SWS has jumped the shark

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:why are UMC families so worried about what’s in the school’s library or lack of sports? Have your kids read the classics from your library or the local library’s collection and have them join a sport they love. These ES standards are so low. Why are parents with advanced kids worried about them? The school is fun and magical. Why expect school to be the answer for all of your wants. Want them to learn algebra in 5th grade? I’m sure there is an app for that. And yes Black parents are caring and active everywhere, all over the world, not just at SWS. That’s a platitude that didn’t need saying. I guess with all the black joy koolaid I’ve been drinking, I felt the need to share my admiration for the cohort of parents at SWS. There is also some woman on this thread mad at SWS because ‘Black people are racist too’. So, a group that’s been marginalized and persecuted harbors mistrust of the people who run and benefit from systemic racism. Is anyone surprised? They need their spaces to feel some connectivity and peace—I’m all for it. The bashing of SWS is comical. Thanks to the poster who talked about the CH neighborhood resentment for the school. That makes sense. Also yes, we will leave SWS if it is no longer serving my kids academically or otherwise. Right now, I can’t fathom it.

You are correct and we all do supplement for our kids understanding that you cannot expect a school to be perfect or have what your child is interested in. However, teaching leftist ideas instead of teaching fundamentals and critical thought and allowing kids to create art or do projects on subjects that are not about the black experience exclusively. Im shocked the science fair project does not have some political theme. How can you scream diversity - yet only lift up one race - there was NOTHING during Hispanic Heritage month, they only care about BLM and LGBTQ++++ - imagine being a black kid and not learning about ALL history imagine being reminded everyday of how you fall short and how oppressed you are - they are seriously not fostering a "magical" experience - In my humble opinion though, I hope kids tire so much of this rhetoric that they will seek the truth and will learn the reality of these SJ movements- I see a lot of right leaning teens and Im here for that!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:why are UMC families so worried about what’s in the school’s library or lack of sports? Have your kids read the classics from your library or the local library’s collection and have them join a sport they love. These ES standards are so low. Why are parents with advanced kids worried about them? The school is fun and magical. Why expect school to be the answer for all of your wants. Want them to learn algebra in 5th grade? I’m sure there is an app for that. And yes Black parents are caring and active everywhere, all over the world, not just at SWS. That’s a platitude that didn’t need saying. I guess with all the black joy koolaid I’ve been drinking, I felt the need to share my admiration for the cohort of parents at SWS. There is also some woman on this thread mad at SWS because ‘Black people are racist too’. So, a group that’s been marginalized and persecuted harbors mistrust of the people who run and benefit from systemic racism. Is anyone surprised? They need their spaces to feel some connectivity and peace—I’m all for it. The bashing of SWS is comical. Thanks to the poster who talked about the CH neighborhood resentment for the school. That makes sense. Also yes, we will leave SWS if it is no longer serving my kids academically or otherwise. Right now, I can’t fathom it.

These "you need to supplement on the side" and "just accept low ES standards" arguments are so disingenuous. We already paid once to have our kids educated -- i.e. all those sky-high DC taxes we all must pay to lavishly fund DCPS, remember? So is it now too much to have public schools like SWS educate our kids please? But to simply say that regular day school is really only for the social justice wars and that you need to educate your kids yourself on the side is a disservice especially to those families who can't afford an army of private tutors, mathnasium, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:why are UMC families so worried about what’s in the school’s library or lack of sports? Have your kids read the classics from your library or the local library’s collection and have them join a sport they love. These ES standards are so low. Why are parents with advanced kids worried about them? The school is fun and magical. Why expect school to be the answer for all of your wants. Want them to learn algebra in 5th grade? I’m sure there is an app for that. And yes Black parents are caring and active everywhere, all over the world, not just at SWS. That’s a platitude that didn’t need saying. I guess with all the black joy koolaid I’ve been drinking, I felt the need to share my admiration for the cohort of parents at SWS. There is also some woman on this thread mad at SWS because ‘Black people are racist too’. So, a group that’s been marginalized and persecuted harbors mistrust of the people who run and benefit from systemic racism. Is anyone surprised? They need their spaces to feel some connectivity and peace—I’m all for it. The bashing of SWS is comical. Thanks to the poster who talked about the CH neighborhood resentment for the school. That makes sense. Also yes, we will leave SWS if it is no longer serving my kids academically or otherwise. Right now, I can’t fathom it.

