There is nothing "fair" about the process of applying to private schools.

[Anonymous]

I guess it is hard to keep it all in perspective, but when my grandparents came to this country and settled in the Bronx, being able to afford private school was not an option. But the whole point is that they worked hard to make sure their children were getting the best education from their public school and my grandmother is proud that all her girls made it into the Bronx HS of Science and all went on to college. So back to the OP, it is so easy to get caught up in having the best of everything including private school but it is also admirable when people see something wrong and fight to make it better or the parents that really truly don’t have a choice about schools seek out the best opportunities for their children and stress the importance of eduction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's interesting to me that the issue of fairness comes up so frequently on this board in some form or another. The expectation of fairness applying to the private school admissions process is understandable (given our desire to pursue and obtain "the best" for our children) but seriously misguided (given the realities of the world as we all know it).

The fact that some of us are privileged enough to be able to afford even to apply to private schools, whether they are preschools or ongoing schools, seems to be taken for granted. The fact that others leverage their even greater privilege to ensure entry for their children is just an further extension of the same thing.

What's truly unfair is the fact that our public educational system is not adequate enough for many of us even to consider using it, despite the taxes we pay. What's truly unfair is that the vast majority of families in and around the District live in areas with minimal resources in tersm of education or child care and struggle to figure it all out on incomes substantially different from those of most of the posters on this board (and I include myself in that number).

Please know that I observe all of this with empathy and am awaiting preschool admissions results for my child as I write this. It is painful - especially when children are involved - to learn the limits of one's own degree of privilege. The simple reality is that privilege is not fair, whether is giving or taking away.

Well said.

[Anonymous]

Excellent post. I agree in spite of being one of the haves. The alternative of course is Socialism. Which works in Scandinavia because everyone embraces the same culture in spite of racial and religious differences. In America people will not embrace the dominant culture because of painful and terrible history of slavery. It is terrible bind but America is the greatest country on earth (in most ways) and it is a painful process, but I believe it is changing for the better. Yes, it is very, very unfair. But it is the fairest on earth, so far.
S

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's interesting to me that the issue of fairness comes up so frequently on this board in some form or another. The expectation of fairness applying to the private school admissions process is understandable (given our desire to pursue and obtain "the best" for our children) but seriously misguided (given the realities of the world as we all know it).

The fact that some of us are privileged enough to be able to afford even to apply to private schools, whether they are preschools or ongoing schools, seems to be taken for granted. The fact that others leverage their even greater privilege to ensure entry for their children is just an further extension of the same thing.

What's truly unfair is the fact that our public educational system is not adequate enough for many of us even to consider using it, despite the taxes we pay. What's truly unfair is that the vast majority of families in and around the District live in areas with minimal resources in tersm of education or child care and struggle to figure it all out on incomes substantially different from those of most of the posters on this board (and I include myself in that number).

Please know that I observe all of this with empathy and am awaiting preschool admissions results for my child as I write this. It is painful - especially when children are involved - to learn the limits of one's own degree of privilege. The simple reality is that privilege is not fair, whether is giving or taking away.

lot's of sophomoric platitudes here. What is the point of this thread??

[Anonymous]

You will see once admissions decisions letters have been received.

[Anonymous]

What's not fair is my huge tax bill for a public school that I can't use and then a huge private school bill so I can underwrite someone else's education via the financial aid process. I feel like I am getting hit twice and then I hear people discussing how it's fair that I should pay more taxes. Thank god for the last election when we finally had some balance or my taxes would have gone up.

[Anonymous]

Oh please, OP! All I need is you to remind me of how privileged I am as I sit here working on a Sunday afternoon so that I can afford to pay the school fees for my children. Go and harass the fools who have made such a mess of public education in DC instead.... I pay for that too.

[Anonymous]

You want to go to public schools move to Fairfax. Stop complaining.

[Anonymous]

I can complain..I am sick of paying for everyone and hearing how it is my duty to pay for everyone. I am tired of it. I have looked at the amount of FA some of these schools give out and it just angers me. Far too many people are applying. I have no problem if someone is really poor and in a bad way but middle class..no I am not interested in financing Tommy's education and I don't want to hear that you work hard. You are supposed to work hard but you should not be out with the tin cup unless you really need one. There are a ton of people who could actually pay for a private school if the tuituion bill actually reflected true cost.

[Anonymous]

I'm actually shocked at how FA works. People receiving FA go on vacations to Europe! It's wild.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You want to go to public schools move to Fairfax. Stop complaining.

Not complaining about the fees. Complaining about being told how privileged I am to be using the money I earn to send kids to a good school.

[Anonymous]

Oh please - 'fairness" is what they preach at public school. Been there done that - it's a ridiculous proposition. I don't want to pay top dollar for my private school to be fair. I want them to want my kid because they think h/s will thrive and provide a positive environment nice peers, and a great education. I'm happy to make the sacrifice to pay for my child's education - but as one who listened to terrible decisions made in the name of "fairness" at our public school - no thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You will see once admissions decisions letters have been received.

sorry to dissapoint you in your spite, but DD was accepted 4 years ago.

[Anonymous]

What does that have to do with anything? Someone (you?) asked what the point of the thread was. I answered. What does it say about you that you are so quick to see spite in an innocuous reply?

[Anonymous]

Why should the process of applying to private school be fair? It's a business. Do you expect a free lunch every time to go out to a private restaurant. If you can pay the piper you have a leg up...or in the door!

You can always boycott private schools if fairness is a big issue for you. The marketplace and the pocket book are powerful home grown American weapons.