What do UMC Black Families Want (and sometimes not get?) vs What White Families Want and Get?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UMC Af-Am family here. One kid is slightly academically advanced, the other is average. We are NOT WOTP and do not want to be -to us, diversity means more than a few brown kids in the class or neighborhood. That said, we absolutely get NO attention for either kid in the schools. This is in STARK contrast to the similarly-situated white kids at the school - some of whom are given enrichment activities and others who are “average”who are given focus because they might be able to help with PARCC scores. Nobody in the schools sees our kids as anything since we are not low-income, there are no special needs and we are not white. I have been sick to my stomach for two years about this. What do we want? A good education for our kids and schools that are as committed to our type of family as any other type of family. And we do not think we should have to go WOTP for that.

Are you sure about this? We are a white family in a EoTP school and it’s clear that white families are routinely sly ignored. The assumption being that all white kids are UMC and will “be fine” anywhere and aren’t going to bring the PARCC
Scores down. Any hint at differentiation or tracking is shot down. Also no extra stuff in aftercare that would
Cost money since that might leave some
Families out (the implication being families of color).

This has been our experience. I am ok with it. My kid is scoring very high and having fun. Sure I would love more acceleration/differentiation but it isn’t going to happen. The school only has time for the low scoring kids. In the meantime, we buy a ton of books, do enrichment activities, and travel. Assume MS will be more challenging.

Why are ok with this? And middle school will be worse. More behavioral issues and even bigger achievement gaps without tracking. I never u defeat and the mentatioitybof families just letting things slide because they value diversity over academics and good class management.

Because my spouse and I had similar school experiences, it is irrelevant in the long term. We both have PhDs and went to great schools. Nothing was challenging to us until college. It is just the way it is academically. But what is important is peer relationships and navigating social environments. These skills are critical and can’t really be taught. We value diversity because we value people and an equitable society. Segregation is terrible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UMC Af-Am family here. One kid is slightly academically advanced, the other is average. We are NOT WOTP and do not want to be -to us, diversity means more than a few brown kids in the class or neighborhood. That said, we absolutely get NO attention for either kid in the schools. This is in STARK contrast to the similarly-situated white kids at the school - some of whom are given enrichment activities and others who are “average”who are given focus because they might be able to help with PARCC scores. Nobody in the schools sees our kids as anything since we are not low-income, there are no special needs and we are not white. I have been sick to my stomach for two years about this. What do we want? A good education for our kids and schools that are as committed to our type of family as any other type of family. And we do not think we should have to go WOTP for that.

+1 At the coffee shop directly across the street from my in-bound ES we overheard two white teachers excitedly talking about getting four white students in the testing grades next year and that there was a white family touring fourth grade and how that was going to help the school's test scores and I thought it interesting that they automatically correlated white students, sight unseen and knowing nothing about their backgrounds with being good for the school and the school's test scores; if your perception of white students coming into the school is--YAY good test scores, what might your perception be of Black students coming in? Does it depend on what school they are coming from? What you perceive their likelihood to help your test scores to be? What would you base that on, the parent's income? Teachers would not have access to the student's prior test scores or academic achievement until the week before school starts so at this point it's just speculation. Anyway, at my school I too see this catering and clamoring for the attention and approval of the White families and giving them and their children a LOT of privileges that are just not offered to other families...it's no surprise that at schools like this the majority of the PTO/PTA tends to be White UMC parents with young children even though that population is the least represented in the school's larger population.

This thread is about race but the issues are much more about class than race. It's just that in this city class is very closely correlated with race. Are the teachers excited to get white kids?? Or are they excited to get kids from higher income families who are much more likely to be on or above grade level? The reality is that the median income for white families in this city is over $150,000 while it's about $45,000 for blacks. Higher income = higher education = kids who come to school with more skills, less stress, and more outside experiences that contribute to their learning. All kids can be equally bright and talented when they are born, but they are not equally developed by the time they arrive at school or during their time in school. That's generally a function of parental wealth and opportunity. That's what the teachers are responding to -- it's not right. It's very wrong and racist but IMO the worst is not how UMC blacks are sometimes treated but how lower socio-economic class residents are treated.

+1.

Incidentally, the fact that many wealthy, educated parents send their kids to private school doesn't help at all to change these dynamics.

