Systemic bias against Asian-Americans in schools

[Anonymous]

I would definitely call them on it. They will do something about it if you’re the squeaky wheel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are at a school with a significant percentage of Asian-American students but mostly white teachers. We've noticed over the past year that when teachers have a choice to choose students for leadership positions such as for panels, if they have a request from an outside entity for students to speak with, student hosts for assemblies, or for leaders for class project they are not selecting AAPI students. It's really striking and when parents first brought this up to us I was skeptical but then we saw it happen again and again. They will choose students from other minority groups who comprise only a small percentage of students at the school so it is not all white students who are being chosen.

We moved to the area from California where we were at a school with a similar percentage of AAPI students and did not see this issue. What is going on? Is it just gross stereotyping that AAPI students are not good leaders or speakers? Are we just at a terrible school?

Yes, OP, we see that too, in our daughter's private school in the New England area. The only prize my daughter this year was in a sport she excels in, and it was for "not complaining" - probably because she kept her disappointment to herself when she was passed over for team captain for a WM. The coach said he "needed leadership opportunities to get into college." OP, I didn't hear you complaining that other minorities were doing better, just that Asian kids were left out. We see the same pattern, where white kids and non-Asian minorities get most of the opportunities.

We are at a public in the Boston suburbs with a not insignificant percentage of Asian-americans too, but I also notice the same thing. Anytime the school needs to choose a role in representing something, a monthly award, end of year whatever award, etc. I notice that half of the time white kids are chosen, the other half a non-asian minority is chosen. I thought it was only me seeing things, so I'm glad to have some people that I can commiserate with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely -- white people think all Asians are smart and are going to succeed. My Indian child who is behind in both reading and math gets COMPLETELY ignored in school whereas her white counterparts get extra pull outs. I've complained and am told my child is fine and "stop stressing about your kid getting into TJ". <-- My kid is obviously not going to get into TJ and it's super racist of people to make that assumption.

Switch to Basis McLean. US head is very good and very anti-based

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are at a school with a significant percentage of Asian-American students but mostly white teachers. We've noticed over the past year that when teachers have a choice to choose students for leadership positions such as for panels, if they have a request from an outside entity for students to speak with, student hosts for assemblies, or for leaders for class project they are not selecting AAPI students. It's really striking and when parents first brought this up to us I was skeptical but then we saw it happen again and again. They will choose students from other minority groups who comprise only a small percentage of students at the school so it is not all white students who are being chosen.

We moved to the area from California where we were at a school with a similar percentage of AAPI students and did not see this issue. What is going on? Is it just gross stereotyping that AAPI students are not good leaders or speakers? Are we just at a terrible school?

You are overthinking this. I’m so tired of these flimsy, racist threads.

What is OP overthinking? She noticed a disturbing trend and reporting it. Stop gaslighting her/him!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are at a school with a significant percentage of Asian-American students but mostly white teachers. We've noticed over the past year that when teachers have a choice to choose students for leadership positions such as for panels, if they have a request from an outside entity for students to speak with, student hosts for assemblies, or for leaders for class project they are not selecting AAPI students. It's really striking and when parents first brought this up to us I was skeptical but then we saw it happen again and again. They will choose students from other minority groups who comprise only a small percentage of students at the school so it is not all white students who are being chosen.

We moved to the area from California where we were at a school with a similar percentage of AAPI students and did not see this issue. What is going on? Is it just gross stereotyping that AAPI students are not good leaders or speakers? Are we just at a terrible school?

First, I'm skeptical of this idea of teachers choosing leadership positions. I've been a teacher for a long time, and we don't usually choose people for that. They volunteer. At the very least, we would choose from volunteers. And in general, if there is something a teacher needs to choose someone for, they will likely choose a very outgoing student, without regard to race (even the racist ones). So I'm not sure how you can attribute something that really isn't very common in the first place to racism. The sample would have to be pretty small. If you have a child in the school, and your child is not being chosen for something, then I would suggest 1-has your child made his/her desire to step up known? And 2-perhaps ask the teachers about your child specifically.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely -- white people think all Asians are smart and are going to succeed. My Indian child who is behind in both reading and math gets COMPLETELY ignored in school whereas her white counterparts get extra pull outs. I've complained and am told my child is fine and "stop stressing about your kid getting into TJ". <-- My kid is obviously not going to get into TJ and it's super racist of people to make that assumption.

