Let's Talk About African - American Children

[Anonymous]

For the life of me, I wish I could figure out this "nicer families" code.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
No, he wasn't subject to a different discipline standard, DS has a pretty easy going temperment. I have noticed that the more rambunctious AA boys are dealt with differently. We never felt that there was a reduction in expectations at Beauvoir, per se. Not until the outplacement director suggested we choose Lowell over STA. We hadn't considered Lowell. Didn't feel that its curriculum was rigorous enough for DS so didn't bother to apply. Too gray to read anything into the outplacement's director suggestion. Could have been based more so in regards to his temperment. She may have placed us in the "nicer" family pile.

A few questions for you former AA Beauvoir Mom . . .

1. You said, "I have noticed that the more rambunctious AA boys are dealt with differently." How does Beauvoir define rambunctious based upon your experiences with the school?

2. Was STA the Outplacement Directors first choice for your AA son and Lowell a back up option or vice versa?

3. While at Beauvoir did you ever have to address any discrepencies in discipline and expectations with teachers, division heads, or the head of school? If so how was this handled and do you feel that you were viewed differently following this interaction/s?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not AA, but one of the reasons we chose my DS school was for the diversity (our public school is not diverse). He is at Capitol Hill Day School and the percentage of AA children is in the high 30's. His class is 40% AA. As I understand the history of the school AA families were among the founding families. At least as I have observed friendships among kids and parents do not divide along racial (or any other) lines at all.

OP, I'd think long and hard before deciding on a private/independent school for your child.

I'm a public school teacher who works in a school that's majority minority (great oxymoron!). I also live in the same school district where I've taught some of the neighbor's kids. Because our area offers "choice," I've seen neighborhoods divided over racial lines. You won't hear people say that. Instead, you'll hear that "School X is a better fit for my child." (FWIW, my school is almost half AA, about 20% Hispanic, and about 15% each for whites and Asians.)

I like examining the websites of these of private/independent schools simply because I like to keep abreast of educational philosophies. However, being a public educator, I'm obviously a proponent of our local school systems. Nevertheless, b/c I also believe that most parents know what's best for their children, I would strongly encourage you to follow the above PP's advice above and visit Capital Hill Day School. You want an institution where race truly does not matter, and when I read that there are 4 AAs in a class, for example, it truly amazes me, as do some of the remarks I've seen on this forum - "My best friend is African American," for example. (Who cares? A best friend is a best friend. Should that statement be qualified with a racial description?)

Take some time to review their website. Here's the welcome letter from the head of the school - http://www.chds.org/template/page.cfm?id=2

Remember that your best guide is your intuition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not AA, but one of the reasons we chose my DS school was for the diversity (our public school is not diverse). He is at Capitol Hill Day School and the percentage of AA children is in the high 30's. His class is 40% AA. As I understand the history of the school AA families were among the founding families. At least as I have observed friendships among kids and parents do not divide along racial (or any other) lines at all.

OP, I'd think long and hard before deciding on a private/independent school for your child.

I'm a public school teacher who works in a school that's majority minority (great oxymoron!). I also live in the same school district where I've taught some of the neighbor's kids. Because our area offers "choice," I've seen neighborhoods divided over racial lines. You won't hear people say that. Instead, you'll hear that "School X is a better fit for my child." (FWIW, my school is almost half AA, about 20% Hispanic, and about 15% each for whites and Asians.)

I like examining the websites of these of private/independent schools simply because I like to keep abreast of educational philosophies. However, being a public educator, I'm obviously a proponent of our local school systems. Nevertheless, b/c I also believe that most parents know what's best for their children, I would strongly encourage you to follow the above PP's advice above and visit Capital Hill Day School. You want an institution where race truly does not matter, and when I read that there are 4 AAs in a class, for example, it truly amazes me, as do some of the remarks I've seen on this forum - "My best friend is African American," for example. (Who cares? A best friend is a best friend. Should that statement be qualified with a racial description?)