I can't really blame them. The stakes are high and the way black children are treated by teachers is too often different and not positive.

BS.

Teachers love those well-educated AA kids.

I respect the right of their parents to send them to private school, but let's be honest, the reason is to avoid the less-educated AA peers.

In our case, we are not "avoiding" but doing what's best for our kids. When your kid is on grade level or above, they are an after thought. White, Black, Green Yellow, DCPS, Charter, etc. it doesn't matter. Both DCPS and Charters focus on the same cohort. DC has probably the most educated AA community in the country. But for some reason the idea that a "magnet" program will benefit everyone but AAs is deeply ingrained. The expectations are incredibly low and dated.

Couldn't agree more.

This is so depressing. I even worry about this because my kid is old for her grade and so somewhat by default "advanced" and I don't think she gets enough attention. No idea what to do about it though. Charter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UMC Af-Am family here. One kid is slightly academically advanced, the other is average. We are NOT WOTP and do not want to be -to us, diversity means more than a few brown kids in the class or neighborhood. That said, we absolutely get NO attention for either kid in the schools. This is in STARK contrast to the similarly-situated white kids at the school - some of whom are given enrichment activities and others who are “average”who are given focus because they might be able to help with PARCC scores. Nobody in the schools sees our kids as anything since we are not low-income, there are no special needs and we are not white. I have been sick to my stomach for two years about this. What do we want? A good education for our kids and schools that are as committed to our type of family as any other type of family. And we do not think we should have to go WOTP for that.

+1 At the coffee shop directly across the street from my in-bound ES we overheard two white teachers excitedly talking about getting four white students in the testing grades next year and that there was a white family touring fourth grade and how that was going to help the school's test scores and I thought it interesting that they automatically correlated white students, sight unseen and knowing nothing about their backgrounds with being good for the school and the school's test scores; if your perception of white students coming into the school is--YAY good test scores, what might your perception be of Black students coming in? Does it depend on what school they are coming from? What you perceive their likelihood to help your test scores to be? What would you base that on, the parent's income? Teachers would not have access to the student's prior test scores or academic achievement until the week before school starts so at this point it's just speculation. Anyway, at my school I too see this catering and clamoring for the attention and approval of the White families and giving them and their children a LOT of privileges that are just not offered to other families...it's no surprise that at schools like this the majority of the PTO/PTA tends to be White UMC parents with young children even though that population is the least represented in the school's larger population.

This thread is about race but the issues are much more about class than race. It's just that in this city class is very closely correlated with race. Are the teachers excited to get white kids?? Or are they excited to get kids from higher income families who are much more likely to be on or above grade level? The reality is that the median income for white families in this city is over $150,000 while it's about $45,000 for blacks. Higher income = higher education = kids who come to school with more skills, less stress, and more outside experiences that contribute to their learning. All kids can be equally bright and talented when they are born, but they are not equally developed by the time they arrive at school or during their time in school. That's generally a function of parental wealth and opportunity. That's what the teachers are responding to -- it's not right. It's very wrong and racist but IMO the worst is not how UMC blacks are sometimes treated but how lower socio-economic class residents are treated.

+1.

Incidentally, the fact that many wealthy, educated parents send their kids to private school doesn't help at all to change these dynamics.

I can't really blame them. The stakes are high and the way black children are treated by teachers is too often different and not positive.

BS.

Teachers love those well-educated AA kids.

I respect the right of their parents to send them to private school, but let's be honest, the reason is to avoid the less-educated AA peers.

In our case, we are not "avoiding" but doing what's best for our kids. When your kid is on grade level or above, they are an after thought. White, Black, Green Yellow, DCPS, Charter, etc. it doesn't matter. Both DCPS and Charters focus on the same cohort. DC has probably the most educated AA community in the country. But for some reason the idea that a "magnet" program will benefit everyone but AAs is deeply ingrained. The expectations are incredibly low and dated.

Couldn't agree more.

This is so depressing. I even worry about this because my kid is old for her grade and so somewhat by default "advanced" and I don't think she gets enough attention. No idea what to do about it though. Charter.

Charter or private or burbs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:respect
benefit of the doubt
credence
attention

white lives - even to many black people - have greater value/importance than black lives.

school leadership sometimes responds accordingly

I’m an UMC AA woman, and my children attend their IB WotP school. We receive all of those things from teachers and administrators at my children’s school. At my request, my oldest child (who is very academically advanced) has received differentiation EVERY YEAR both inside and outside the classroom. Any concerns that we have voiced have been respectfully addressed.