You are correct and we all do supplement for our kids understanding that you cannot expect a school to be perfect or have what your child is interested in. However, teaching leftist ideas instead of teaching fundamentals and critical thought and allowing kids to create art or do projects on subjects that are not about the black experience exclusively. Im shocked the science fair project does not have some political theme. How can you scream diversity - yet only lift up one race - there was NOTHING during Hispanic Heritage month, they only care about BLM and LGBTQ++++ - imagine being a black kid and not learning about ALL history imagine being reminded everyday of how you fall short and how oppressed you are - they are seriously not fostering a "magical" experience - In my humble opinion though, I hope kids tire so much of this rhetoric that they will seek the truth and will learn the reality of these SJ movements- I see a lot of right leaning teens and Im here for that!

SWS parent here who has posted in this thread. The attitude posted above is what scares me, and I'm seeing it more and more from SWS parents who I consider to be generally good people and who I think would consider themselves Democrats. The eye rolling and the questioning of WTF the school is doing. There are serious race and women's and LGBTQ issues to be confronted in our society, and I think we could confront those issues in way that doesn't turn the school into a Republican's dream example of social justice gone off the rails. I honestly would not be surprised if SWS ended up on Fox News the way things are going. And I don't think it's helpful in this cultural moment to do clueless cringey things like "affinity groups" because it just gives ammo to people like PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:why are UMC families so worried about what’s in the school’s library or lack of sports? Have your kids read the classics from your library or the local library’s collection and have them join a sport they love. These ES standards are so low. Why are parents with advanced kids worried about them? The school is fun and magical. Why expect school to be the answer for all of your wants. Want them to learn algebra in 5th grade? I’m sure there is an app for that. And yes Black parents are caring and active everywhere, all over the world, not just at SWS. That’s a platitude that didn’t need saying. I guess with all the black joy koolaid I’ve been drinking, I felt the need to share my admiration for the cohort of parents at SWS. There is also some woman on this thread mad at SWS because ‘Black people are racist too’. So, a group that’s been marginalized and persecuted harbors mistrust of the people who run and benefit from systemic racism. Is anyone surprised? They need their spaces to feel some connectivity and peace—I’m all for it. The bashing of SWS is comical. Thanks to the poster who talked about the CH neighborhood resentment for the school. That makes sense. Also yes, we will leave SWS if it is no longer serving my kids academically or otherwise. Right now, I can’t fathom it.

You are correct and we all do supplement for our kids understanding that you cannot expect a school to be perfect or have what your child is interested in. However, teaching leftist ideas instead of teaching fundamentals and critical thought and allowing kids to create art or do projects on subjects that are not about the black experience exclusively. Im shocked the science fair project does not have some political theme. How can you scream diversity - yet only lift up one race - there was NOTHING during Hispanic Heritage month, they only care about BLM and LGBTQ++++ - imagine being a black kid and not learning about ALL history imagine being reminded everyday of how you fall short and how oppressed you are - they are seriously not fostering a "magical" experience - In my humble opinion though, I hope kids tire so much of this rhetoric that they will seek the truth and will learn the reality of these SJ movements- I see a lot of right leaning teens and Im here for that!

SWS parent here who has posted in this thread. The attitude posted above is what scares me, and I'm seeing it more and more from SWS parents who I consider to be generally good people and who I think would consider themselves Democrats. The eye rolling and the questioning of WTF the school is doing. There are serious race and women's and LGBTQ issues to be confronted in our society, and I think we could confront those issues in way that doesn't turn the school into a Republican's dream example of social justice gone off the rails. I honestly would not be surprised if SWS ended up on Fox News the way things are going. And I don't think it's helpful in this cultural moment to do clueless cringey things like "affinity groups" because it just gives ammo to people like PP.

