Sp or Ch language?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it even possible to get such a ratio of native speakers in DC? Though I know they could do better than they are now...but let's face it, the number if Spanish-speaking kids in DC is way higher.

I think geography plays a role, too. Lower-income Hispanic households are very well represented in east of the park NW, where it's possible for a startup charter to be able to afford space for a school. YY tried like crazy to find space near Chinatown (where not all Chinese immigrants live, but which does have a critical mass). But the excess DCPS building they applied for was granted to developers instead, and the school wound up in a location that's pretty inconvenient to Chinatown (and many other neighborhoods too...).

[Anonymous]

is it possible to get back to the topic of the thread, namely: if you have FIRSTHAND experience with spanish immersion or chinese immersion education for your children, would you pls share that experience (knowing that by pointing out things that can be improved doesn't mean your slamming your school (sigh))?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP: If my child gets into YY, I hope that you and I meet and are friends; and that there are a lot more people like you at YY who maybe just don't frequent DCUM.

It has saddened me to read this often nasty back-and-forth. I wonder how many people would be able to say these things if we faced each other in real life, with our children by our sides. What kind of role model are we providing?

It seems to that there is a huge divide between people fleeing their lousy in-boundary schools, for which Mandarin is really an afterthought, and those who have a real connection to Mandarin and Chinese culture.

And that these two groups are so defensive (well, one group) and at each other's throat when in fact aren't we all trying to provide a safe environment for a high quality education for our children? Just because you raise questions, challenge, try to improve a situation doesn't mean that you are against it. Quite the contrary, right? We don't bother to try and improve the things we don't care about.

I wanted my child to go there because of the Mandarin not because I have no other options. But that's just where I'm coming from.

I agree with everything you stated, but also have a lot of compassion for people with poor inbound choices and no connection to Mandarin. Im sure you do too. To understand the history of the school, look at the factors that led to the current student make up. The first physical location (and now 2nd) of the school is in a neighborhood SCREAMING for good school options. Anyone following school choice and DCPS should view Ward 5 as one of the most screwed up Wards there is in many ways. Slapped together education campuses, no middle school options that really appeal, cheating allegations at Noyes and now Langdon, etc.

Thus YY is surrounded by some very poor choices for families in the ward--even as it is gaining and has a long stable history of middle income white and AA families.
So naturally families in the surrounding neighborhoods of Petworth, Ft Totten, Woodridge, Brookland, Brightwood, etc. with tiny, miniscule Chinese populations are the very first ones that flocked to the school! based on geography alone --sheer, physical, proximity.

So maybe the fatal flaw from the get go was not starting with a Chinese principal. But I don't fault people who aren't interested in Mandarin from exposing their kids to it and taking the leap just to get out of a poor inbound choice. Many families that weren't interested initially now are trying to learn about the culture and language.

My owner personal ideas would be to try the following concrete steps;

1) Hire an administrator that speaks Chinese who's job is to do outreach to Chinese speaking community.
2) Fill lottery slots after 2nd grade with people who can pass the language test. People state that its changing the charter law and it doesn't allow it, but the school is already doing the reverse already by stating that people can't join after 2nd because they can't catch up on the language. This seems very different to me than dual lotteries.
3) No dual lotteries for Chinese speakers--school should reflect population city wide to the extent possible with open lottery for Prek-2nd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP: If my child gets into YY, I hope that you and I meet and are friends; and that there are a lot more people like you at YY who maybe just don't frequent DCUM.

It has saddened me to read this often nasty back-and-forth. I wonder how many people would be able to say these things if we faced each other in real life, with our children by our sides. What kind of role model are we providing?

It seems to that there is a huge divide between people fleeing their lousy in-boundary schools, for which Mandarin is really an afterthought, and those who have a real connection to Mandarin and Chinese culture.

And that these two groups are so defensive (well, one group) and at each other's throat when in fact aren't we all trying to provide a safe environment for a high quality education for our children? Just because you raise questions, challenge, try to improve a situation doesn't mean that you are against it. Quite the contrary, right? We don't bother to try and improve the things we don't care about.

I wanted my child to go there because of the Mandarin not because I have no other options. But that's just where I'm coming from.

I agree with everything you stated, but also have a lot of compassion for people with poor inbound choices and no connection to Mandarin. Im sure you do too. To understand the history of the school, look at the factors that led to the current student make up. The first physical location (and now 2nd) of the school is in a neighborhood SCREAMING for good school options. Anyone following school choice and DCPS should view Ward 5 as one of the most screwed up Wards there is in many ways. Slapped together education campuses, no middle school options that really appeal, cheating allegations at Noyes and now Langdon, etc.

Thus YY is surrounded by some very poor choices for families in the ward--even as it is gaining and has a long stable history of middle income white and AA families.
So naturally families in the surrounding neighborhoods of Petworth, Ft Totten, Woodridge, Brookland, Brightwood, etc. with tiny, miniscule Chinese populations are the very first ones that flocked to the school! based on geography alone --sheer, physical, proximity.

So maybe the fatal flaw from the get go was not starting with a Chinese principal. But I don't fault people who aren't interested in Mandarin from exposing their kids to it and taking the leap just to get out of a poor inbound choice. Many families that weren't interested initially now are trying to learn about the culture and language.

My owner personal ideas would be to try the following concrete steps;

1) Hire an administrator that speaks Chinese who's job is to do outreach to Chinese speaking community.
2) Fill lottery slots after 2nd grade with people who can pass the language test. People state that its changing the charter law and it doesn't allow it, but the school is already doing the reverse already by stating that people can't join after 2nd because they can't catch up on the language. This seems very different to me than dual lotteries.
3) No dual lotteries for Chinese speakers--school should reflect population city wide to the extent possible with open lottery for Prek-2nd.

No, the charter law states that you can not do any type of testing. Charter schools in DC have to choose between 1) accepting any student that wants to apply (regardless of language spoken/fluency) or 2) establishing a cut off grade to accept new students.

[Anonymous]

12:11: I am the poster you are quoting, and you are absolutely right.

I really do feel for those parents you are referencing, who are just seeking a quality education for their child and are constrained by things beyond their control, and yes, the weirdness and sadness that is DCPS, so thank you for reminding me. It's an important important piece of this.

I guess I just that I wish those families (or at least the anonymous posters on this thread and others who seem to represent their POV) weren't so defensive and aggressive toward (1) ethnic Chinese posters who say they didn't feel/don't feel welcome or appreciated and (2) anyone who suggests improvements for the school

Thank you for listening.