Need more info about St. Patricks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hijack alert ... I am white, and we live in a neighborhood with very, very few African American families in NW DC. I can think of two. At DC's religious preschool -- which was chosen with that religious component in mind -- there are maybe two African American student out of ~125. There are no African American kids in DC's ballet or music classes.

That pretty much sums up DC's day-to-day, except for the occasional weekend festival or pumpkin patch.

So my long-winded question-point is, I can see how the St. Pat's kids would get to that point where they don't have AA friends, or how that child mentioned in 16:54 might seem. But seriously, what to do? I'm not delighted about our homogenous situation.

Don't panic. Just try to get out more...gradually.

[Anonymous]

You are not the white family 'norm'. I agree with posters about white kids staring at black people. If you live in a 110% white neighborhood and school district, purposely go where there will be diversity. I am black, and I swear I'm going to cry the next time a white toddler points to me and thinks I'm their nanny (and will confront the mom who thinks this is funny) And as far as St. Pat's--It's the exception to the area private schools. St. Pat's ACTIVELY tries to make every family (minority, white, gay/lesbian, religious preference) feel welcomed and included. If the admin, staff support this type of diversity, then it will filter down to the parents and students. This is not the case with the majority of area privates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are not the white family 'norm'. I agree with posters about white kids staring at black people. If you live in a 110% white neighborhood and school district, purposely go where there will be diversity. I am black, and I swear I'm going to cry the next time a white toddler points to me and thinks I'm their nanny (and will confront the mom who thinks this is funny) And as far as St. Pat's--It's the exception to the area private schools. St. Pat's ACTIVELY tries to make every family (minority, white, gay/lesbian, religious preference) feel welcomed and included. If the admin, staff support this type of diversity, then it will filter down to the parents and students. This is not the case with the majority of area privates.

Did you address this to me (I am 11/07 9:40)? If so, I am glad you have seen and know the real St. Patrick's. I am also saddened and disgusted that a white toddler would assume you were a nanny and that a mom would laugh (WTF?). Maybe when they start seeing Mr. Obama on every news channel and magazine/paper, as our president with his lovely FIRST LADY and darling girls (with their new puppy), this will change.... at least that is my great hope and, I think, the hope of the many who voted for him.

[Anonymous]

I have to think that there is a single disgruntled poster taking on St. Patrick's here. Moderator, could you tell us if this thread is being sock-puppeted? St Patrick's has many African American faculty members and there are African Americans in the administration. My back-of-the-envelope calculations put the student body at about 15% non white. Most importantly, the school is enormously supportive of multiculturalism and alternative points of view. Obviously, I'm not saying that it is the world's most diverse school, but it is not any different than the other DC private schools - and in our view, an incredibly welcoming place to families of all backgrounds. Please: take the time to talk to families who have children at the school and hear their perspectives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:tokenism?? You should be ashamed of yourself.

For what reason? For suggesting that only token numbers of non-white students attend St. Patrick's?

When a school is so non-diverse in the very diverse Washington, DC area, something is going on. Either the school is unable to attract many applicants of color or it chooses to admit few students of color. The latter suggests the admission of token numbers of those students; the former suggests that parents of children of color don't feel it's a good school for them. Why is that reasoning offensive?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:tokenism?? You should be ashamed of yourself.

For what reason? For suggesting that only token numbers of non-white students attend St. Patrick's?

When a school is so non-diverse in the very diverse Washington, DC area, something is going on. Either the school is unable to attract many applicants of color or it chooses to admit few students of color. The latter suggests the admission of token numbers of those students; the former suggests that parents of children of color don't feel it's a good school for them. Why is that reasoning offensive?

Because this does not describe St. Patrick's and to throw such a word at a school that absoltely does NOT deserve it (see above posts) is incendiary. But perhpas you are the disgruntled poster named by PP 12:59...

[Anonymous]

Friends of ours left St. Pats for public. Financial strain did play a part, but they also felt the school was filled with lots of really rich people who were really in to hanging out with other really rich people. My friends, who are comfortably middle class, found their children excluded from lots of parties and playdates. They were happy with the education, but not with the social scene.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:tokenism?? You should be ashamed of yourself.

For what reason? For suggesting that only token numbers of non-white students attend St. Patrick's?

When a school is so non-diverse in the very diverse Washington, DC area, something is going on. Either the school is unable to attract many applicants of color or it chooses to admit few students of color. The latter suggests the admission of token numbers of those students; the former suggests that parents of children of color don't feel it's a good school for them. Why is that reasoning offensive?

Because this does not describe St. Patrick's and to throw such a word at a school that absoltely does NOT deserve it (see above posts) is incendiary. But perhpas you are the disgruntled poster named by PP 12:59...

Sorry to offend you. I'm not the "disgruntled poster." I'm just a parent who looked at this school and felt it was too homogeneous, and thus decided not to apply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They were happy with the education, but not with the social scene.

I hear this time and again from people in and out of the school. It really seems to be the school's biggest problem. Influential parents also seem to have more access and input (too much) than at other private schools.

[Anonymous]

I know the school is working hard to address the perception, if not reality, of its lack of diversity. To a fault, it would appear. We have an international/ethnic sounding name. But we are neither international nor "ethnic." When we met with the assistant AD for the parent interview, the look of disappointment on the face of this person when she realized we did not "match" our name was obvious. She did little to mask the fact afterward that she had no interest in us after that point.

[Anonymous]

Do a search on this board. St. Patrick's has often been commended for having one of the most welcoming, warm communities - to parents of all backgrounds - among the DC private schools. It is often contrasted favorably with Beauvoir in this regard (Beauvoir having the reputation among some on this board at least of having a snotty parent body). The charges being leveled against St Pats in this thread are completely contrary to other posts about the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the 19:58. I am so surprised to hear that there are unflattering comments on this board about the St Pats admissions office (I searched but couldn't find them, so I don't know what exactly they are). Jen and Shavonne are both such nice people who I think try really hard to make the process as friendly and open as possible. That was certainly our experience, and has been the uniform reaction of people I have spoken with personally about admissions experiences. Just an alternate view.

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/25392.page