Sorry Lady -- DC Privates ARE filled with gifted kids...

[Anonymous]

Oh please, I think we all have noticed that the parents applying to private schools are disproportionately the parents of kids with mild "special needs." Meaning, their DC can't really function in a larger classroom. Many of these kids have mild diagnoses like ADD, ADHA, sensory disorders, etc. That is why the parents need the smaller classes. I think this trend has started to create a climate of questioning amongst the parents of the kids without these issues. I have heard plenty of parents wonder why they are paying $30k per year to have their child in a class of 12 when 6 of the 12 have special needs that routinely distract the teacher.

Have you heard of billable educational hours? Tuition will rise next year...as sure as the sun sets in the NW.

[Anonymous]

Since when do trolls get to use the royal 'we'?

You're correct trolls never use the royal 'we'.

[Anonymous]

Where did all of these ignorant folks come from? There seems to be considerable resentment about private schools. Go back to the public school forum and brag there.

[Anonymous]

ok, I think this thread has officially jumped the shark. (Of course, how could it not with a title like that?)

[Anonymous]

Where did all of these ignorant folks come from? There seems to be considerable resentment about private schools. Go back to the public school forum and brag there.

As a private school parent I call a spade a spade. At $30,000/yr a pop, many of our private schools here are mediocre. Sorry, the truth offends you. No sugar coating here. The public school forum does not change this reality. You may go back to sticking your little head in the sand.

[Anonymous]

The other day my child offered up this claim: my grade, and maybe my school, is full of dumb, rich blond/es.

We went through the class lists for two grades, just for laughs, and failed to find any counterexamples, i.e. any rich blond/e kids who were in the top 25% of the class (or CTY-eligible, or noticeably gifted).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The other day my child offered up this claim: my grade, and maybe my school, is full of dumb, rich blond/es.

We went through the class lists for two grades, just for laughs, and failed to find any counterexamples, i.e. any rich blond/e kids who were in the top 25% of the class (or CTY-eligible, or noticeably gifted).

Wow, that is such bad parenting. I'm kinda speechless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UGH! You parents and your talk about giftedness are so odious. Get over the fact that even if your kid got a high score on whatever test you think is the holy grail that they are not necessarily God's gift to earth and that the plain ol' "average" kids who you think are such a drag in their classrooms may end up having happier and more successful lives, especially if they are not hounded by mothers who are obsessed with "giftedness." UGH.

Haven't read the thread, but could not agree more with this. Geeze, ladies and gents, get over yourselves! Your poor kids! Sorry, sad. Make sure you set aside a trust fund for psychotherapy and rehab -- your children are going to need it, "gifted" or, horrors! -- not.

[Anonymous]

I'm an upper school teacher at a good independent school. There's definitely a bell curve -- some very gifted students, some good ones, but also some weak ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually, many of them are full of rich kids whose parents or grandparents donate gobs of money to the annual fund.

Bitter? Because your statement is not true.

It is completely true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually, many of them are full of rich kids whose parents or grandparents donate gobs of money to the annual fund.

Bitter? Because your statement is not true.

It is completely true.

Really? I've heard that unless you're donating money sufficient to build a gym or theatre then get in line (meaning your money isn't buying admissions). And at least for the DCUM community lots of people have mentioned their HHI and I'd say that most of them are not rich. Just because they seem to have more money than you doesn't make the statement "completely true."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually, many of them are full of rich kids whose parents or grandparents donate gobs of money to the annual fund.

Bitter? Because your statement is not true.

It is completely true.

Really? I've heard that unless you're donating money sufficient to build a gym or theatre then get in line (meaning your money isn't buying admissions). And at least for the DCUM community lots of people have mentioned their HHI and I'd say that most of them are not rich. Just because they seem to have more money than you doesn't make the statement "completely true."

The fact that the PP referenced grandparents makes the statement most believable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually, many of them are full of rich kids whose parents or grandparents donate gobs of money to the annual fund.

Bitter? Because your statement is not true.

It is completely true.

Really? I've heard that unless you're donating money sufficient to build a gym or theatre then get in line (meaning your money isn't buying admissions). And at least for the DCUM community lots of people have mentioned their HHI and I'd say that most of them are not rich. Just because they seem to have more money than you doesn't make the statement "completely true."

The fact that the PP referenced grandparents makes the statement most believable.

Ok, Cybil. You'll need a little more to begin to make the argument convincing. There just aren't enough buildings on private school grounds to begin to argue that those schools are "full or rich kids" whose families donated enough money to support a school building.

[Anonymous]

I am so tired of hearing about giftedness in children. The term "gifted" is overused by some parents and educators. Real giftedness is extremely rare. None of the DC area private schools are "filled" with gifted children. None of the magnet public schools are "filled" with gifted children. None of the gifted centers in public schools are "filled" with gifted children. . . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am so tired of hearing about giftedness in children. The term "gifted" is overused by some parents and educators. Real giftedness is extremely rare. None of the DC area private schools are "filled" with gifted children. None of the magnet public schools are "filled" with gifted children. None of the gifted centers in public schools are "filled" with gifted children. . . .

Yep, gifted children mean the top 2% of the bell curve. 2% isn't alot. Some would argue that it's 2%-5% these days due to changes in the testing and norms....but still, not alot. It is statistically impossible to believe that any school is filled with them. Except if that school is actually a gifted school who's mission is to seek out, indentify, and serve gifted kids. Those schools are very rare in these parts but there are a few.

I will say that this area has a higher concentration of them due to it's highly educated population so you will see more per class than say in a small town in the mid-west.