I don’t think that our experience is isolated, but it probably depends on the school (and the parent).

It probably helps that you are WOTP at a school that is largely filled with White UMC students.

+1000

When the schools are diverse, AA parents have a better chance at their voices being heard. This is one of the reasons that I refused to send DC to our EOTP IB school.

I’m the PP (UMC AA woman). Who knows why for sure, but I do know that our children’s needs are being met by teachers and administrators alike. We (meaning mostly me) have asked for certain accommodations and I usually get them with little to very very little pushback. It probably helps that I don’t treat every little thing as a life or death issue. You have to choose which hill you’re willing to die on.

Respectfully, its the environment. Also, UMC AA families aren't unusual in your school.

We're a MC AA family EOTR. Zoned for some of the worst schools, but DC attends private. My neighbors live a different experience of total disregard and indifference when it comes to city services in general. PP is correct. I've watched some of our community leaders react differently when complaints are from newer White residents. Our zoned MS scores 1% and 3%, respectively, in Math and ELA (PARCC). Therefore, schools like Banneker/SWW/McKinley Tech aren't even an option for these kids. My best friend is a MS Math teacher who is continually frustrated with her colleagues and school leadership for dialing it in. One of her colleagues recently sent a student on an errand to a neighborhood deli during school hours. That ish would NOT fly at Deal. I would love to support my neighborhood pyramid, but I know that it would very likely lead to diminished opportunities for my kid. We have one elem school showing progress (Ketcham) but then you're back to square one at MS.

To answer the OP, I would like to see higher expectations for Black children. In a nutshell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:respect
benefit of the doubt
credence
attention

white lives - even to many black people - have greater value/importance than black lives.

school leadership sometimes responds accordingly

I’m an UMC AA woman, and my children attend their IB WotP school. We receive all of those things from teachers and administrators at my children’s school. At my request, my oldest child (who is very academically advanced) has received differentiation EVERY YEAR both inside and outside the classroom. Any concerns that we have voiced have been respectfully addressed.

I don’t think that our experience is isolated, but it probably depends on the school (and the parent).

It probably helps that you are WOTP at a school that is largely filled with White UMC students.

+1000

When the schools are diverse, AA parents have a better chance at their voices being heard. This is one of the reasons that I refused to send DC to our EOTP IB school.

I’m the PP (UMC AA woman). Who knows why for sure, but I do know that our children’s needs are being met by teachers and administrators alike. We (meaning mostly me) have asked for certain accommodations and I usually get them with little to very very little pushback. It probably helps that I don’t treat every little thing as a life or death issue. You have to choose which hill you’re willing to die on.

Respectfully, its the environment. Also, UMC AA families aren't unusual in your school.

We're a MC AA family EOTR. Zoned for some of the worst schools, but DC attends private. My neighbors live a different experience of total disregard and indifference when it comes to city services in general. PP is correct. I've watched some of our community leaders react differently when complaints are from newer White residents. Our zoned MS scores 1% and 3%, respectively, in Math and ELA (PARCC). Therefore, schools like Banneker/SWW/McKinley Tech aren't even an option for these kids. My best friend is a MS Math teacher who is continually frustrated with her colleagues and school leadership for dialing it in. One of her colleagues recently sent a student on an errand to a neighborhood deli during school hours. That ish would NOT fly at Deal. I would love to support my neighborhood pyramid, but I know that it would very likely lead to diminished opportunities for my kid. We have one elem school showing progress (Ketcham) but then you're back to square one at MS.

To answer the OP, I would like to see higher expectations for Black children. In a nutshell.

I’m the UMC AA woman. Very few things in life are binary. I suspect it’s a combination of things (i.e., our WotP environment, our high expectations, our children’s undeniably high academic achievement, our active school involvement, and the way we interact with teachers and administrators). I have spoken with a few AA parents at our school who are definitely not receiving the same treatment as us.

