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The Potomac School - Spill the Beans Please
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Anonymous
Mr. Sheerin, Chicken-or-egg time. Did RFK send his kids to Potomac because it was progressive and integrated, or because it was literally just down the street from (one?) (two?) Kennedy family enclave(s)? From my admittedly limited and remote connection with Potomac (former fiancee of a parent of a student who graduated in the early part of this decade) I can tell you that from what I heard and saw, I had occasion to be concerned about both the school's academics and its commitment to diversity. In my fiance's daughter's class's transition to middle school, all but one of the African-American children were "counseled out" -- essentially told that they would do well to pursue their studies elsewhere. These were kids who had been at Potomac from lower school. So Potomac couldn't prepare its own students in that class (in this case African-American students) to continue through upper school? That gave me pause. As did the piss-poor excuse for 8th grade English grammar and composition instruction that I tutored my fiance's child through. Workseets, no textbook. That passes muster somewhere, but not at a school where kids can afford to buy Warriner's Second Course, and the workbook. Or whatever is currently in vogue. This was years ago, but if you're going to harken back to RFK, you've opened the door to other "historical" points of view. |
Anonymous
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How sad. I couldn't imagine sending my kids to a school that would do such a thing. This says something about the teaching staff, whose job is to partner with the parent to prepare a child for the next level and the culture of the school. Wow!
Anonymous
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Wow! Counseled out! This happened within the last 8 years? Twenty/thirty years ago I would accept it as ignorance or cultural conditioning, but 8 years ago? You mean.......... Okay, I'm concerned. African-American (AA) students who matriculated through Potomac's lower school did not meet the upper school academic standards? What??? Were there separate classes for AA students that taught from a separate curriculum? Did their difficulties with certain topics, and we all have/had them, go unaddressed. How could this be? I bet their parents were irate. I sincerely hope that things have changed, but if this happened in recent years............. How sad. I couldn't imagine sending my kids to a school that would do such a thing. This says something about the teaching staff, whose job is to partner with the parent to prepare a child for the next level and the culture of the school. Wow!
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Anonymous
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Mr. Brendan Sheerin,
Is this true? Counseled out? Does this happen often at the Potomac School? Have their been adjustments made since the outting of all but one African-American eight grader? As the Head of the Intermediate School, you should have lots to contribute to this. I hope that you do so before this begins to sink in. Please, no more selling points. Can we 'get real'? |
Anonymous
| I wonder what the friends/classmates of those kids must have thought. This is exactly how racial/cultural biases and discrimination is passed down to our kids. 01:08, how did your former fiancée’s daughter react or respond? Just curious. |
Anonymous
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As the father of an African -American daughter who is now a junior at the school, and as someone who has been heavily involved in our diversity efforts since 1985, I can tell you that the suggestions of the last few threads are simply very inaccurate. I am very proud of the the commitment we make to every child to ensure their graduation from the school, and our record speaks for itself. Brendan Sheerin |
Anonymous
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As a former student, I also find the suggestions of the last few posts truly inaccurate. I had switched to Potomac from another top NW school because I found the former school to be very homogeneous as far as race, income, emphasis on sports, etc. Potomac was by far the most diverse & inclusive school out of all of the Independent schools at the time. I am not basing this on statistics but moreso on what I saw at sporting events, mixers, science events, debates, dances, plays, etc.
I would also add that I struggled academically my first year (freshman) at Potomac & realized my former school, where I was a straight A student, had really left me unprepared, particularly in the arts, math & english. After four years at Potomac, I had caught up academically and went on to one of the top colleges in the country where I actually placed out of the first few levels in language, english, math, etc. The head of the math department had several meetings with me to see what my high school math curriculuum had been, as he had never had a student arrive so prepared, so truly I cannot rave enough about Potomac. Even though I live in NW, pretty much in between what people here seem to consider the top 3 independent schools, Potomac will be by far my first choice for my kids. |
Anonymous
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To the last two posters- Thanks so much for setting the record straight. We'd like to send our son to Potomac (eventually, he's only 2!) and I'm so pleased to read about all of the wonderful things that you both mentioned.
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Anonymous
| It's very refreshing to hear the rest of the story. We also look forward to sending our kids to the Potomac School. As a matter of fact, we patiently await the decisions. |
Anonymous
| Thanks former Potomac student for your input. I have also applied to the school for my DC for K. It was actually top on my list even among the NW schools. As with the PP, we will see what happens. |
Anonymous
How many K and 1st grade openings are there for 2009/10? 
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Anonymous
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i am a former Potomac School student and now working mom living in DC. My parents and I picked Potomac over Sidwell for me for 4th grade back in the 80s and I rode the school bus there from NW DC for many years. The music and arts traditions and English classes were particularly strong, in my opinion. It was a place that let kids be kids. I can't speak for it today, but at the time my particular friends and their families were progressive liberals -- social workers, artists, lawyers, World Bank types -- and not uber wealthy. I can't think of another elementary school with 100 acres of land -- many rolling hills, nature trails -- lots of space for kids to run around and breathe.
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Anonymous
| As I recall there are 48 openings for K, with 3 classes of 16 students. |
Anonymous
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After a year+ reading DCUM I have never been motivated to reply to a thread until now. I too am a former African-American Potomac School student -- from kindergarten until 8th grade. Further, I keep in touch with other AA students from my time there as well. I am shocked and deeply offended by the PP unfounded assertions about the experience of children of color at Potomac. I know firsthand-- the environment is inclusive, well-rounded and well-tailored to individual students. I could not have had a better elementary school experience and felt extremely well prepared for all of my future academic endeavors (from Potomac to Groton School then Harvard). I have a 1 y/o daughter of my own now and would love to send her to Potomac.
BTW Brendan Sheerin taught me in 8th grade and remains one of the most effective educators I have encountered as well as genuinely and personally committed to diversity-- to this day one of my most memorable and favorite teachers! |
Anonymous
| To those parents who applied to Potomac for K and 1st grade, would you be willing to share which preschool your child is currently enrolled? |