Entering Oyster as Spanish-dominant -- Spanish proficiency test?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It seems like such a nice school, but every thread involving Oyster turns into a verbal fistfight. Why?

Very good question. My 2 cents:
1) some here in DCUM has plenty of time, and some old resentment, and capitalizes on any opportunity to talk nonsense
2} the previous principal, gone just a few months ago, was a very poor leader, and often quite divisive, which is an issue in such a diverse school

The atmosphere at the school itself is getting better by the day

[Anonymous]

Is there any reason to think that the new principal will have different standards for what constitutes "Spanish-dominant"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there any reason to think that the new principal will have different standards for what constitutes "Spanish-dominant"?

Not that I know of. But in general she comes across as more willing to enforce standards, even bring them up. The previous principal was all about special ed and exceptions, the one is all about academic rigor and clear rules for all.

[Anonymous]

What about white kids and other non-Latino kids who have grown up in Spanish speaking countries? Oil brats, military folks, Foreign Service? Surely you are not suggesting that one must be Latino to be fully bilingual.

[Anonymous]

It seems like such a nice school, but every thread involving Oyster turns into a verbal fistfight. Why?

Here are my 2 cents

The mere existence of Oyster as the sole dual immersion DCPS school in Ward 3, and with a high number of lower income Latino families, sets it apart in these two important ways from the JKLM schools attended by other Ward 3 students. I think this lies at the root of many volleys from both sides.

At Oyster there are a few (maybe two or three) IB English dominant mothers who are VERY enthusiastic supporters about the school and take no prisoners when they post on DCUM.
I truly love them, but sometimes they raise the decibels a bit too much, even for the accustomed ears of DCUM frequenters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about white kids and other non-Latino kids who have grown up in Spanish speaking countries? Oil brats, military folks, Foreign Service? Surely you are not suggesting that one must be Latino to be fully bilingual.

A previous poster already explained this. It has nothing to do with race or ethnicity. It refers to one's primary language. If a military or embassy couple in Colombia has a kid there, is fully immersed in local culture and language, and as a result the kid feels most comfortable speaking Spanish, sure, he or she is Spanish dominant and can apply to one of those special spots at Oyster.

If not, he or she can apply to the school in the main English dominant group, like everyone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about white kids and other non-Latino kids who have grown up in Spanish speaking countries? Oil brats, military folks, Foreign Service? Surely you are not suggesting that one must be Latino to be fully bilingual.

A previous poster already explained this. It has nothing to do with race or ethnicity. It refers to one's primary language. If a military or embassy couple in Colombia has a kid there, is fully immersed in local culture and language, and as a result the kid feels most comfortable speaking Spanish, sure, he or she is Spanish dominant and can apply to one of those special spots at Oyster.

If not, he or she can apply to the school in the main English dominant group, like everyone else.

this illustrates the slippery slope of the "Spanish dominant" designation. There is no way a military brat is Spanish dominant coming from an American English-speaking couple in a Spanish speaking country. I'm just glad the principal has the common sense to tease out the exceptional cases of white and/or black children not of Hispanic ethnicity who have the same mastery of the language of supposed Spanish dominant speakers. This may be upsetting to inbound elitists who are mad that OOB Anglos can attend the school without the burden of a too-expensive mortgage, but that's there problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about white kids and other non-Latino kids who have grown up in Spanish speaking countries? Oil brats, military folks, Foreign Service? Surely you are not suggesting that one must be Latino to be fully bilingual.

A previous poster already explained this. It has nothing to do with race or ethnicity. It refers to one's primary language. If a military or embassy couple in Colombia has a kid there, is fully immersed in local culture and language, and as a result the kid feels most comfortable speaking Spanish, sure, he or she is Spanish dominant and can apply to one of those special spots at Oyster.

If not, he or she can apply to the school in the main English dominant group, like everyone else.