[Anonymous]

Only white people think that race is no longer an issue. There are numerous posters here saying that they are highly educated AA families and the schools still do not see their well-fed, well-traveled, well-supported and prepared kids as assets. I will add to this: white families at our school with LESS Education overall and LESS income are catered to while we are largely ignored. And we have been pointed in raising this and School officials act like they don’t know what we are talking about - but ai think they do, of course, and simply do not care and are going to continue to cater to white families to bring that demographic percentage up. So, don’t tell me race does not matter. Sheesh. I would hope that the past 2 1/2 years has demonstrated that racis, is alive and well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:respect
benefit of the doubt
credence
attention

white lives - even to many black people - have greater value/importance than black lives.

school leadership sometimes responds accordingly

I’m an UMC AA woman, and my children attend their IB WotP school. We receive all of those things from teachers and administrators at my children’s school. At my request, my oldest child (who is very academically advanced) has received differentiation EVERY YEAR both inside and outside the classroom. Any concerns that we have voiced have been respectfully addressed.

I don’t think that our experience is isolated, but it probably depends on the school (and the parent).

It probably helps that you are WOTP at a school that is largely filled with White UMC students.

+1000

When the schools are diverse, AA parents have a better chance at their voices being heard. This is one of the reasons that I refused to send DC to our EOTP IB school.

I’m the PP (UMC AA woman). Who knows why for sure, but I do know that our children’s needs are being met by teachers and administrators alike. We (meaning mostly me) have asked for certain accommodations and I usually get them with little to very very little pushback. It probably helps that I don’t treat every little thing as a life or death issue. You have to choose which hill you’re willing to die on.

Respectfully, its the environment. Also, UMC AA families aren't unusual in your school.

We're a MC AA family EOTR. Zoned for some of the worst schools, but DC attends private. My neighbors live a different experience of total disregard and indifference when it comes to city services in general. PP is correct. I've watched some of our community leaders react differently when complaints are from newer White residents. Our zoned MS scores 1% and 3%, respectively, in Math and ELA (PARCC). Therefore, schools like Banneker/SWW/McKinley Tech aren't even an option for these kids. My best friend is a MS Math teacher who is continually frustrated with her colleagues and school leadership for dialing it in. One of her colleagues recently sent a student on an errand to a neighborhood deli during school hours. That ish would NOT fly at Deal. I would love to support my neighborhood pyramid, but I know that it would very likely lead to diminished opportunities for my kid. We have one elem school showing progress (Ketcham) but then you're back to square one at MS.

To answer the OP, I would like to see higher expectations for Black children. In a nutshell.

I’m the UMC AA woman. Very few things in life are binary. I suspect it’s a combination of things (i.e., our WotP environment, our high expectations, our children’s undeniably high academic achievement, our active school involvement, and the way we interact with teachers and administrators). I have spoken with a few AA parents at our school who are definitely not receiving the same treatment as us.

DP. If you’re UMC AA (we are too) and WOTP, staff may put you in the category of the “good blacks” and treat you accordingly. I think this is less likely to happen EOTP, where it’s more likely to get lumped in with all the poor AA families they look down on and don’t treat with the respect they deserve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UMC Af-Am family here. One kid is slightly academically advanced, the other is average. We are NOT WOTP and do not want to be -to us, diversity means more than a few brown kids in the class or neighborhood. That said, we absolutely get NO attention for either kid in the schools. This is in STARK contrast to the similarly-situated white kids at the school - some of whom are given enrichment activities and others who are “average”who are given focus because they might be able to help with PARCC scores. Nobody in the schools sees our kids as anything since we are not low-income, there are no special needs and we are not white. I have been sick to my stomach for two years about this. What do we want? A good education for our kids and schools that are as committed to our type of family as any other type of family. And we do not think we should have to go WOTP for that.

Are you sure about this? We are a white family in a EoTP school and it’s clear that white families are routinely sly ignored. The assumption being that all white kids are UMC and will “be fine” anywhere and aren’t going to bring the PARCC
Scores down. Any hint at differentiation or tracking is shot down. Also no extra stuff in aftercare that would
Cost money since that might leave some
Families out (the implication being families of color).

This has been our experience. I am ok with it. My kid is scoring very high and having fun. Sure I would love more acceleration/differentiation but it isn’t going to happen. The school only has time for the low scoring kids. In the meantime, we buy a ton of books, do enrichment activities, and travel. Assume MS will be more challenging.

Not sure why you assume that. How sad, overall.

