Diversity of schools - can this work both ways? Am I being unreasonable?

[Anonymous]

+1. Asian families tend to be pragmatic about public schools, not chasing some ideal sounding ethnic breakdown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are ZERO schools that are more than 80% white.

The idea that sending your kid to a school of 70% white kids is somehow racist makes me chortle. Meanwhile, good luck finding a school with a decent cohort of Asian students. But of course, Asians don’t count.

I’m the OP. My (public) high school was about 90% white. About 10% Asian, less than 1% black, less than 1% Latino. This was in a wealthy suburb of a major US city (not DC).

I do it want that for my children.

DO NOT! Sorry, bad typo.

Can you state what racial percentages you would be comfortable with? 80% white and 20 % other? 70 % white and 30% other? 20% white and 80% other?

OP here. I want my children to go to a racially diverse school, and I live in DC. So - more than about 80% white would be a deal breaker for me, it should be less than that. I don’t think that even exists in DC public or public charter schools anyway, so I’m not too concerned. <2% white seems a bit tough, like my kids might not belong.

So I guess I’m looking for a school that’s between 3% and 80% white. That’s… a pretty big range.

We're Asian and won't go for any school that isn't at least around 5% Asian and, say, 40% white, ruling out all but a handful of DC public schools. As kids, we were about the only Asians in urban public middle schools where we were frequently taunted for our race. We were routinely called chink, with classmates pulling on their corners of their eyes to make fun of us. We don't care much about diversity. Given the option, we would go for a public school that was more than 80% white, as long as the student body was also at least 5% Asian. We keep these thoughts to ourselves.

So you don’t mind if Asian and White population is over represented but how dare the Black student be representative of the city you live in. Got it. Wow. You really posted this with a straight face huh?

[Anonymous]

No, we don't mind. When you were a kid, did classmates in a tough neighborhood often ask you how you could possibly "see out of those little slit eyes?" Let me guess, they did not. Hint: please spare us your sanctimonious screed.

In this particular city, supporting one of the country's lowest-performing urban school systems, public schools with the strongest Asian and white representation are also the highest-performing, by a long shot. End of story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, we don't mind. When you were a kid, did classmates in a tough neighborhood often ask you how you could possibly "see out of those little slit eyes?" Let me guess, they did not. Hint: please spare us your sanctimonious screed.

In this particular city, supporting one of the country's lowest-performing urban school systems, public schools with the strongest Asian and white representation are also the highest-performing, by a long shot. End of story.

No when k was a child, kids made fun of my nappy hair, greasy elbows, and asked how much watermelon and chicken I ate. Even beat up my biracial sister because she was “pretending to be white.” So please spare me, it didn’t turn me into a racist and demand that my kid go to a school with no more than 15% white kids. Do you really see what you’re saying??? You’re asking your kid to attend a school with 3 times the city population of your race and triple the size the white kid population so you can avoid black children. Pathetic. Sad thing is there are no shortage of people like you in DC which is why real estate values in Lafayette and Janney will never suffer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, we don't mind. When you were a kid, did classmates in a tough neighborhood often ask you how you could possibly "see out of those little slit eyes?" Let me guess, they did not. Hint: please spare us your sanctimonious screed.

In this particular city, supporting one of the country's lowest-performing urban school systems, public schools with the strongest Asian and white representation are also the highest-performing, by a long shot. End of story.

No when k was a child, kids made fun of my nappy hair, greasy elbows, and asked how much watermelon and chicken I ate. Even beat up my biracial sister because she was “pretending to be white.” So please spare me, it didn’t turn me into a racist and demand that my kid go to a school with no more than 15% white kids. Do you really see what you’re saying??? You’re asking your kid to attend a school with 3 times the city population of your race and triple the size the white kid population so you can avoid black children. Pathetic. Sad thing is there are no shortage of people like you in DC which is why real estate values in Lafayette and Janney will never suffer.

np: Your numbers are off.

DC is 46% White, 46% Black, and 5% Asian, according to the Census Bureau.

(For the DMV, it’s 43%, 24%, and 11%, respectively.)

[Anonymous]

You’re also implying that only black kids can make fun of an Asian kid. I’m sorry that was your experience but white kids are just as apt to make rude and bullying comments so you wanting to go to a school with 80% white kids makes ZERO sense. I would have bought the story if you wanted a higher than average Asian population as it makes sense to want your kid to be around a few more others that look like them, but you lost me entirely when you said you wanted 80% WHITE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, we don't mind. When you were a kid, did classmates in a tough neighborhood often ask you how you could possibly "see out of those little slit eyes?" Let me guess, they did not. Hint: please spare us your sanctimonious screed.

In this particular city, supporting one of the country's lowest-performing urban school systems, public schools with the strongest Asian and white representation are also the highest-performing, by a long shot. End of story.