Maybe if you stop seeing schools as partisan political institutions, that would help. Believe it or not, there are actual Republican families in DC, especially on the Hill where you have military families and of course parents working in politics. It is not inclusive to think that an elementary school should reprise a political platform or embody one side in the culture wars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:why are UMC families so worried about what’s in the school’s library or lack of sports? Have your kids read the classics from your library or the local library’s collection and have them join a sport they love. These ES standards are so low. Why are parents with advanced kids worried about them? The school is fun and magical. Why expect school to be the answer for all of your wants. Want them to learn algebra in 5th grade? I’m sure there is an app for that. And yes Black parents are caring and active everywhere, all over the world, not just at SWS. That’s a platitude that didn’t need saying. I guess with all the black joy koolaid I’ve been drinking, I felt the need to share my admiration for the cohort of parents at SWS. There is also some woman on this thread mad at SWS because ‘Black people are racist too’. So, a group that’s been marginalized and persecuted harbors mistrust of the people who run and benefit from systemic racism. Is anyone surprised? They need their spaces to feel some connectivity and peace—I’m all for it. The bashing of SWS is comical. Thanks to the poster who talked about the CH neighborhood resentment for the school. That makes sense. Also yes, we will leave SWS if it is no longer serving my kids academically or otherwise. Right now, I can’t fathom it.

These "you need to supplement on the side" and "just accept low ES standards" arguments are so disingenuous. We already paid once to have our kids educated -- i.e. all those sky-high DC taxes we all must pay to lavishly fund DCPS, remember? So is it now too much to have public schools like SWS educate our kids please? But to simply say that regular day school is really only for the social justice wars and that you need to educate your kids yourself on the side is a disservice especially to those families who can't afford an army of private tutors, mathnasium, etc.

+100. I'm spending $$$ per year on private tutoring to address my middle schooler's learning gaps, largely due to abysmal teaching at a similar charter. I sure wish my DS had found his ES years a lot less "magical" and actually got an education.
I hope SWS rights itself. The decline in these schools can be subtle and then all of a sudden drastic (see also: Two Rivers).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:why are UMC families so worried about what’s in the school’s library or lack of sports? Have your kids read the classics from your library or the local library’s collection and have them join a sport they love. These ES standards are so low. Why are parents with advanced kids worried about them? The school is fun and magical. Why expect school to be the answer for all of your wants. Want them to learn algebra in 5th grade? I’m sure there is an app for that. And yes Black parents are caring and active everywhere, all over the world, not just at SWS. That’s a platitude that didn’t need saying. I guess with all the black joy koolaid I’ve been drinking, I felt the need to share my admiration for the cohort of parents at SWS. There is also some woman on this thread mad at SWS because ‘Black people are racist too’. So, a group that’s been marginalized and persecuted harbors mistrust of the people who run and benefit from systemic racism. Is anyone surprised? They need their spaces to feel some connectivity and peace—I’m all for it. The bashing of SWS is comical. Thanks to the poster who talked about the CH neighborhood resentment for the school. That makes sense. Also yes, we will leave SWS if it is no longer serving my kids academically or otherwise. Right now, I can’t fathom it.

You are correct and we all do supplement for our kids understanding that you cannot expect a school to be perfect or have what your child is interested in. However, teaching leftist ideas instead of teaching fundamentals and critical thought and allowing kids to create art or do projects on subjects that are not about the black experience exclusively. Im shocked the science fair project does not have some political theme. How can you scream diversity - yet only lift up one race - there was NOTHING during Hispanic Heritage month, they only care about BLM and LGBTQ++++ - imagine being a black kid and not learning about ALL history imagine being reminded everyday of how you fall short and how oppressed you are - they are seriously not fostering a "magical" experience - In my humble opinion though, I hope kids tire so much of this rhetoric that they will seek the truth and will learn the reality of these SJ movements- I see a lot of right leaning teens and Im here for that!

