Question for parents of black children in Montgomery County.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You know it is possible that not every AA has the exact same experience at every single place. I had never heard of Damascus before the broom articles so I have no idea if racism is prevalent there or not. I wouldn't accuse an AA parent who said they had a good experience of not being black enough to see it.

Another way to look at it is whether light skin privilege makes it difficult for some AAs to recognize bias in their community. DP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The AA population is getting pushed out of areas where more hispanic residents are moving in.


Why is this happening? Is Hispanic buying power greater and they can out-bid AA buyers? It seems like the usual solution is "affordable housing" but wont' people of any race go for those?

Sigh, it isn't buying power. The hispanic population is growing because they are on average younger and have more kids. They have been displaced from DC as DC has gentrified. MOCO is a natural place to live with a growing hispanic population. They'll start moving from VA now that Fairfax and Arlington are pushing them out. Many people want to live in a community where they don't stand out or they believe that others are like them.

MOCO residents may talk trash about PG but PG is known as the wealthiest black community in the country. It is desirable to many AAs who want to live in a nice neighborhood and not be treated as a unicorn or looked upon with suspicion that they are really from the low income apartments down the road. For lower income AA, living in an AA community rather than a hispanic community has appeal too.

So.. is this a bad thing?

Well, it would be nice for all races to be equally financially successful, and therefore mingle in all neighborhoods, don't you think?
Then children would really grow up color-blind.

Color blind is not a good thing. If you are color blind, you miss a lot of injustice because you can’t see the trends. I also attended a predominantly white school that was colorblind that it completely missed that I and other minority students celebrated different milestones or had different grooming practices. It’s very funny now, but I paid $25 for a prom “swag bag” that didn’t have a single thing I could use (foundation for pale skin, a tanning salon gift certificate, and a pair of extra hose in “nude” are examples). Our senior sponsor was color blind so she picked those things. She was hurt that we were hurt that she didn’t think of us.

Wow, that must have been horrifying.

My best friend was repeteadly beat up for daring to attend a black school, but that's nothing compared to what happened to you.

+1

Seriously. Is the PP kidding? I'm not White and attended a very White school. It was fine. I grew from the experience and moved on.

I'm married to a White man, and my SIL was sexually molested by a youth pastor at her church. I'd say she had it much worse than me.

Look, bad stuff happens to people of all races. I'm sure the swag bag was traumatizing at the time, but if that's the worst thing you went through in HS, you did pretty well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The AA population is getting pushed out of areas where more hispanic residents are moving in.


Why is this happening? Is Hispanic buying power greater and they can out-bid AA buyers? It seems like the usual solution is "affordable housing" but wont' people of any race go for those?

Sigh, it isn't buying power. The hispanic population is growing because they are on average younger and have more kids. They have been displaced from DC as DC has gentrified. MOCO is a natural place to live with a growing hispanic population. They'll start moving from VA now that Fairfax and Arlington are pushing them out. Many people want to live in a community where they don't stand out or they believe that others are like them.

MOCO residents may talk trash about PG but PG is known as the wealthiest black community in the country. It is desirable to many AAs who want to live in a nice neighborhood and not be treated as a unicorn or looked upon with suspicion that they are really from the low income apartments down the road. For lower income AA, living in an AA community rather than a hispanic community has appeal too.

So.. is this a bad thing?

Well, it would be nice for all races to be equally financially successful, and therefore mingle in all neighborhoods, don't you think?
Then children would really grow up color-blind.

Color blind is not a good thing. If you are color blind, you miss a lot of injustice because you can’t see the trends. I also attended a predominantly white school that was colorblind that it completely missed that I and other minority students celebrated different milestones or had different grooming practices. It’s very funny now, but I paid $25 for a prom “swag bag” that didn’t have a single thing I could use (foundation for pale skin, a tanning salon gift certificate, and a pair of extra hose in “nude” are examples). Our senior sponsor was color blind so she picked those things. She was hurt that we were hurt that she didn’t think of us.

Wow, that must have been horrifying.

My best friend was repeteadly beat up for daring to attend a black school, but that's nothing compared to what happened to you.

+1

Seriously. Is the PP kidding? I'm not White and attended a very White school. It was fine. I grew from the experience and moved on.

I'm married to a White man, and my SIL was sexually molested by a youth pastor at her church. I'd say she had it much worse than me.

Look, bad stuff happens to people of all races. I'm sure the swag bag was traumatizing at the time, but if that's the worst thing you went through in HS, you did pretty well.

