s/o: Wilson H.S. -- otherwise known as "Yale or Jail"

[Anonymous]

I just Googled it, saw it used as a headline for an article about schools in CAPE COD.

[Anonymous]

Listen, every kid that goes to a public high school in this country should graduate ready to go to college - this shouldn't be a choice. I think it's BS that we believe, there are some kids who aren't college material. We on this board all know that you can't do jack in this country without a college education - that's what I tell my kids.

I could not disagree more with this. If my son, who is 18 mos. old now, doesn't show the aptitude for college, I'm not going to push him to go, even though both his father and I have multiple degrees. In my opinion, there are far, far too many kids in college who probably shouldn't be there, but rack up significant debt in 4+ years, can't find jobs to that pay enough to service that debt, and start out life behind the financial eight ball. I am all for having everyone who shows the capability going to college - but college is not a baseline, it's an add-on - that's why it's called "higher education."

Your attitude, by the way, while superficially egalitarian, is precisely the opposite - it demeans the millions of people in this country who did not go to college and are successful adults and members of society. Next time your heat goes out, or your AC, or a water pipe breaks, or your power goes out, you should remember that the plumber, electrician, etc. to whom you are paying a huge premium to come out on a Saturday most likely didn't go to college. The notion that these people "can't do jack" with their lives is really insulting.

[Anonymous]

Sorry but we're not in 1950s anymore. We don't live in a time where you can guarantee a decent life with a high school diploma. And I have plenty of family that have done it and done it well. And you know what they told me - GO TO COLLEGE.

[Anonymous]

AA parenet who left DCPS after elementary school here. We never considered Wilson for our kids because: (1) it's just too big and too rough; (2) the de facto segregation we've been hearing about for years, from friends who went there; and (3) we have heard that upper-middle class black kids have a very hard time fitting in there, and expectations are generally very low, especially for black boys. All this talk about how it's not unusual to have robberies in the bathrooms is just ridiculous. Say what you want about private school; my kids have never felt physically unsafe there. The social stuff we can deal with at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some of the clips they showed of "Waiting for Superman" talked about how many high schools in our country have a two-tier approach. And if your kid doesn't get on the right track, then your kid misses out on better teachers and better learning opportunities.

For me I'd love to see a high school in DC that is rigorous for all. The fact that Wilson is segregated the way it is, is enough to drive us to private school for high school - I don't care what the college list looks like. I can't support the two-tier approach. It's just wrong.

According to wilsons web site, and child regardless of race, can enter an academy and stay in if they maintain a B- average. How is offering advanced classes racist? Whats racist is not expecting black kids to maintain a B- average ( and preparing them in middle school) . AA tenleytown parent, I'm the parent of an interracial Tenley child. Instead of losing heart why not lead the way with high expectations for our generation of kids (and all kids, regardless of race).

[Anonymous]

if you send your kid to private school to avoid the "segregation" at wilson, seems like just another way of putting your kid in the top tier - at a place where there's no bottom tier to make you feel racist.

[Anonymous]

Well, my kid's private school experience leaves her assuming that African-American kids are as smart and as academically-inclined as white kids. And if she were going to make any generalizations about race/ethnicity/SES from what she's experienced, it'd be that the richest kids are often the least talented.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, my kid's private school experience leaves her assuming that African-American kids are as smart and as academically-inclined as white kids. And if she were going to make any generalizations about race/ethnicity/SES from what she's experienced, it'd be that the richest kids are often the least talented.

Well, that's just as scewed as anything else, isn't it?

Interesting, but based totally on personal experience and not necessarily representative across the board. Instead of being prejudiced against black people, your kid is prejudiced against rich people.

[Anonymous]

I dunno. Given the choice between raising a leftist and a racist, I'll go with leftist any day.

[Anonymous]

If you're bold, call Wilson on Monday and ask for a racial breakdown of the academies. (If you get it make sure you check it.) And, ask Riener to provide a percentage of AA in his classes over the years vs. the percentage in the school. That will blow your mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you're bold, call Wilson on Monday and ask for a racial breakdown of the academies. (If you get it make sure you check it.) And, ask Riener to provide a percentage of AA in his classes over the years vs. the percentage in the school. That will blow your mind.

Thanks. I can feel my free fall panic attack returning. AA parent of upper middle class biracial boys here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, my kid's private school experience leaves her assuming that African-American kids are as smart and as academically-inclined as white kids. And if she were going to make any generalizations about race/ethnicity/SES from what she's experienced, it'd be that the richest kids are often the least talented.

Well, that's just as scewed as anything else, isn't it?

Interesting, but based totally on personal experience and not necessarily representative across the board. Instead of being prejudiced against black people, your kid is prejudiced against rich people.

Another AA parent here. I've known many other families that chose private and they are clear on what they are paying for - a climate of high expectations. And I agree with the PP, that selective private schools further segregate things, no doubt about that. As long as the tier system exists - it's high expectations for some. I think initiatives like Harlem Children's Zone, KIPP charter schools and others have proven that you can set the stage for kids be prepared for college - even kids that are behind, even kids with issues at home. There isn't anything wrong with having advanced classes at Wilson - its just that if those classes are systematically designed for a chosen few, that's an issue.

[Anonymous]

Instead of calling the school, just get a copy of the most recent yearbook and count the white and black faces in the various academies and compare them to the overall student population. Numbers, chancellors, principals, and teachers may lie but faces never do!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, my kid's private school experience leaves her assuming that African-American kids are as smart and as academically-inclined as white kids. And if she were going to make any generalizations about race/ethnicity/SES from what she's experienced, it'd be that the richest kids are often the least talented.

Well, that's just as scewed as anything else, isn't it?

Interesting, but based totally on personal experience and not necessarily representative across the board. Instead of being prejudiced against black people, your kid is prejudiced against rich people.

Another AA parent here. I've known many other families that chose private and they are clear on what they are paying for - a climate of high expectations. And I agree with the PP, that selective private schools further segregate things, no doubt about that. As long as the tier system exists - it's high expectations for some. I think initiatives like Harlem Children's Zone, KIPP charter schools and others have proven that you can set the stage for kids be prepared for college - even kids that are behind, even kids with issues at home. There isn't anything wrong with having advanced classes at Wilson - its just that if those classes are systematically designed for a chosen few, that's an issue.

But the tier system is OPEN to all. Maintain a B- average. Would you like to see fewer advanced offerings in DC? Instead of questioning who is in, why not ask Wilson what support they have in place for children who wish to participate in an academy but struggle to make the grade ( tutoring etc.). Kids who wish to put in the effort should receive support.

[Anonymous]

I agree that schools should support students as much as possible but practically speaking asking Wilson to play catchup for eight years is a tall order. A friend teaches there and says some students can barely write. As for Wilson's two tiers, we should all remember that many of the most academically directed AA students go to Banneker and Walls, so it's not as though there are no other public high school options besides Wilson's academies.

The question seems to be what to do with students who are not interesting in pursuing education after high school?