SWS parent here who has posted in this thread. The attitude posted above is what scares me, and I'm seeing it more and more from SWS parents who I consider to be generally good people and who I think would consider themselves Democrats. The eye rolling and the questioning of WTF the school is doing. There are serious race and women's and LGBTQ issues to be confronted in our society, and I think we could confront those issues in way that doesn't turn the school into a Republican's dream example of social justice gone off the rails. I honestly would not be surprised if SWS ended up on Fox News the way things are going. And I don't think it's helpful in this cultural moment to do clueless cringey things like "affinity groups" because it just gives ammo to people like PP.

Maybe if you stop seeing schools as partisan political institutions, that would help. Believe it or not, there are actual Republican families in DC, especially on the Hill where you have military families and of course parents working in politics. It is not inclusive to think that an elementary school should reprise a political platform or embody one side in the culture wars.

do you know of any groups or where I can find these families - I really feel like I live on an island and stay silent because if you stand up you are considered a "bigot" or other term simply for having a different perspective and having traditional values.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:why are UMC families so worried about what’s in the school’s library or lack of sports? Have your kids read the classics from your library or the local library’s collection and have them join a sport they love. These ES standards are so low. Why are parents with advanced kids worried about them? The school is fun and magical. Why expect school to be the answer for all of your wants. Want them to learn algebra in 5th grade? I’m sure there is an app for that. And yes Black parents are caring and active everywhere, all over the world, not just at SWS. That’s a platitude that didn’t need saying. I guess with all the black joy koolaid I’ve been drinking, I felt the need to share my admiration for the cohort of parents at SWS. There is also some woman on this thread mad at SWS because ‘Black people are racist too’. So, a group that’s been marginalized and persecuted harbors mistrust of the people who run and benefit from systemic racism. Is anyone surprised? They need their spaces to feel some connectivity and peace—I’m all for it. The bashing of SWS is comical. Thanks to the poster who talked about the CH neighborhood resentment for the school. That makes sense. Also yes, we will leave SWS if it is no longer serving my kids academically or otherwise. Right now, I can’t fathom it.

You are correct and we all do supplement for our kids understanding that you cannot expect a school to be perfect or have what your child is interested in. However, teaching leftist ideas instead of teaching fundamentals and critical thought and allowing kids to create art or do projects on subjects that are not about the black experience exclusively. Im shocked the science fair project does not have some political theme. How can you scream diversity - yet only lift up one race - there was NOTHING during Hispanic Heritage month, they only care about BLM and LGBTQ++++ - imagine being a black kid and not learning about ALL history imagine being reminded everyday of how you fall short and how oppressed you are - they are seriously not fostering a "magical" experience - In my humble opinion though, I hope kids tire so much of this rhetoric that they will seek the truth and will learn the reality of these SJ movements- I see a lot of right leaning teens and Im here for that!

SWS parent here who has posted in this thread. The attitude posted above is what scares me, and I'm seeing it more and more from SWS parents who I consider to be generally good people and who I think would consider themselves Democrats. The eye rolling and the questioning of WTF the school is doing. There are serious race and women's and LGBTQ issues to be confronted in our society, and I think we could confront those issues in way that doesn't turn the school into a Republican's dream example of social justice gone off the rails. I honestly would not be surprised if SWS ended up on Fox News the way things are going. And I don't think it's helpful in this cultural moment to do clueless cringey things like "affinity groups" because it just gives ammo to people like PP.

Maybe if you stop seeing schools as partisan political institutions, that would help. Believe it or not, there are actual Republican families in DC, especially on the Hill where you have military families and of course parents working in politics. It is not inclusive to think that an elementary school should reprise a political platform or embody one side in the culture wars.

do you know of any groups or where I can find these families - I really feel like I live on an island and stay silent because if you stand up you are considered a "bigot" or other term simply for having a different perspective and having traditional values.

