Sidwell Obsession

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP again. A little quick math suggests that if there are 3 Jewish children in PP's class, and the class is about 25 kids, that's 12%. According to the CUNY study, about 1.3% of the general US population is Jewish. So I guess that's about 9 times more than one would expect in the general population.

I can assure you that PP's calls is not representative of the Jewish population at Sidwell -- far more than 12%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the sentiment (which I admit that I’ve heard from both Sidwell Friends’ alum) that Sidwell Friends has become “a Quaker school for Jewish kids taught by WASPs” reflects old fashioned Washington anti-Semitism of the type you’ll hear on the links at Chevy Chase Club/Congressional Country Club – but never in polite company.

I first heard that line from Jewish people. I don't think it's anti-Semitic – but I don’t think it is intended as a statement of fact and I don’t think people should get worked up over it. Some of the most well-established and prominent Jewish families in the area have sent generations of children to Sidwell .

[Anonymous]

17:16, I honestly don't understand what point you're trying to make. But regardless, I'm willing to bet you won't let the facts get in the way of a good argument.

To me, the available numbers simply suggest that Sidwell attracts a lot of Quaker and Jewish applicants. I'm not sure where you're going.

[Anonymous]

17:01/17:11 again. I found a more up-to-date Census report on religions (http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2010/tables/10s0075.pdf). As of 2008, Quakers are 0.06% of the general US population (and falling), so with 6% Quaker students, Sidwell has 100 times more Quakers than one would expect in a statistically average school. The Jewish faith is holding steady at about 1.2% of the total US population, but is about 4.7% of Washington DC (http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s0077.pdf). No info on how many Quakers there are in DC.

[Anonymous]

Sidwell Friends alum and booster Daniel Mudd has been sued by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for his role in the financial crisis while at Fannie Mae. The SEC accuses Mudd (son of liberal icon Roger Mudd of CBS) of understating by hundreds of billions of dollars the subprime loans held by the agencies. Not good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:17:01/17:11 again. I found a more up-to-date Census report on religions (http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2010/tables/10s0075.pdf). As of 2008, Quakers are 0.06% of the general US population (and falling), so with 6% Quaker students, Sidwell has 100 times more Quakers than one would expect in a statistically average school. The Jewish faith is holding steady at about 1.2% of the total US population, but is about 4.7% of Washington DC (http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s0077.pdf). No info on how many Quakers there are in DC.

Sidwell has 100 times more Quakers than one would expect in a statistically average school.

Shocking! I'm just guessing here, but I'll bet BYU has far more Mormons that one would expect in a statistically average school. Quaker students are out numbered by more than 15:1 at Sidwell.

Your numbers on the "Jewish Faith" cover only religous Jews - not cultural Jews.

[Anonymous]

15:45, are you trying to argue with me? Your post seems sort of confrontational. Please understand that I was just posting the numbers; I really don't care in any meaningful way about what religions dominate Sidwell or any other school. Maybe I'm misunderstanding you, so I hope you'll explain.

Anonymous wrote:Quaker students are out numbered by more than 15:1 at Sidwell.

According to these numbers, they're outnumbered by more than 1600:1 in the DC area, so 15:1 sounds pretty significant to me.

Your numbers on the "Jewish Faith" cover only religous Jews - not cultural Jews.

(A) I'm not so sure you're correct about that. The Census survey specifically says it's not based on membership in any religious organization, but just on subjective self-identification. That's why the "Total Christian" number is upwards of 86%, even though only a very tiny percentage of that number are practicing.

(B) What does "cultural Jew" mean anyway? Do I qualify because I regularly gorge myself on dill pickles and matzah ball soup? Maybe the Menorah I'm lighting this week will help? Or am I considered "culturally Christian" because I have a tree with tacky lights? What if I haven't set foot in a church or synagogue in about 10 years? Please help me identify myself!

(C) So what? Who cares whether it includes "cultural Jews" or not? You seem to be trying to score some point that I just don't understand.

[Anonymous]

"I know Sidwell welcomes all faiths, but given the demographics of NW and the near in suburbs and assuming that Sidwell is not a top chocie for most Catholics, I don't think it is a reach..."

Not sure I understand this statement.
--Parent of Sidwell students who are Catholic

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell Friends alum and booster Daniel Mudd has been sued by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for his role in the financial crisis while at Fannie Mae. The SEC accuses Mudd (son of liberal icon Roger Mudd of CBS) of understating by hundreds of billions of dollars the subprime loans held by the agencies. Not good.

another great reason to "occupy sidwell" y'all know its just a matter of time, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell Friends alum and booster Daniel Mudd has been sued by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for his role in the financial crisis while at Fannie Mae. The SEC accuses Mudd (son of liberal icon Roger Mudd of CBS) of understating by hundreds of billions of dollars the subprime loans held by the agencies. Not good.

another great reason to "occupy sidwell" y'all know its just a matter of time, right?

heh heh!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:15:45, are you trying to argue with me?
(A) I'm not so sure you're correct about that. The Census survey specifically says it's not based on membership in any religious organization, but just on subjective self-identification. That's why the "Total Christian" number is upwards of 86%, even though only a very tiny percentage of that number are practicing.

