidwell parent here. I can't speak to Lower School, as my child started in Middle.

The fifth grade LA curriculum includes books written from a number of explicit perspectives, including Latina and AA.
The sixth grade Social Studies curriculum spent a fair chunk of the year on Africa - both geography and history.
Seventh grade has AA experiences woven into American History and English.
Last week's assembly speaker was a member of the Little Rock nine.

AA students from all three divisions (who are interested) put on a show each winter focused on the AA experience, both at Sidwell and in the world. They perform for the three divisions and once in the evening for parents.

Socially, my caucasion child has a pretty diverse group of friends, with kids with a variety of ethnic backgrounds, including AA. For my DC at least, the common theme is athletics, not race. I also have the impression that there is a large enough "critical mass" of AA students that they can have friends who are also AA and friends who are not. By middle school friendships are driven by the kids; I don't know whether AA kids in Lower School are more stratified.

HTH.

[Anonymous]

OP. You could encounter these issues anywhere in any school in the U.S., elite or not... The goal for our DS is to provide the best education possible in an environment which will allow him to thrive. Most importantly, we have instilled in him a great sense of confidence and self esteem at an early age. My goodness, look at our history and what AAs had to endure compared to your present day concerns.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hello I am the OP thanks for the post thus far. Can anyone else comment on schools? Possibly the Big Three or Four???? (Cathedral schools (NCS, STA, and Beauvoir), GDS, Sidwell, and Maret)? What about Sheridan we have an application there also.

Frankly, all of these schools try hard to educate all children. Period. Regardless of what some naysayers may be saying on this forum, all of these schools welcome and try to cultivate diversity. They all have the same recruitment goals. They all have the same diversity committees. They all do the right things in this regard. The issue is more with the parents. Where you find more uptight parents, such as at Beauvoir and Sidwell, you're bound to find folks who might not be terribly willing, or terribly good at, connecting with people of color. Or just terrible all around I suppose. In the "crunchier" schools, the afore-mentioned Lowell, for one, as well as Green Acres, and I'd add to the list GDS, you're bound to find more laid back parents, who in my experience are generally more willing, and better at, connecting with a wider range of people.

Can't say I have direct knowledge of Sheridan. We visited. Found it cozy and seemingly more of the "crunchy" type. But we didn't apply and don't know anyone there.

Good luck.

As a parent at one of the schools you mention I think its disrespectful and unfair of you to characterize the parents of Beauvoir and Sidwell as more uptight. Stop with all these awful generalizations.

OP - good luck with your choices.

I am sick of the slams on the Cathedral schools. Why the he11 would parents of all income levels and with/out connections keep their children at these schools if they were treated badly? This stuff reminds me of bitchy girls talking trash about good looking girls just to make themselves feel better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hello I am the OP thanks for the post thus far. Can anyone else comment on schools? Possibly the Big Three or Four???? (Cathedral schools (NCS, STA, and Beauvoir), GDS, Sidwell, and Maret)? What about Sheridan we have an application there also.

Frankly, all of these schools try hard to educate all children. Period. Regardless of what some naysayers may be saying on this forum, all of these schools welcome and try to cultivate diversity. They all have the same recruitment goals. They all have the same diversity committees. They all do the right things in this regard. The issue is more with the parents. Where you find more uptight parents, such as at Beauvoir and Sidwell, you're bound to find folks who might not be terribly willing, or terribly good at, connecting with people of color. Or just terrible all around I suppose. In the "crunchier" schools, the afore-mentioned Lowell, for one, as well as Green Acres, and I'd add to the list GDS, you're bound to find more laid back parents, who in my experience are generally more willing, and better at, connecting with a wider range of people.

Can't say I have direct knowledge of Sheridan. We visited. Found it cozy and seemingly more of the "crunchy" type. But we didn't apply and don't know anyone there.

Good luck.

As a parent at one of the schools you mention I think its disrespectful and unfair of you to characterize the parents of Beauvoir and Sidwell as more uptight. Stop with all these awful generalizations.

OP - good luck with your choices.

I am sick of the slams on the Cathedral schools. Why the he11 would parents of all income levels and with/out connections keep their children at these schools if they were treated badly? This stuff reminds me of bitchy girls talking trash about good looking girls just to make themselves feel better.

Maybe you should ask your doc to up your doseage, sweetie.

Most parents at Cathedral schools main goal/intention is to provide the best academic experience for their child possible. Perceptions can change as do the needs of the family and child. Many unhappy and disillusioned families leave or stick around and weigh their options and settle.