Lots of military on the Hill at DCPS schools. That doesn’t tell you what their politics are, but generally more conservative. Republicans working in politics for the administration tend to locate in Virginia but there were some here during Trump and there are some R reps with kids around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:why are UMC families so worried about what’s in the school’s library or lack of sports? Have your kids read the classics from your library or the local library’s collection and have them join a sport they love. These ES standards are so low. Why are parents with advanced kids worried about them? The school is fun and magical. Why expect school to be the answer for all of your wants. Want them to learn algebra in 5th grade? I’m sure there is an app for that. And yes Black parents are caring and active everywhere, all over the world, not just at SWS. That’s a platitude that didn’t need saying. I guess with all the black joy koolaid I’ve been drinking, I felt the need to share my admiration for the cohort of parents at SWS. There is also some woman on this thread mad at SWS because ‘Black people are racist too’. So, a group that’s been marginalized and persecuted harbors mistrust of the people who run and benefit from systemic racism. Is anyone surprised? They need their spaces to feel some connectivity and peace—I’m all for it. The bashing of SWS is comical. Thanks to the poster who talked about the CH neighborhood resentment for the school. That makes sense. Also yes, we will leave SWS if it is no longer serving my kids academically or otherwise. Right now, I can’t fathom it.

These "you need to supplement on the side" and "just accept low ES standards" arguments are so disingenuous. We already paid once to have our kids educated -- i.e. all those sky-high DC taxes we all must pay to lavishly fund DCPS, remember? So is it now too much to have public schools like SWS educate our kids please? But to simply say that regular day school is really only for the social justice wars and that you need to educate your kids yourself on the side is a disservice especially to those families who can't afford an army of private tutors, mathnasium, etc.

+100. I'm spending $$$ per year on private tutoring to address my middle schooler's learning gaps, largely due to abysmal teaching at a similar charter. I sure wish my DS had found his ES years a lot less "magical" and actually got an education.
I hope SWS rights itself. The decline in these schools can be subtle and then all of a sudden drastic (see also: Two Rivers).

we left Two Rivers for SWS - I will say my kid likes it more but because of the friendships and feels it was more challenging than 2R - we started SWS after Covid - my guess is that all this spiked after the BLM movement. The black families in SWS from what I can see all appear to be UMC and lots of mixed families - so I am not sure who all this is for. lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:why are UMC families so worried about what’s in the school’s library or lack of sports? Have your kids read the classics from your library or the local library’s collection and have them join a sport they love. These ES standards are so low. Why are parents with advanced kids worried about them? The school is fun and magical. Why expect school to be the answer for all of your wants. Want them to learn algebra in 5th grade? I’m sure there is an app for that. And yes Black parents are caring and active everywhere, all over the world, not just at SWS. That’s a platitude that didn’t need saying. I guess with all the black joy koolaid I’ve been drinking, I felt the need to share my admiration for the cohort of parents at SWS. There is also some woman on this thread mad at SWS because ‘Black people are racist too’. So, a group that’s been marginalized and persecuted harbors mistrust of the people who run and benefit from systemic racism. Is anyone surprised? They need their spaces to feel some connectivity and peace—I’m all for it. The bashing of SWS is comical. Thanks to the poster who talked about the CH neighborhood resentment for the school. That makes sense. Also yes, we will leave SWS if it is no longer serving my kids academically or otherwise. Right now, I can’t fathom it.

You are correct and we all do supplement for our kids understanding that you cannot expect a school to be perfect or have what your child is interested in. However, teaching leftist ideas instead of teaching fundamentals and critical thought and allowing kids to create art or do projects on subjects that are not about the black experience exclusively. Im shocked the science fair project does not have some political theme. How can you scream diversity - yet only lift up one race - there was NOTHING during Hispanic Heritage month, they only care about BLM and LGBTQ++++ - imagine being a black kid and not learning about ALL history imagine being reminded everyday of how you fall short and how oppressed you are - they are seriously not fostering a "magical" experience - In my humble opinion though, I hope kids tire so much of this rhetoric that they will seek the truth and will learn the reality of these SJ movements- I see a lot of right leaning teens and Im here for that!