(B) What does "cultural Jew" mean anyway? Do I qualify because I regularly gorge myself on dill pickles and matzah ball soup? Maybe the Menorah I'm lighting this week will help? Or am I considered "culturally Christian" because I have a tree with tacky lights? What if I haven't set foot in a church or synagogue in about 10 years? Please help me identify myself!

(C) So what? Who cares whether it includes "cultural Jews" or not? You seem to be trying to score some point that I just don't understand.

I'm not 15:45, but speaking of scoring points -- your anti-Christian bias (only a "very tiny percentage" of Christians are practicing, trees have "tacky" lights) is showing. It's really so unbecoming when people of one religion try to score off another religion. Can't you try to set a good example, not a spiteful example?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not 15:45, but speaking of scoring points -- your anti-Christian bias (only a "very tiny percentage" of Christians are practicing, trees have "tacky" lights) is showing. It's really so unbecoming when people of one religion try to score off another religion. Can't you try to set a good example, not a spiteful example?

Pssst! You really don't know what religion I am. As for what you perceive as "anti-Christian bias" ...

(A) Several studies show that only about 18-45% of Americans attend church regularly -- far less than 86%.
http://www.crosswalk.com/news/religion-today/fewer-americans-than-thought-going-to-church-says-study-1396537.html
http://themoralcollapseofamerica.blogspot.com/2008/10/church-attendance-in-america-is.html
http://www.nationmaster.com/country/us-united-states/rel-religion

(B) The lights on my tree are decidedly tacky. Are you saying I get to be Christian only if my tree is sufficiently classy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Pssst! You really don't know what religion I am. As for what you perceive as "anti-Christian bias" ...

(A) Several studies show that only about 18-45% of Americans attend church regularly -- far less than 86%.
http://www.crosswalk.com/news/religion-today/fewer-americans-than-thought-going-to-church-says-study-1396537.html
http://themoralcollapseofamerica.blogspot.com/2008/10/church-attendance-in-america-is.html
http://www.nationmaster.com/country/us-united-states/rel-religion

(B) The lights on my tree are decidedly tacky. Are you saying I get to be Christian only if my tree is sufficiently classy?

Pssst, did you read your own links? 2 of your 3 links say 40% of Americans attend church regularly -- hardly what you called a "tiny percentage" in your earlier post. And yeah, when you talk about eating matzoh and lighting your menorah, it's pretty clear what religion you are. Dollars to donuts you're the jewish convert who is always on here slamming Christianity, in not-very-intelligent ways (this time, your links which undermine your own point). Whoever you are, you need to stop, really, because you're not just embarrassing yourself, you're embarrassing your fellow jews.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pssst, did you read your own links? 2 of your 3 links say 40% of Americans attend church regularly -- hardly what you called a "tiny percentage" in your earlier post.

Even if you subscribe to the high-side studies that say 40% attend church services, that's less than half of the 86% who claim to be Christian. If you subscribe to the studies that say 18%, then we're saying only about 1 in 5 Christians are attending church. Is that a "tiny percent"? You say tomato; I say tomahto ....

Anonymous wrote:And yeah...it's pretty clear what religion you are. Dollars to donuts you're the jewish convert who is always on here slamming Christianity.... you're embarrassing your fellow jews.

Wrong on all counts. I don't know who that other poster is. I was christened in a Southern Baptist church and raised Presbyterian. I have never converted to Judaism, although maybe 15:45 would let me identify as "culturally Jewish" because of my love of matzah. I guess it's a good thing I didn't mention how much hummus I eat, or else you'd accuse me of being an Islamic convert!

There's no need to continue this. Perhaps you will learn a lesson about stereotypes from all this. Happy new year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pssst, did you read your own links? 2 of your 3 links say 40% of Americans attend church regularly -- hardly what you called a "tiny percentage" in your earlier post.

Even if you subscribe to the high-side studies that say 40% attend church services, that's less than half of the 86% who claim to be Christian. If you subscribe to the studies that say 18%, then we're saying only about 1 in 5 Christians are attending church. Is that a "tiny percent"? You say tomato; I say tomahto ....

1 in 5 are attending church regularly was the point. It must be tough to talk to you when you keep doing this sort of bait and switch.