If you're sick of the slams against the Cathedral schools, don't read them.

[Anonymous]

I'm African American, but my kids went to DCPS for elementary then to private middle school, so I can't give you any first-hand info on lower school. But I've heard from my friends that Lowell and GDS are very diverse and work hard to make sure everyone feels welcome and included. Sidwell more or less the same, as is Maret. Sheridan tries, but they don't have as many African American students. Don't have any minority friends with kids at Norwood. Beauvoir is more traditional, and I know some people have found it a good experience for their children, others not so much. But if you're looking for "Afro-centric" curriculum, it probably isn't the place for you. I've also heard good things about WIS, but they're more focused on international diversity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm African American, but my kids went to DCPS for elementary then to private middle school, so I can't give you any first-hand info on lower school. But I've heard from my friends that Lowell and GDS are very diverse and work hard to make sure everyone feels welcome and included. Sidwell more or less the same, as is Maret. Sheridan tries, but they don't have as many African American students. Don't have any minority friends with kids at Norwood. Beauvoir is more traditional, and I know some people have found it a good experience for their children, others not so much. But if you're looking for "Afro-centric" curriculum, it probably isn't the place for you. I've also heard good things about WIS, but they're more focused on international diversity.

Thank you for the information. This matches what I've heard through my personal grape-vine, xcept for the part about Sidwell. Maybe it's only in the high school, but I have heard it is a tough place especially for AA young men to fit in and succeed.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I've heard the same thing about AA boys from friends with kids at Sidwell. Which is why we didn't apply there. But I've got friends with AA boys in the lower school and they are very happy. Oh, and if you didn't already know, Concord Hill has NO diversity at all. And, even though they are not as diverse as the others, I've also heard positive things about NPS. But one thing to keep in mind is that schools change as they go from lower to upper.

[Anonymous]

As for Beauvoir, all minorities seem to fit in nicely from our perspective. What is odd though is that many leave Beauvoir and do not continue with the Cathedral schools. So maybe they didn't feel like they fit in?

[Anonymous]

My impression as a WIS parent of several years is that the school is so internationally diverse that it's impossible for the children--even if they so desired, which they certainly don't---to form a bloc of kids of any one particular race or national origin. From what I and other parents see, the children pair and group themselves at recess by interest (soccer kids, jump rope kids, imaginative play kids, whatever), with absolutely no regard for skin tone, national origin, or native language. One of my child's classmate's AA parents chose WIS specifically for this reason---along with the rest of the curriculum and the language immersion, which can be an excellent fit for g/t kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As for Beauvoir, all minorities seem to fit in nicely from our perspective. What is odd though is that many leave Beauvoir and do not continue with the Cathedral schools. So maybe they didn't feel like they fit in?

I have an AA boy, in our Beauvoir graduating class only 2 out of 4 of the AA boys were admitted at STA. Of the 2 admitted only 1 accepted - our son. We've been told on several occasions that the "nicer" families leave after a few years. Our boy likes STA and enjoys playing sports. He has enough friends to get him through the day and is invited to birthday parties. Academically, he's being challenged and doing extremely well. He loves to learn, fully engaged in his academics. I'm observing the AA upper school boys each year and staying informed on any issues or concerns that they may have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:...The issue is more with the parents. Where you find more uptight parents, such as at Beauvoir and Sidwell, you're bound to find folks who might not be terribly willing, or terribly good at, connecting with people of color. Or just terrible all around I suppose. In the "crunchier" schools, the afore-mentioned Lowell, for one, as well as Green Acres, and I'd add to the list GDS, you're bound to find more laid back parents, who in my experience are generally more willing, and better at, connecting with a wider range of people.

Can't say I have direct knowledge of Sheridan. We visited. Found it cozy and seemingly more of the "crunchy" type. But we didn't apply and don't know anyone there.

Good luck.

As a parent at one of the schools you mention I think its disrespectful and unfair of you to characterize the parents of Beauvoir and Sidwell as more uptight. Stop with all these awful generalizations.

OP - good luck with your choices.

OK, do your kids have any A-A friends? Do you chat up the A-A parents? Do you allow Blacks into your home?

[Anonymous]

Yes. My best friend is AA.

My child was one of the high scoring ones who got shut out everywhere and is enjoying public.

Yes, people regardles of creed or color or religion or sexual orientation are allowed into my home.

asshole.