SWS parent here who has posted in this thread. The attitude posted above is what scares me, and I'm seeing it more and more from SWS parents who I consider to be generally good people and who I think would consider themselves Democrats. The eye rolling and the questioning of WTF the school is doing. There are serious race and women's and LGBTQ issues to be confronted in our society, and I think we could confront those issues in way that doesn't turn the school into a Republican's dream example of social justice gone off the rails. I honestly would not be surprised if SWS ended up on Fox News the way things are going. And I don't think it's helpful in this cultural moment to do clueless cringey things like "affinity groups" because it just gives ammo to people like PP.

Maybe if you stop seeing schools as partisan political institutions, that would help. Believe it or not, there are actual Republican families in DC, especially on the Hill where you have military families and of course parents working in politics. It is not inclusive to think that an elementary school should reprise a political platform or embody one side in the culture wars.

do you know of any groups or where I can find these families - I really feel like I live on an island and stay silent because if you stand up you are considered a "bigot" or other term simply for having a different perspective and having traditional values.

Lots of military on the Hill at DCPS schools. That doesn’t tell you what their politics are, but generally more conservative. Republicans working in politics for the administration tend to locate in Virginia but there were some here during Trump and there are some R reps with kids around.

There are a few right leaning churches on the Hill - I plan to start there - I am also a veteran - VA probably does have more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:why are UMC families so worried about what’s in the school’s library or lack of sports? Have your kids read the classics from your library or the local library’s collection and have them join a sport they love. These ES standards are so low. Why are parents with advanced kids worried about them? The school is fun and magical. Why expect school to be the answer for all of your wants. Want them to learn algebra in 5th grade? I’m sure there is an app for that. And yes Black parents are caring and active everywhere, all over the world, not just at SWS. That’s a platitude that didn’t need saying. I guess with all the black joy koolaid I’ve been drinking, I felt the need to share my admiration for the cohort of parents at SWS. There is also some woman on this thread mad at SWS because ‘Black people are racist too’. So, a group that’s been marginalized and persecuted harbors mistrust of the people who run and benefit from systemic racism. Is anyone surprised? They need their spaces to feel some connectivity and peace—I’m all for it. The bashing of SWS is comical. Thanks to the poster who talked about the CH neighborhood resentment for the school. That makes sense. Also yes, we will leave SWS if it is no longer serving my kids academically or otherwise. Right now, I can’t fathom it.

You are correct and we all do supplement for our kids understanding that you cannot expect a school to be perfect or have what your child is interested in. However, teaching leftist ideas instead of teaching fundamentals and critical thought and allowing kids to create art or do projects on subjects that are not about the black experience exclusively. Im shocked the science fair project does not have some political theme. How can you scream diversity - yet only lift up one race - there was NOTHING during Hispanic Heritage month, they only care about BLM and LGBTQ++++ - imagine being a black kid and not learning about ALL history imagine being reminded everyday of how you fall short and how oppressed you are - they are seriously not fostering a "magical" experience - In my humble opinion though, I hope kids tire so much of this rhetoric that they will seek the truth and will learn the reality of these SJ movements- I see a lot of right leaning teens and Im here for that!

SWS parent here who has posted in this thread. The attitude posted above is what scares me, and I'm seeing it more and more from SWS parents who I consider to be generally good people and who I think would consider themselves Democrats. The eye rolling and the questioning of WTF the school is doing. There are serious race and women's and LGBTQ issues to be confronted in our society, and I think we could confront those issues in way that doesn't turn the school into a Republican's dream example of social justice gone off the rails. I honestly would not be surprised if SWS ended up on Fox News the way things are going. And I don't think it's helpful in this cultural moment to do clueless cringey things like "affinity groups" because it just gives ammo to people like PP.

