Minorities at Private School

[Anonymous]

yes and being that jewish people are a race as well as a religion, then i beleive they are definitely a minority! they make up a very small percentage of the population. they are a minority. it is not a good or bad thing for goodness sakes people, relaxxxx! it just is what it is! i think it is ignorant to claim that someone isn't a minority just b/c the color of their skin doesn't say so. now that i find to be offensive.

[preschoolteacher]

I went to private schools all my life until high school. I hated it. In all my grades I was the only person of color. I was never invited to go to the mall, movies, parties or outings. No one sat with me at lunch, talked to me, or anything. I would beg my grandmother to let me go to public school just so I could fit in. Besides being alienated, the teasing was horrible. I was called tar baby, blackie, classmates said I had AIDS and my grandmother smokes crack. These were the worst years of my life. I would come home in tears. I would cry not to go to school, Friday couldn't come quick enough. I was so happy when I moved back with my mom and went to public school.

[Anonymous]

preschoolteacher wrote:I went to private schools all my life until high school. I hated it. In all my grades I was the only person of color. I was never invited to go to the mall, movies, parties or outings. No one sat with me at lunch, talked to me, or anything. I would beg my grandmother to let me go to public school just so I could fit in. Besides being alienated, the teasing was horrible. I was called tar baby, blackie, classmates said I had AIDS and my grandmother smokes crack. These were the worst years of my life. I would come home in tears. I would cry not to go to school, Friday couldn't come quick enough. I was so happy when I moved back with my mom and went to public school.

how awful. where was this? this makes me want to cry.

re: a Christian school posting 'diversity' numbers ... why would a Christian school feel the need to broadcast its pie chart of religions represented among the student body? And why would someone reading that pie chart call 'bullshit' if s/he perceives the numbers to be fudged to err on the side of "more diversity"? You kinda expect that the dominant representation at a Christian school would be .... Christian, yes?

Seriously, is there anyone reading this who would phone the Jewish Day School on 16th street and demand to know how many Buddists/Methodists/Mennonites attend?

[preschoolteacher]

This was in Wilmington,North Carolina

[Anonymous]

To the NYC poster looking for a preschool friendly to kids of same-sex parents: We send our child to the Montessori School of Chevy Chase. DD has been there for two years, and she is so incredibly happy there. MSCC is very welcoming of families of all races, religions, nationalities, and sexual orientations, and they do walk the walk. The student body is quite diverse. The vibe of the school is just generally warm and welcoming, and the kids are very sweet and affectionate with each other (I mean they're not perfect, they'll argue and get cranky, but in general they're all really sweet with each other). We've been very happy with our experience there, and if you're looking seriously at pre-schools in DC with an eye to diversity and inclusiveness, I suggest you take a look at MSCC. The biggest drawback, for me at least, is that they only go up to K, so you'll have to go through the application process at least once more if you want to send your child to private school afterwards.

[Anonymous]

The point is that if a school is asked about diversity specifically (either religious or racial), the parent should get an honest accurate answer.

[Anonymous]

Does MSCC have a website? Having trouble finding information on-line.

[Anonymous]

The MSCC website is chevychasemontessori.com .

[Anonymous]

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

www.schooldigger.com provides student enrollment by race for most private schools in the area. It's a little bit dated, but perhaps you can make some assumptions around typical enrollment from year to year. Of course there is no breakdown among "white". It's just white, african american, hispanic, asian/pacific islander, american indian/alaska native.

[Anonymous]

preschoolteacher wrote:I went to private schools all my life until high school. I hated it. In all my grades I was the only person of color. I was never invited to go to the mall, movies, parties or outings. No one sat with me at lunch, talked to me, or anything. I would beg my grandmother to let me go to public school just so I could fit in. Besides being alienated, the teasing was horrible. I was called tar baby, blackie, classmates said I had AIDS and my grandmother smokes crack. These were the worst years of my life. I would come home in tears. I would cry not to go to school, Friday couldn't come quick enough. I was so happy when I moved back with my mom and went to public school.

I am really sorry for your experience. I also the only black girl in the private school I attended although that was in the UK. I had none of those experinces and was well liked by both schoolmates and teachers alike. I was also elected as head girl - a British concept where one pupil is chosen both by teachers and pupils to head the school. I am not saying there is no racism but I don't think you find it in all private schools where there are few minorities.

[Anonymous]

Thanks to the PP who suggested schooldigger.com. Very helpful!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

preschoolteacher wrote:I went to private schools all my life until high school. I hated it. In all my grades I was the only person of color. I was never invited to go to the mall, movies, parties or outings. No one sat with me at lunch, talked to me, or anything. I would beg my grandmother to let me go to public school just so I could fit in. Besides being alienated, the teasing was horrible. I was called tar baby, blackie, classmates said I had AIDS and my grandmother smokes crack. These were the worst years of my life. I would come home in tears. I would cry not to go to school, Friday couldn't come quick enough. I was so happy when I moved back with my mom and went to public school.

I am really sorry for your experience. I also the only black girl in the private school I attended although that was in the UK. I had none of those experinces and was well liked by both schoolmates and teachers alike. I was also elected as head girl - a British concept where one pupil is chosen both by teachers and pupils to head the school. I am not saying there is no racism but I don't think you find it in all private schools where there are few minorities.

You really cannot compare experiences in North Carolina (or anyplace in the US) with experiences in the UK. There just in not the same racial bitterness (except for the recent treat of Muslims) in the UK.

[Anonymous]

Things change in middle school and high school. A child might notice that the warm acceptance experienced in the early years changes as puberty hits.

[Anonymous]

being a minority DOES matter, because first of all they don't think you should be there whether it's because you're "not financially" set OR smart enough. i am african american and attended a private school through 12th grade and I have 2 kids in private schools since PP. we teach them to be themselves and have confidence...it is a must. friendships change in 2nd grade, as non-minority kids are taught certain behaviors and about race. SO RACE DOES MATTER!