Take some time to review their website. Here's the welcome letter from the head of the school - http://www.chds.org/template/page.cfm?id=2

Remember that your best guide is your intuition.

Just curirous if you work in public school why are you promoting CHDS? Do you have a child that attends this school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not AA, but one of the reasons we chose my DS school was for the diversity (our public school is not diverse). He is at Capitol Hill Day School and the percentage of AA children is in the high 30's. His class is 40% AA. As I understand the history of the school AA families were among the founding families. At least as I have observed friendships among kids and parents do not divide along racial (or any other) lines at all.

OP, I'd think long and hard before deciding on a private/independent school for your child.

I'm a public school teacher who works in a school that's majority minority (great oxymoron!). I also live in the same school district where I've taught some of the neighbor's kids. Because our area offers "choice," I've seen neighborhoods divided over racial lines. You won't hear people say that. Instead, you'll hear that "School X is a better fit for my child." (FWIW, my school is almost half AA, about 20% Hispanic, and about 15% each for whites and Asians.)

I like examining the websites of these of private/independent schools simply because I like to keep abreast of educational philosophies. However, being a public educator, I'm obviously a proponent of our local school systems. Nevertheless, b/c I also believe that most parents know what's best for their children, I would strongly encourage you to follow the above PP's advice above and visit Capital Hill Day School. You want an institution where race truly does not matter, and when I read that there are 4 AAs in a class, for example, it truly amazes me, as do some of the remarks I've seen on this forum - "My best friend is African American," for example. (Who cares? A best friend is a best friend. Should that statement be qualified with a racial description?)

Take some time to review their website. Here's the welcome letter from the head of the school - http://www.chds.org/template/page.cfm?id=2

Remember that your best guide is your intuition.

Just curirous if you work in public school why are you promoting CHDS? Do you have a child that attends this school?

no, no children at the school - And even if private were a consideration for us, with a two-teacher household, tuition is out of reach.

Having said that, I do believe that there are solid private institutions that meet the needs of many parents. My concern is that too many of them preach diversity for the sake of looking good. A person who creates an academic institution first must truly love all children, regardless of differences. Then, of course, s/he must have experience in teaching all types of learners of all different backgrounds.

Generally, there is a certain "feel" when you walk into a school that stems from the culture. Examine the parents, too. You'll notice differences from school to school.

And FWIW, I have many friends who have either worked at private/independent schools or who have enrolled their children there - many of them also educators (with spouses who aren't in teaching. 8) )

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
No, he wasn't subject to a different discipline standard, DS has a pretty easy going temperment. I have noticed that the more rambunctious AA boys are dealt with differently. We never felt that there was a reduction in expectations at Beauvoir, per se. Not until the outplacement director suggested we choose Lowell over STA. We hadn't considered Lowell. Didn't feel that its curriculum was rigorous enough for DS so didn't bother to apply. Too gray to read anything into the outplacement's director suggestion. Could have been based more so in regards to his temperment. She may have placed us in the "nicer" family pile.

A few questions for you former AA Beauvoir Mom . . .

1. You said, "I have noticed that the more rambunctious AA boys are dealt with differently." How does Beauvoir define rambunctious based upon your experiences with the school?

2. Was STA the Outplacement Directors first choice for your AA son and Lowell a back up option or vice versa?

3. While at Beauvoir did you ever have to address any discrepencies in discipline and expectations with teachers, division heads, or the head of school? If so how was this handled and do you feel that you were viewed differently following this interaction/s?

The AA boys parents are definitely called in quicker whenever there are behavioral problems. During the outplacement process, some of these parents of sons who the school had labeled as problems felt that their sons were penalized as a result.

No, Lowell and GDS was the outplacement director's first choice for my son.

Beauvoir (teachers, classroom and resource) treated my son wonderfully. Injected confidence in him when he needed it and applauded his successes.