Anti-diversity trends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

You are better off in MCPS or some other public school district.

Where does your child attend?

She's in private, but the DEI or lack thereof doesn't phase us. I just know that MCPS is all in with DEI.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You are better off in MCPS or some other public school district.

Where does your child attend?

She's in private, but the DEI or lack thereof doesn't phase us. I just know that MCPS is all in with DEI.

Yes, this is a private school board. If I wanted public school suggestions I wouldn't be here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why did you apply there if there are no affinity groups?

Timing. You generally don't get into these specifics until later in the process. In the case of the two schools, I would have unknowingly walked into and been affected by policy changes.

I made this post back in September:
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1161229.page

I do not want to be around with the Moms for Liberty crowd. There are plenty of parents who are susceptible to that ideology, and I want to be extra careful to avoid them.

That makes no sense. Asking about whatever aspects of the school are important to you is crucial at the beginning of the process. How else do you decide where to apply?

[Anonymous]

Some of these posts really expose people and their lack of knowledge about corporate America and the world outside of “white America.” It’s very common for predominantly white institutions (PWIs) including high schools to have organizations that were created for students with common experiences, interests, struggles, etc. It may be around gender (Society of Women Engineers), sexuality, race, or hobbies. It’s okay for people to have a safe place to discuss their “experience” which is going to be different than the “normal” white experience. People who complain about these organizations sound insecure. As far as diversity automatically meaning African American, the pendulum has swung to Hispanic so again some people are out of touch. The term affinity group is used across most professional settings.

[Anonymous]

Agree with PP. it’s not diversity that’s a problem, it’s DEI.

[Anonymous]

Burke is still committed to DEI and has affinity groups for MS and HS students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why did you apply there if there are no affinity groups?

Timing. You generally don't get into these specifics until later in the process. In the case of the two schools, I would have unknowingly walked into and been affected by policy changes.

I made this post back in September:
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1161229.page

I do not want to be around with the Moms for Liberty crowd. There are plenty of parents who are susceptible to that ideology, and I want to be extra careful to avoid them.

That makes no sense. Asking about whatever aspects of the school are important to you is crucial at the beginning of the process. How else do you decide where to apply?

I am with you. I made my priorities clear from the beginning. The diversity events are usually from December through January. They are now making policy changes, so everything I was told during my visits isn't true.

If a school decides to drop its diversity efforts because it's getting pressured by parents, then fine, but I don't want to pay money to fight racism. I also don't want to hear the gaslighting that anti-DEI isn't just segregation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm afraid, given the current social climate, that I'm going to send my daughter to a school that is trying to become whiter.

I've noticed that many families have become openly against diversity efforts. We are POC, and I've had parents casually express how DEI initiatives hurt the quality of the surrounding private schools. Although I'm disappointed in the lack of thoughtfulness, I'm not surprised.

I already pulled applications from a couple of schools that have suddenly committed to a less diverse path since I started my application process. I'm now nervous I will be stuck at a school where my child's presence diminishes its quality.

I would appreciate insights on the current climate of your current institution. I will not take it personally. I don't have the energy to be a part of a diversity struggle. I'm sure other POC parents will also agree.

I don’t think this means they want to become whiter. It just means they don’t want race to be a factor in admissions? Why would you want that?

Agreed. I'm Hispanic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why did you apply there if there are no affinity groups?

Timing. You generally don't get into these specifics until later in the process. In the case of the two schools, I would have unknowingly walked into and been affected by policy changes.

I made this post back in September:
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1161229.page

I do not want to be around with the Moms for Liberty crowd. There are plenty of parents who are susceptible to that ideology, and I want to be extra careful to avoid them.

That makes no sense. Asking about whatever aspects of the school are important to you is crucial at the beginning of the process. How else do you decide where to apply?

I am with you. I made my priorities clear from the beginning. The diversity events are usually from December through January. They are now making policy changes, so everything I was told during my visits isn't true.

If a school decides to drop its diversity efforts because it's getting pressured by parents, then fine, but I don't want to pay money to fight racism. I also don't want to hear the gaslighting that anti-DEI isn't just segregation.

As a parent with experiences at two different private schools, I’d love to know how you are privy to these policy changes (at multiple schools, no less). Policy changes are rarely (if ever) introduced mid-year or hastily. They are part of a strategic plan. I find it coincidental that multiple schools are changing policy mid year. In fact, it looks like you are a troll because the likelyhoid of this happening at more than one school is…nil.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You are better off in MCPS or some other public school district.

Where does your child attend?

She's in private, but the DEI or lack thereof doesn't phase us. I just know that MCPS is all in with DEI.

Yes, this is a private school board. If I wanted public school suggestions I wouldn't be here.

Sounds like PP wants you to go to public school so you're out of private.....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree with PP. it’s not diversity that’s a problem, it’s DEI.

Agreed. Specifically the EI - equity and inclusion. Diversity might not be lacking everywhere and the focus needs to shift.

[Anonymous]

OP, schools will have policy changes. If this is the most important criteria, I would apply to schools who also have this as one of their top priorities such as GDS. That way even when the policy changes, it won't be to a policy that disappoints you

[Anonymous]

I am not white. I don't want our race/ethnicity to be a factor in admissions. We want to be accepted based on admissions criteria, which should be based on whether the child and family are a good fit for the school. First, we want merit to be a big part of admissions criteria. Second, as family we want to be seen beyond our race/ethnicity. Schools should look at our family values regarding how we approach our child's education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree with PP. it’s not diversity that’s a problem, it’s DEI.

Agreed. Specifically the EI - equity and inclusion. Diversity might not be lacking everywhere and the focus needs to shift.

The “problem” is private schools like the ones OP is interested in are, by their very nature, not diverse, equitable or inclusive. They are private businesses that operate to serve a certain segment of society that seeks out an exclusive and privileged environment. For a few years, they have been able to pretend to be interested in DEI but their actions show they are not. Perhaps that tension is the problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not white. I don't want our race/ethnicity to be a factor in admissions. We want to be accepted based on admissions criteria, which should be based on whether the child and family are a good fit for the school. First, we want merit to be a big part of admissions criteria. Second, as family we want to be seen beyond our race/ethnicity. Schools should look at our family values regarding how we approach our child's education.

I should add that I value diversity a lot. As long as the child/family is a good fit for the school, it is a good thing for schools to admit a diverse cohort of students. And, I define diversity in many dimensions: Socio-economic status, religion, ethnicity/race, language spoken at home.