No when k was a child, kids made fun of my nappy hair, greasy elbows, and asked how much watermelon and chicken I ate. Even beat up my biracial sister because she was “pretending to be white.” So please spare me, it didn’t turn me into a racist and demand that my kid go to a school with no more than 15% white kids. Do you really see what you’re saying??? You’re asking your kid to attend a school with 3 times the city population of your race and triple the size the white kid population so you can avoid black children. Pathetic. Sad thing is there are no shortage of people like you in DC which is why real estate values in Lafayette and Janney will never suffer.

I’m very sorry that happened to you.

If this started happening to one of your children in a majority white school, would you want to move to a school with a larger Black student population in the hopes that your child would experience less bullying and feel more accepted?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, we don't mind. When you were a kid, did classmates in a tough neighborhood often ask you how you could possibly "see out of those little slit eyes?" Let me guess, they did not. Hint: please spare us your sanctimonious screed.

In this particular city, supporting one of the country's lowest-performing urban school systems, public schools with the strongest Asian and white representation are also the highest-performing, by a long shot. End of story.

No when k was a child, kids made fun of my nappy hair, greasy elbows, and asked how much watermelon and chicken I ate. Even beat up my biracial sister because she was “pretending to be white.” So please spare me, it didn’t turn me into a racist and demand that my kid go to a school with no more than 15% white kids. Do you really see what you’re saying??? You’re asking your kid to attend a school with 3 times the city population of your race and triple the size the white kid population so you can avoid black children. Pathetic. Sad thing is there are no shortage of people like you in DC which is why real estate values in Lafayette and Janney will never suffer.

np: Your numbers are off.

DC is 46% White, 46% Black, and 5% Asian, according to the Census Bureau.

(For the DMV, it’s 43%, 24%, and 11%, respectively.)

We’re not in the DMV. Also, don’t use total DC numbers as that shows adult population. Do DC school aged children.
Black 64%
Hispanic 20%
White 12%
Asian 2%
Multi 2%

https://dcschoolreportcard.org/state/99999-0000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You’re also implying that only black kids can make fun of an Asian kid. I’m sorry that was your experience but white kids are just as apt to make rude and bullying comments so you wanting to go to a school with 80% white kids makes ZERO sense. I would have bought the story if you wanted a higher than average Asian population as it makes sense to want your kid to be around a few more others that look like them, but you lost me entirely when you said you wanted 80% WHITE.

I'd prefer to go to school that is 80% Asian, but afaik, that's only TJ, and we all see how hard Fairfax is coming after that school to make sure it doesn't stay that way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, we don't mind. When you were a kid, did classmates in a tough neighborhood often ask you how you could possibly "see out of those little slit eyes?" Let me guess, they did not. Hint: please spare us your sanctimonious screed.

In this particular city, supporting one of the country's lowest-performing urban school systems, public schools with the strongest Asian and white representation are also the highest-performing, by a long shot. End of story.

No when k was a child, kids made fun of my nappy hair, greasy elbows, and asked how much watermelon and chicken I ate. Even beat up my biracial sister because she was “pretending to be white.” So please spare me, it didn’t turn me into a racist and demand that my kid go to a school with no more than 15% white kids. Do you really see what you’re saying??? You’re asking your kid to attend a school with 3 times the city population of your race and triple the size the white kid population so you can avoid black children. Pathetic. Sad thing is there are no shortage of people like you in DC which is why real estate values in Lafayette and Janney will never suffer.

I’m very sorry that happened to you.

If this started happening to one of your children in a majority white school, would you want to move to a school with a larger Black student population in the hopes that your child would experience less bullying and feel more accepted?

You’re taking your experience from a handful of kids from 30-40 years ago and applying it today to intentionally avoid a whole group of kids and WANTING to go to a school with 80% white kids assuming there will not be one bully on a school of 1000 white kids because they are angelic saviors and would never bully. Make this make sense. My best friend is Asian and grew up in Anacostia in the 90s. He will tell you today, he has a much harder time with racial issues in Georgetown and Yale than Anacostia High. But you do you. I pray your kids don’t end up like you. We need to stomp out these prejudices sooner rather than later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You’re also implying that only black kids can make fun of an Asian kid. I’m sorry that was your experience but white kids are just as apt to make rude and bullying comments so you wanting to go to a school with 80% white kids makes ZERO sense. I would have bought the story if you wanted a higher than average Asian population as it makes sense to want your kid to be around a few more others that look like them, but you lost me entirely when you said you wanted 80% WHITE.

I'd prefer to go to school that is 80% Asian, but afaik, that's only TJ, and we all see how hard Fairfax is coming after that school to make sure it doesn't stay that way.

So if you can’t get Asian, ask for the next best thing, right? SMH

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, we don't mind. When you were a kid, did classmates in a tough neighborhood often ask you how you could possibly "see out of those little slit eyes?" Let me guess, they did not. Hint: please spare us your sanctimonious screed.

In this particular city, supporting one of the country's lowest-performing urban school systems, public schools with the strongest Asian and white representation are also the highest-performing, by a long shot. End of story.