MS will be worst not better. This is why we are not going the DCPS route at all. All children deserve to be challenged and that is not DCPS priority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UMC Af-Am family here. One kid is slightly academically advanced, the other is average. We are NOT WOTP and do not want to be -to us, diversity means more than a few brown kids in the class or neighborhood. That said, we absolutely get NO attention for either kid in the schools. This is in STARK contrast to the similarly-situated white kids at the school - some of whom are given enrichment activities and others who are “average”who are given focus because they might be able to help with PARCC scores. Nobody in the schools sees our kids as anything since we are not low-income, there are no special needs and we are not white. I have been sick to my stomach for two years about this. What do we want? A good education for our kids and schools that are as committed to our type of family as any other type of family. And we do not think we should have to go WOTP for that.

Are you sure about this? We are a white family in a EoTP school and it’s clear that white families are routinely sly ignored. The assumption being that all white kids are UMC and will “be fine” anywhere and aren’t going to bring the PARCC
Scores down. Any hint at differentiation or tracking is shot down. Also no extra stuff in aftercare that would
Cost money since that might leave some
Families out (the implication being families of color).

This has been our experience. I am ok with it. My kid is scoring very high and having fun. Sure I would love more acceleration/differentiation but it isn’t going to happen. The school only has time for the low scoring kids. In the meantime, we buy a ton of books, do enrichment activities, and travel. Assume MS will be more challenging.

Why are ok with this? And middle school will be worse. More behavioral issues and even bigger achievement gaps without tracking. I never u defeat and the mentatioitybof families just letting things slide because they value diversity over academics and good class management.

Because my spouse and I had similar school experiences, it is irrelevant in the long term. We both have PhDs and went to great schools. Nothing was challenging to us until college. It is just the way it is academically. But what is important is peer relationships and navigating social environments. These skills are critical and can’t really be taught. We value diversity because we value people and an equitable society. Segregation is terrible.

Then you both did not go to schools that challenged you enough. It is not “just the way it is academically.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:respect
benefit of the doubt
credence
attention

white lives - even to many black people - have greater value/importance than black lives.

school leadership sometimes responds accordingly

I’m an UMC AA woman, and my children attend their IB WotP school. We receive all of those things from teachers and administrators at my children’s school. At my request, my oldest child (who is very academically advanced) has received differentiation EVERY YEAR both inside and outside the classroom. Any concerns that we have voiced have been respectfully addressed.

I don’t think that our experience is isolated, but it probably depends on the school (and the parent).

It probably helps that you are WOTP at a school that is largely filled with White UMC students.

It probably also helps that:
We live IB
My husband and I are both lawyers
We are active in the school community
We contribute to the annual fund and auction
Our children are at the top of their classes, bright and (generally) well behaved

Ultimately, who knows the exact combination of things that has caused this school/DCPS to work very well for us. I’m just telling you that it works and we’re happy with the results.

I have doubts about this entire list and whether it indicates anything more than some wild inferences:

We live IB How in the world do you know this helps or matters? At this point almost everyone at a WOTP ES (except for Eaton) is IB or at least using an IB address.

My husband and I are both lawyers This is hardly unusual in a WOTP ES and I'm not sure why it helps to be a lawyer - are people suing to make sure their kids have the right teachers or coming into parent teacher meetings and mentioning where they went to law school and magically getting better service?

We are active in the school community Also not unusual WOTP

This We contribute to the annual fund and auction had better not matter - I'm curious if you think it does and if so which WOTP elementary school is catering to folks who are donating money and how that connection is even being made?

Our children are at the top of their classes which DCPS ES is measuring this? I'd love to know where my child ranks in his class. You can sort of infer their relative standing from the PARCC scores but standardized tests are an imperfect measure and almost all of the WOTP elementary schools score very high on national PARCC measurements with a large number of high performing students.

I'm hoping some folks will post some more substantive examples of things that they aren't able to get - there is this big misconception in DC that people living WOTP are getting some magical level of services that no one EOTP can get. The reality from my perspective is there are a lot of frustrated residents WOTP, often about the same issues.

I'm the poster that you're responding to here. Reading is indeed fundamental (read bolded text again). As I have ALREADY said, I don't know why we haven't encountered the problems that some/many/most AA families on this thread have listed...we just haven't. For the most part, our children's academic and social needs are being met at our IB school. In some instances, I would even say that their school has gone above and beyond expectations. The combination of factors I listed above may be the reason, or they may not.