I never said I was traumatized by the swag bag. No, it’s not the worst thing I went through in HS. It is an example of why colorblind attitudes are unintentionally harmful. The people who intentionally harmed me emotionally and physically in ES and HS knew they were racist. But there were other people who made my life and that of other non-whites harder than necessary without ever realizing they were doing so.

If you read my first follow up, I was the victim of open and violent racism in ES. So I know the difference between someone who is intending harm and someone who would cease and desist if they were aware they were harming you. If it makes you feel uncomfortable to discuss how colorblindness unintentionally hurts people of color, you should examine that discomfort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Not exactly. Ideally, there would be a school with a critical mass of academically able AA and white kids along with a critical mass of academically challenged AA and white kids. The problem is SES and race. In MCPS, AA usually means poor. Poor usually means academically challenged. White people in these schools do not understand what it is like when everyone else who looks like you is failing and everyone who doesn't look like you is succeeding. The CES, magnets and AP classes just magnify this by 100. Its a myth that choosing a more diverse school in MCPS gives you a better experience with racial equity. Its the exact opposite!

Ironically, I hear from friends in VA that it isn't as bad over there with the AAP system. I don't have direct experience with those schools so I can't confirm whether this is true. It might also be the case that MCPS is just so overly focused on race that this plays out negatively while VA is less focused on it. I personally would not live in VA so I don't know.

This problem in MCPS though is why so many higher SES black parents choose to live in PG and do private schools, or accept being one of the only black kids in a W school or being one of only a handful of black kids at a more elite predominantly white private school. There just are no good options.

In 2017-2018, 21.4% of students in MCPS were black, and 10.8% of students in MCPS were black and on FARMS. In other words, half of black students in MCPS in 2017-2018 were NOT on FARMS.

When people assume that if you're black, you must have parents who are poor and have little education? That assumption is part of the problem.

THANK YOU FOR THIS.

I'm a Black mom here in MoCo...and we're certainly not poor, and neither are my Black neighbors. These assumptions irk my nerves.

YASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

I believe there is an E in Yes

I believe there is a “D” in your momma

My mom was married to her children’s father which they all had in common. As an added benefit he lived in family house and was never in jail. Our moms are not comparable and have nothing in common

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Not exactly. Ideally, there would be a school with a critical mass of academically able AA and white kids along with a critical mass of academically challenged AA and white kids. The problem is SES and race. In MCPS, AA usually means poor. Poor usually means academically challenged. White people in these schools do not understand what it is like when everyone else who looks like you is failing and everyone who doesn't look like you is succeeding. The CES, magnets and AP classes just magnify this by 100. Its a myth that choosing a more diverse school in MCPS gives you a better experience with racial equity. Its the exact opposite!

Ironically, I hear from friends in VA that it isn't as bad over there with the AAP system. I don't have direct experience with those schools so I can't confirm whether this is true. It might also be the case that MCPS is just so overly focused on race that this plays out negatively while VA is less focused on it. I personally would not live in VA so I don't know.

This problem in MCPS though is why so many higher SES black parents choose to live in PG and do private schools, or accept being one of the only black kids in a W school or being one of only a handful of black kids at a more elite predominantly white private school. There just are no good options.

In 2017-2018, 21.4% of students in MCPS were black, and 10.8% of students in MCPS were black and on FARMS. In other words, half of black students in MCPS in 2017-2018 were NOT on FARMS.

When people assume that if you're black, you must have parents who are poor and have little education? That assumption is part of the problem.

THANK YOU FOR THIS.

I'm a Black mom here in MoCo...and we're certainly not poor, and neither are my Black neighbors. These assumptions irk my nerves.

YASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

I believe there is an E in Yes

I believe there is a “D” in your momma

My mom was married to her children’s father which they all had in common. As an added benefit he lived in family house and was never in jail. Our moms are not comparable and have nothing in common

DP. Yeah, that’s not racist at all.

How would you feel if someone posted that your mom and dad were cousins or that your mom had fewer teeth than days of schooling?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Not exactly. Ideally, there would be a school with a critical mass of academically able AA and white kids along with a critical mass of academically challenged AA and white kids. The problem is SES and race. In MCPS, AA usually means poor. Poor usually means academically challenged. White people in these schools do not understand what it is like when everyone else who looks like you is failing and everyone who doesn't look like you is succeeding. The CES, magnets and AP classes just magnify this by 100. Its a myth that choosing a more diverse school in MCPS gives you a better experience with racial equity. Its the exact opposite!

Ironically, I hear from friends in VA that it isn't as bad over there with the AAP system. I don't have direct experience with those schools so I can't confirm whether this is true. It might also be the case that MCPS is just so overly focused on race that this plays out negatively while VA is less focused on it. I personally would not live in VA so I don't know.