Maybe if you stop seeing schools as partisan political institutions, that would help. Believe it or not, there are actual Republican families in DC, especially on the Hill where you have military families and of course parents working in politics. It is not inclusive to think that an elementary school should reprise a political platform or embody one side in the culture wars.

do you know of any groups or where I can find these families - I really feel like I live on an island and stay silent because if you stand up you are considered a "bigot" or other term simply for having a different perspective and having traditional values.

Lots of military on the Hill at DCPS schools. That doesn’t tell you what their politics are, but generally more conservative. Republicans working in politics for the administration tend to locate in Virginia but there were some here during Trump and there are some R reps with kids around.

Oh and how could I forget my favorite DCPS Hill Republican dad, Grover Norquist, who after a long career dedicated exclusively to cutting taxes and eliminating social spending, got his panties in a bunch when the Watkins principal said there was no funding for the spelling bee 😂

[Anonymous]

Yeah, our Hill kids' schools have had plenty of kids whose parents are conservative and/or R, including at some of the magical schools. It's no big deal, all the parents hang out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, our Hill kids' schools have had plenty of kids whose parents are conservative and/or R, including at some of the magical schools. It's no big deal, all the parents hang out.

I wonder if DCPS schools on the Hill are generally more inclusive than some of these Hill adjacent charters. We were at a charter (thankfully have moved on) that despite its over the top, relentless focus on community, was not broadly inclusive unless you were liberal, Black and/or gay.

[Anonymous]

L-T has a bunch of parents who work or have worked for Republican Senators and Congress people. I’ve never discussed politics with most of them, but I assume they’re not very liberal at the very least. There are also quite a few kids of current administration appointees and a few who are or work for Dem politicians (inc some local). It obviously leans left overall like the Hill does, but I’ve never gotten the sense it’s super woke/intolerant of non-liberal perspectives. When the PTO held discussion sessions about whether folks were interested in bringing in Kindred/other equity consultants, folks were overwhelming interested in spending money elsewhere. That said, there is definitely a focus on celebrating diversity, inc BHM/spirit week, Hispanic Heritage Month/movie night, International Night, ECE Holi, etc

[Anonymous]

Has Charles Allen weighed in on the whole ethnic affinity thing? This is a school in his ward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love SWS. It was the absolute perfect place to be after Covid. The school cultivates kindness, caring, and creativity. My child’s brain is always buzzing with ideas and I’ve noticed the school’s approach is quite individualized. My kiddo is advanced academically. the school is safe, the kids are nice. It is an oasis among the pool of dcps schools accessible to most. The principal is making a concerted effort to narrow the performance gap between Black and white kids and there’s been progress. The Black parents I’ve met aren’t passively waiting for the gap to close. They are highly engaged and proponents of high academic standards. Sws is a unique place that everyone has lotteried into. Surely you knew before joining that this place is about infusing kindness, joy, and community into everything? Why complain now?

How very SWS of you. In one sentence you've illustrated why so many people think SWS has a race problem. Do you think black families get together and try and solve the performance gap? You seem surprised that black folks aren't just sitting around waiting. Newsflash, my lily white SWS friend, black parents are concerned about the performance of their kid. The only way this sentence makes sense is if you are suggesting that SWS is unique because black folks at SWS care about academic performance, as opposed the black parents at "lessor" schools.

Thanks for so clearly illustrating how the L.L. Lemon brigade views black people.

+100. Lord...that post.

It's also infuriating when parents of kids that are supposedly "academically advanced" tout the "kindness, joy" and related marketing dribble of these charter schools supposedly so focused on social justice. What about the kids who are NOT academically advanced--how are their needs being met at SWS? If there are performance gaps and the needs of these students are not being met, that means the school's commitment to equity is purely performative. Meeting the "needs" of academically advanced students is a low bar to clear.

It’s even worse, because once these “academically advanced” families realize their kid needs appropriately academic instruction, they will instantly bail from DCPS for charter or private or MCPS or possibly NW DC. Then they will say piously, “Our IB school was not a good fit for our family!”

This will happen eventually no matter where your kid goes to school on the Hill. If you have an academically advanced kid, you shouldn’t be sending them to school on the Hill past PK4.