No when k was a child, kids made fun of my nappy hair, greasy elbows, and asked how much watermelon and chicken I ate. Even beat up my biracial sister because she was “pretending to be white.” So please spare me, it didn’t turn me into a racist and demand that my kid go to a school with no more than 15% white kids. Do you really see what you’re saying??? You’re asking your kid to attend a school with 3 times the city population of your race and triple the size the white kid population so you can avoid black children. Pathetic. Sad thing is there are no shortage of people like you in DC which is why real estate values in Lafayette and Janney will never suffer.

I’m very sorry that happened to you.

If this started happening to one of your children in a majority white school, would you want to move to a school with a larger Black student population in the hopes that your child would experience less bullying and feel more accepted?

I also highly doubt you went to a majority black school and it was only black kids that bullied you. But keep on with your white Jesus savior complex all you want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, we don't mind. When you were a kid, did classmates in a tough neighborhood often ask you how you could possibly "see out of those little slit eyes?" Let me guess, they did not. Hint: please spare us your sanctimonious screed.

In this particular city, supporting one of the country's lowest-performing urban school systems, public schools with the strongest Asian and white representation are also the highest-performing, by a long shot. End of story.

No when k was a child, kids made fun of my nappy hair, greasy elbows, and asked how much watermelon and chicken I ate. Even beat up my biracial sister because she was “pretending to be white.” So please spare me, it didn’t turn me into a racist and demand that my kid go to a school with no more than 15% white kids. Do you really see what you’re saying??? You’re asking your kid to attend a school with 3 times the city population of your race and triple the size the white kid population so you can avoid black children. Pathetic. Sad thing is there are no shortage of people like you in DC which is why real estate values in Lafayette and Janney will never suffer.

np: Your numbers are off.

DC is 46% White, 46% Black, and 5% Asian, according to the Census Bureau.

(For the DMV, it’s 43%, 24%, and 11%, respectively.)

We’re not in the DMV. Also, don’t use total DC numbers as that shows adult population. Do DC school aged children.
Black 64%
Hispanic 20%
White 12%
Asian 2%
Multi 2%

https://dcschoolreportcard.org/state/99999-0000

That’s public schools only, not school-aged children.

The poster said that she wanted a school that was at least 40% White and 5% Asian, and then got lambasted for not wanting to go to a school that “looked like the city.” Her parameters are consistent with “looking like the city.”

Look, I think her terrible experience as a child is not that relevant to schools today. That kind of teasing does not happen to the same extent. But, as we all know, past ills have consequences still today.

And I hate when people make inaccurate demographic claims and use that as some sort of morality litmus test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, we don't mind. When you were a kid, did classmates in a tough neighborhood often ask you how you could possibly "see out of those little slit eyes?" Let me guess, they did not. Hint: please spare us your sanctimonious screed.

In this particular city, supporting one of the country's lowest-performing urban school systems, public schools with the strongest Asian and white representation are also the highest-performing, by a long shot. End of story.

No when k was a child, kids made fun of my nappy hair, greasy elbows, and asked how much watermelon and chicken I ate. Even beat up my biracial sister because she was “pretending to be white.” So please spare me, it didn’t turn me into a racist and demand that my kid go to a school with no more than 15% white kids. Do you really see what you’re saying??? You’re asking your kid to attend a school with 3 times the city population of your race and triple the size the white kid population so you can avoid black children. Pathetic. Sad thing is there are no shortage of people like you in DC which is why real estate values in Lafayette and Janney will never suffer.

np: Your numbers are off.

DC is 46% White, 46% Black, and 5% Asian, according to the Census Bureau.

(For the DMV, it’s 43%, 24%, and 11%, respectively.)

We’re not in the DMV. Also, don’t use total DC numbers as that shows adult population. Do DC school aged children.
Black 64%
Hispanic 20%
White 12%
Asian 2%
Multi 2%

https://dcschoolreportcard.org/state/99999-0000

That’s public schools only, not school-aged children.

The poster said that she wanted a school that was at least 40% White and 5% Asian, and then got lambasted for not wanting to go to a school that “looked like the city.” Her parameters are consistent with “looking like the city.”

Look, I think her terrible experience as a child is not that relevant to schools today. That kind of teasing does not happen to the same extent. But, as we all know, past ills have consequences still today.

And I hate when people make inaccurate demographic claims and use that as some sort of morality litmus test.

The poster is posting in a public school forum. Stop trying to save and make excuses for outright racism. We need more allies, not apologists.

Nothing inaccurate. DC public school kids are 2%. She wants 5%. Fine. Okay, I’ll give you that. But DC school kids comprise of 12% white and she wants up to 80% white. 80% white and 5% Asian would leave 15% left over for Hispanic and Black. Make that math make sense.

[Anonymous]

It’s funny how the Asian poster said they would go for a public school that is 80% white but also admit that they were called chinks when they went to public school. Was it black people calling you chinks? I guess whites aren’t racist towards Asians.