This problem in MCPS though is why so many higher SES black parents choose to live in PG and do private schools, or accept being one of the only black kids in a W school or being one of only a handful of black kids at a more elite predominantly white private school. There just are no good options.

In 2017-2018, 21.4% of students in MCPS were black, and 10.8% of students in MCPS were black and on FARMS. In other words, half of black students in MCPS in 2017-2018 were NOT on FARMS.

When people assume that if you're black, you must have parents who are poor and have little education? That assumption is part of the problem.

THANK YOU FOR THIS.

I'm a Black mom here in MoCo...and we're certainly not poor, and neither are my Black neighbors. These assumptions irk my nerves.

YASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

I believe there is an E in Yes

I believe there is a “D” in your momma

My mom was married to her children’s father which they all had in common. As an added benefit he lived in family house and was never in jail. Our moms are not comparable and have nothing in common

DP. Yeah, that’s not racist at all.

How would you feel if someone posted that your mom and dad were cousins or that your mom had fewer teeth than days of schooling?

I wouldn’t care because it isn’t true, but I would ask you why the first one hit so close to home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Not exactly. Ideally, there would be a school with a critical mass of academically able AA and white kids along with a critical mass of academically challenged AA and white kids. The problem is SES and race. In MCPS, AA usually means poor. Poor usually means academically challenged. White people in these schools do not understand what it is like when everyone else who looks like you is failing and everyone who doesn't look like you is succeeding. The CES, magnets and AP classes just magnify this by 100. Its a myth that choosing a more diverse school in MCPS gives you a better experience with racial equity. Its the exact opposite!

Ironically, I hear from friends in VA that it isn't as bad over there with the AAP system. I don't have direct experience with those schools so I can't confirm whether this is true. It might also be the case that MCPS is just so overly focused on race that this plays out negatively while VA is less focused on it. I personally would not live in VA so I don't know.

This problem in MCPS though is why so many higher SES black parents choose to live in PG and do private schools, or accept being one of the only black kids in a W school or being one of only a handful of black kids at a more elite predominantly white private school. There just are no good options.

In 2017-2018, 21.4% of students in MCPS were black, and 10.8% of students in MCPS were black and on FARMS. In other words, half of black students in MCPS in 2017-2018 were NOT on FARMS.

When people assume that if you're black, you must have parents who are poor and have little education? That assumption is part of the problem.

THANK YOU FOR THIS.

I'm a Black mom here in MoCo...and we're certainly not poor, and neither are my Black neighbors. These assumptions irk my nerves.

YASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

I believe there is an E in Yes

I believe there is a “D” in your momma

My mom was married to her children’s father which they all had in common. As an added benefit he lived in family house and was never in jail. Our moms are not comparable and have nothing in common

I believe you are responding to something not seen nor quoted here.
nobody asked about your mama or your daddy .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Not exactly. Ideally, there would be a school with a critical mass of academically able AA and white kids along with a critical mass of academically challenged AA and white kids. The problem is SES and race. In MCPS, AA usually means poor. Poor usually means academically challenged. White people in these schools do not understand what it is like when everyone else who looks like you is failing and everyone who doesn't look like you is succeeding. The CES, magnets and AP classes just magnify this by 100. Its a myth that choosing a more diverse school in MCPS gives you a better experience with racial equity. Its the exact opposite!

Ironically, I hear from friends in VA that it isn't as bad over there with the AAP system. I don't have direct experience with those schools so I can't confirm whether this is true. It might also be the case that MCPS is just so overly focused on race that this plays out negatively while VA is less focused on it. I personally would not live in VA so I don't know.

This problem in MCPS though is why so many higher SES black parents choose to live in PG and do private schools, or accept being one of the only black kids in a W school or being one of only a handful of black kids at a more elite predominantly white private school. There just are no good options.

In 2017-2018, 21.4% of students in MCPS were black, and 10.8% of students in MCPS were black and on FARMS. In other words, half of black students in MCPS in 2017-2018 were NOT on FARMS.

When people assume that if you're black, you must have parents who are poor and have little education? That assumption is part of the problem.

THANK YOU FOR THIS.

I'm a Black mom here in MoCo...and we're certainly not poor, and neither are my Black neighbors. These assumptions irk my nerves.

YASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

I believe there is an E in Yes

I believe there is a “D” in your momma

My mom was married to her children’s father which they all had in common. As an added benefit he lived in family house and was never in jail. Our moms are not comparable and have nothing in common

DP. Yeah, that’s not racist at all.

How would you feel if someone posted that your mom and dad were cousins or that your mom had fewer teeth than days of schooling?

LIOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Not exactly. Ideally, there would be a school with a critical mass of academically able AA and white kids along with a critical mass of academically challenged AA and white kids. The problem is SES and race. In MCPS, AA usually means poor. Poor usually means academically challenged. White people in these schools do not understand what it is like when everyone else who looks like you is failing and everyone who doesn't look like you is succeeding. The CES, magnets and AP classes just magnify this by 100. Its a myth that choosing a more diverse school in MCPS gives you a better experience with racial equity. Its the exact opposite!

Ironically, I hear from friends in VA that it isn't as bad over there with the AAP system. I don't have direct experience with those schools so I can't confirm whether this is true. It might also be the case that MCPS is just so overly focused on race that this plays out negatively while VA is less focused on it. I personally would not live in VA so I don't know.

This problem in MCPS though is why so many higher SES black parents choose to live in PG and do private schools, or accept being one of the only black kids in a W school or being one of only a handful of black kids at a more elite predominantly white private school. There just are no good options.

In 2017-2018, 21.4% of students in MCPS were black, and 10.8% of students in MCPS were black and on FARMS. In other words, half of black students in MCPS in 2017-2018 were NOT on FARMS.

When people assume that if you're black, you must have parents who are poor and have little education? That assumption is part of the problem.

THANK YOU FOR THIS.

I'm a Black mom here in MoCo...and we're certainly not poor, and neither are my Black neighbors. These assumptions irk my nerves.

YASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

I believe there is an E in Yes

I believe there is a “D” in your momma

My mom was married to her children’s father which they all had in common. As an added benefit he lived in family house and was never in jail. Our moms are not comparable and have nothing in common

I believe you are responding to something not seen nor quoted here.
nobody asked about your mama or your daddy .

Between the misspelled slang and Mama and daddy, what are the posters here all 12?

[Anonymous]

Way to represent African American parents, changing hearts minds and stereotypes one momma joke at a time

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Not exactly. Ideally, there would be a school with a critical mass of academically able AA and white kids along with a critical mass of academically challenged AA and white kids. The problem is SES and race. In MCPS, AA usually means poor. Poor usually means academically challenged. White people in these schools do not understand what it is like when everyone else who looks like you is failing and everyone who doesn't look like you is succeeding. The CES, magnets and AP classes just magnify this by 100. Its a myth that choosing a more diverse school in MCPS gives you a better experience with racial equity. Its the exact opposite!

Ironically, I hear from friends in VA that it isn't as bad over there with the AAP system. I don't have direct experience with those schools so I can't confirm whether this is true. It might also be the case that MCPS is just so overly focused on race that this plays out negatively while VA is less focused on it. I personally would not live in VA so I don't know.

This problem in MCPS though is why so many higher SES black parents choose to live in PG and do private schools, or accept being one of the only black kids in a W school or being one of only a handful of black kids at a more elite predominantly white private school. There just are no good options.

In 2017-2018, 21.4% of students in MCPS were black, and 10.8% of students in MCPS were black and on FARMS. In other words, half of black students in MCPS in 2017-2018 were NOT on FARMS.

When people assume that if you're black, you must have parents who are poor and have little education? That assumption is part of the problem.

THANK YOU FOR THIS.

I'm a Black mom here in MoCo...and we're certainly not poor, and neither are my Black neighbors. These assumptions irk my nerves.

YASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

I believe there is an E in Yes

I believe there is a “D” in your momma

My mom was married to her children’s father which they all had in common. As an added benefit he lived in family house and was never in jail. Our moms are not comparable and have nothing in common

I believe you are responding to something not seen nor quoted here.
nobody asked about your mama or your daddy .

Between the misspelled slang and Mama and daddy, what are the posters here all 12?

It’s slang that’s how it’s spelled genius .
When people post on here racist garbage then this is what you get . you meet ridiculous with ridiculous and if you can’t code switch , welllll hate it for you .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Way to represent African American parents, changing hearts minds and stereotypes one momma joke at a time

I hope you suffer under the delusion that black people have the responsibility to change the mind of racist people.
so we are supposed to just prove that we’re not a stereotype and then we don’t fit their distorted demeaning ideas that’s our responsibility ?
Just so you’re clear, I’m free so I’m going to respond with ridiculousness with ridiculousness.
what you think about black people is not my responsibility you fix your own mind.
IM FREE FROM NEEDING YOUR APPROVAL FOR ANYTHING!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Not exactly. Ideally, there would be a school with a critical mass of academically able AA and white kids along with a critical mass of academically challenged AA and white kids. The problem is SES and race. In MCPS, AA usually means poor. Poor usually means academically challenged. White people in these schools do not understand what it is like when everyone else who looks like you is failing and everyone who doesn't look like you is succeeding. The CES, magnets and AP classes just magnify this by 100. Its a myth that choosing a more diverse school in MCPS gives you a better experience with racial equity. Its the exact opposite!