I think some posters are utterly ignoring the point of being bilingual. It's not just apples OR oranges, people. And, Previous posters seem to be suggesting that one must be Latino to get a Spanish Dom spot, i.e:

"No, this is directed at the poster with the "white" kid who says that she lied to get in. OOB Latinos (of all races) are welcomed at Oyster. Non-Latinos who get their kids in via nanny or daycare Spanish, like you, are liars and thieves."

In other words, PP seems to be saying that bilingual Latinos are welcome, but bilingual white or black or green people are not. This discussion is very one dimensional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about white kids and other non-Latino kids who have grown up in Spanish speaking countries? Oil brats, military folks, Foreign Service? Surely you are not suggesting that one must be Latino to be fully bilingual.

A previous poster already explained this. It has nothing to do with race or ethnicity. It refers to one's primary language. If a military or embassy couple in Colombia has a kid there, is fully immersed in local culture and language, and as a result the kid feels most comfortable speaking Spanish, sure, he or she is Spanish dominant and can apply to one of those special spots at Oyster.

If not, he or she can apply to the school in the main English dominant group, like everyone else.

I think some posters are utterly ignoring the point of being bilingual. It's not just apples OR oranges, people. And, Previous posters seem to be suggesting that one must be Latino to get a Spanish Dom spot, i.e:

"No, this is directed at the poster with the "white" kid who says that she lied to get in. OOB Latinos (of all races) are welcomed at Oyster. Non-Latinos who get their kids in via nanny or daycare Spanish, like you, are liars and thieves."

In other words, PP seems to be saying that bilingual Latinos are welcome, but bilingual white or black or green people are not. This discussion is very one dimensional.

This is exactly what is being said and it's purely racist. The principal will not allow this sort of racism. Oyster would be shut down. The school simply cannot favor Latinos. If a child can show what the school seems as Spanish dominant- a very gray area- the child cannot be denied admission. IBs DS family who are strangely disturbed by this don't get to circumvent this very basic civil rights matter.

[jsteele]

Well, congratulations Oyster! You have knocked off Landon for the coveted title of "School Attracting the Craziest Posters on DCUM'. Please enjoy the prestige that accompanies this title, though sadly there is no cash award included.

I have deleted over two pages of posts -- even learning the name of one innocent student that a parent though to include. Good job on that one. If those antics continue, there may be a few users as well as posts getting removed. So, please post responsibly.

[Anonymous]

If only this episode had some effect on the Oyster waiting lists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oyster is not allowed to have racial preferences. If they talk shit to you at the test, remind them of this. If my child was denied and they were a native fluent speaker, oyster would be facing a discrimination lawsuit. They're not dumb enough to risk that, especially since the dominance designation is manufactured to get Latinos in the school- which is illegal.

What are you talking about?!? Oyster has never said anything about racial preferences--Latinos can be ANY race. So, if your bilingual child passes the test, Oyster can simply ask you who speaks Spanish in the immediate family. You better speak Spanish (especially once the interviewer starts speaking to you only in Spanish). You can sue all you want (any idiot can file a lawsuit). Oyster will simply point to the language about native fluency, and then your case is dismissed. There is absolutely no racial component to requiring an OOB student to have native fluency.

Jajaja.... Que osada es la ignorancia.
A caucasian european Spanish speaking human being.

[Anonymous]

I am not an Oyster parent. I will say, as someone who doesn't have a vested interest in this fight, I find it kind of ironic that someone who gets their child into Oyster because they have the cash to hire a Spanish speaking caregiver is regarded as morally inferior to someone who gets their kid into Oyster by dropping 900K one a house. There are only so many spots at the school.

[Anonymous]

Jeff had to get involved. That speaks volume to the crazies and racist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not an Oyster parent. I will say, as someone who doesn't have a vested interest in this fight, I find it kind of ironic that someone who gets their child into Oyster because they have the cash to hire a Spanish speaking caregiver is regarded as morally inferior to someone who gets their kid into Oyster by dropping 900K one a house. There are only so many spots at the school.

You can't buy a house IB for Oyster for $900k. A condo, yes...but not a house that's actually habitable or move-in ready.