It is not so obvious anymore.

[Anonymous]

This thread was DOA because there was no data offered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely -- white people think all Asians are smart and are going to succeed. My Indian child who is behind in both reading and math gets COMPLETELY ignored in school whereas her white counterparts get extra pull outs. I've complained and am told my child is fine and "stop stressing about your kid getting into TJ". <-- My kid is obviously not going to get into TJ and it's super racist of people to make that assumption.

It is not so obvious anymore.

WTF? An asian kid behind in reading and math won't get into TJ because there aren't enough white kids there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely -- white people think all Asians are smart and are going to succeed. My Indian child who is behind in both reading and math gets COMPLETELY ignored in school whereas her white counterparts get extra pull outs. I've complained and am told my child is fine and "stop stressing about your kid getting into TJ". <-- My kid is obviously not going to get into TJ and it's super racist of people to make that assumption.

It is not so obvious anymore.

WTF? An asian kid behind in reading and math won't get into TJ because there aren't enough white kids there.

They don't look at race in the process. They also don't necessarily take the top kids within a school. If they have good grades, 3.5GPA, it can't be ruled out that someone who is weak in reading and math will be admitted to TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have heard teachers make stereotypical comments about Asian American students in social settings and sporting events many times. I have also had parents say things to me and about me (an American born person of Indian heritage) that are based on stereotypes. It’s very hurtful and I didn’t experience this in the midwest probably because thwre were fewer Asian American students in my area and people were not concerned about “cultural” changed. This area is tough.

Poli Sci 101

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely -- white people think all Asians are smart and are going to succeed. My Indian child who is behind in both reading and math gets COMPLETELY ignored in school whereas her white counterparts get extra pull outs. I've complained and am told my child is fine and "stop stressing about your kid getting into TJ". <-- My kid is obviously not going to get into TJ and it's super racist of people to make that assumption.

It is not so obvious anymore.

WTF? An asian kid behind in reading and math won't get into TJ because there aren't enough white kids there.

Not true. Asians do get a TJ boost if they are poor or have learning disabilities, etc. In fact FCPS stated that the TJ admissions changed only affected rich Asian families.

[Anonymous]

I wish more Asian families would move into DC and send their kids to the public schools here in the District. We could use more Asians here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have heard teachers make stereotypical comments about Asian American students in social settings and sporting events many times. I have also had parents say things to me and about me (an American born person of Indian heritage) that are based on stereotypes. It’s very hurtful and I didn’t experience this in the midwest probably because thwre were fewer Asian American students in my area and people were not concerned about “cultural” changed. This area is tough.

Move into the District. It's more like the midwest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like you've described a school that selects URMs. That's not anti-AAPI bias.

Fwiw, there a number of AAPI students in FCPS of different backgrounds and some are high achieving and others are average. Don't have all the same concerns.

It is biased if the selection is not based on merit.

But it's not improper discrimination. It's ok to have different criteria.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard teachers make stereotypical comments about Asian American students in social settings and sporting events many times. I have also had parents say things to me and about me (an American born person of Indian heritage) that are based on stereotypes. It’s very hurtful and I didn’t experience this in the midwest probably because thwre were fewer Asian American students in my area and people were not concerned about “cultural” changed. This area is tough.

Poli Sci 101

I'm not sure what it's like on the West Coast or Midwest but here the Asian community basically make supremacist arguments such as school academic clubs should all have Asian student leaders etc. We have large population of very poor Salvadoran students yet have to listen to complaints about the "negative" Asian stereotypes which almost all involve positive traits such as being assumed to be smart or able to answer a math question.