Ironically, I hear from friends in VA that it isn't as bad over there with the AAP system. I don't have direct experience with those schools so I can't confirm whether this is true. It might also be the case that MCPS is just so overly focused on race that this plays out negatively while VA is less focused on it. I personally would not live in VA so I don't know.

This problem in MCPS though is why so many higher SES black parents choose to live in PG and do private schools, or accept being one of the only black kids in a W school or being one of only a handful of black kids at a more elite predominantly white private school. There just are no good options.

In 2017-2018, 21.4% of students in MCPS were black, and 10.8% of students in MCPS were black and on FARMS. In other words, half of black students in MCPS in 2017-2018 were NOT on FARMS.

When people assume that if you're black, you must have parents who are poor and have little education? That assumption is part of the problem.

THANK YOU FOR THIS.

I'm a Black mom here in MoCo...and we're certainly not poor, and neither are my Black neighbors. These assumptions irk my nerves.

YASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

[b]tooo much Fox News. Lol! I second this. We are both Black and both of our families grew up in nice houses with great vacations and childhoods. My parents are both college educated with multiple degrees and my Dad is very wealthy. People are stupid. But, let them think I grew up in a hood somewhere.?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Not exactly. Ideally, there would be a school with a critical mass of academically able AA and white kids along with a critical mass of academically challenged AA and white kids. The problem is SES and race. In MCPS, AA usually means poor. Poor usually means academically challenged. White people in these schools do not understand what it is like when everyone else who looks like you is failing and everyone who doesn't look like you is succeeding. The CES, magnets and AP classes just magnify this by 100. Its a myth that choosing a more diverse school in MCPS gives you a better experience with racial equity. Its the exact opposite!

Ironically, I hear from friends in VA that it isn't as bad over there with the AAP system. I don't have direct experience with those schools so I can't confirm whether this is true. It might also be the case that MCPS is just so overly focused on race that this plays out negatively while VA is less focused on it. I personally would not live in VA so I don't know.

This problem in MCPS though is why so many higher SES black parents choose to live in PG and do private schools, or accept being one of the only black kids in a W school or being one of only a handful of black kids at a more elite predominantly white private school. There just are no good options.

In 2017-2018, 21.4% of students in MCPS were black, and 10.8% of students in MCPS were black and on FARMS. In other words, half of black students in MCPS in 2017-2018 were NOT on FARMS.

When people assume that if you're black, you must have parents who are poor and have little education? That assumption is part of the problem.

THANK YOU FOR THIS.

I'm a Black mom here in MoCo...and we're certainly not poor, and neither are my Black neighbors. These assumptions irk my nerves.

YASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

I believe there is an E in Yes

I believe there is a “D” in your momma

that was beautiful

Thank You.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello,

I’m considering a move to MCPS with my black family. I know it to be a wonderful area but I’ve recently been discouraged after reading some of the anti blackness and Dog-whistling that occurs on these forums. I know this forum isn’t representative of all parents/teachers/students in Montgomery County but I’m curious of how your child of color has experienced the district and how often you and they experiences instances of racism & bias in real life in the schools.

Thanks

To the best of my knowledge, my kids have not experienced overt racism. I caveat that with saying we are in a middle class/upper middle class area in the Walter Johnson cluster and I have daughters. I added the caveats because I believe the earlier posters were spot on with the challenges when the school has a big socio-economic divide that has a racial component and while it wasn’t explicitly said the experience of boys, specifically AA males could be different from females at the same school. So for me my issues with MCPS have been more about SN than race. I know other SN families from different racial backgrounds that had similar issues at the elementary school.

Now the one area I have felt adrift is the lack of diversity at the PTA at least at our elementary school level. It’s one of those things where if adults aren’t making an effort to be inclusive and talk with everyone it’s easy to feel very much like an outsider especially when you look different than everyone else. If I could go back in time, I would have looked into an affinity organization be it more social like Jack and Jill or the NAACP. It a combination of wanting that feeling of belonging when you spend your free time with other parents doing something that hopefully improves the school or the opportunities for your children, as well as having a network to find out what is going on at the schools, and having a vehicle for group action if there is a wide spread issue. My kids are in a private school now and I’ve felt things improved for me as a parent in feeling like I have a voice within PTA and at the school in general. I also feel like I’ve gotten to know the other families better. We initially moved schools because of the SN challenges at the elementary school.