You sound as if you're disappointed that, as an AA UMC family, I don't have a "woe is me" story to tell about our DCPS experience. That's your problem, not mine.

But you were making the point that there was some combination of things that may have been causing you to get treated better than you otherwise expected to get treated and then offered up a list of characteristics that make you pretty average as far as WOTP parents go.

Maybe the WOTP schools just treat their parents well and while some people are struggling to find grievances that don't exist and are even doing what you did which was to go a step further and explain away why you weren't aggrieved but maybe there was nothing to explain away.

The OP asked a somewhat provocative question that I don't really think has been answered much in this thread - a few folks assume they are being dis-respected and there was a story about an overheard conversation in a coffee shop (that didn't actually prove someone wasn't getting services they deserved) but there aren't many concrete examples listed here which makes me wonder if maybe there isn't an actual problem?

[Anonymous]

PP you will never be convinced that there is a problem. OP asked black educated families to spend their time and emotional labor relaying our experiences, but ultimately, this is not the forum for it. Many of us have done what is best for our kids and moved them to settings that we feel will be most beneficial for them to reach their potential, be that WOTP, certain charters, or private (our choice). Some of you will never be persuaded. For those who are genuinely curious, perhaps raise it with some of the black families you know well IRL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UMC Af-Am family here. One kid is slightly academically advanced, the other is average. We are NOT WOTP and do not want to be -to us, diversity means more than a few brown kids in the class or neighborhood. That said, we absolutely get NO attention for either kid in the schools. This is in STARK contrast to the similarly-situated white kids at the school - some of whom are given enrichment activities and others who are “average”who are given focus because they might be able to help with PARCC scores. Nobody in the schools sees our kids as anything since we are not low-income, there are no special needs and we are not white. I have been sick to my stomach for two years about this. What do we want? A good education for our kids and schools that are as committed to our type of family as any other type of family. And we do not think we should have to go WOTP for that.

Are you sure about this? We are a white family in a EoTP school and it’s clear that white families are routinely sly ignored. The assumption being that all white kids are UMC and will “be fine” anywhere and aren’t going to bring the PARCC
Scores down. Any hint at differentiation or tracking is shot down. Also no extra stuff in aftercare that would
Cost money since that might leave some
Families out (the implication being families of color).

This has been our experience. I am ok with it. My kid is scoring very high and having fun. Sure I would love more acceleration/differentiation but it isn’t going to happen. The school only has time for the low scoring kids. In the meantime, we buy a ton of books, do enrichment activities, and travel. Assume MS will be more challenging.

Why are ok with this? And middle school will be worse. More behavioral issues and even bigger achievement gaps without tracking. I never u defeat and the mentatioitybof families just letting things slide because they value diversity over academics and good class management.

Because my spouse and I had similar school experiences, it is irrelevant in the long term. We both have PhDs and went to great schools. Nothing was challenging to us until college. It is just the way it is academically. But what is important is peer relationships and navigating social environments. These skills are critical and can’t really be taught. We value diversity because we value people and an equitable society. Segregation is terrible.

Then you both did not go to schools that challenged you enough. It is not “just the way it is academically.”

This isn’t Korea or Japan, where kids work like crazy in high school then do little in college. Here in the US, as long as you work hard in college, it’s not the end of the world if you don’t do academics 12 hours a day in high school. Sounds like PP did well starting in college. That’s not too unusual in the US.

[Anonymous]

I'm the poster that you're responding to here. Reading is indeed fundamental (read bolded text again). As I have ALREADY said, I don't know why we haven't encountered the problems that some/many/most AA families on this thread have listed...we just haven't. For the most part, our children's academic and social needs are being met at our IB school. In some instances, I would even say that their school has gone above and beyond expectations. The combination of factors I listed above may be the reason, or they may not.

So it sounds like we have the answer as to why school administrators listen to you. See the bolded: You’re confident and assertive and not afraid to point out when you think people are being idiots.

This is a serious reply. I’m being serious.

We may not need a better explanation than what you provided above.



(P.s. I saw an article about a year ago saying that what prep kids like Jared Kushner get in their schooling isn’t education or smarts, but instead they learn to speak authoritatively and project control over a room. I agree with that- it’s one thing that kids from non-multimillionaire families don’t often learn from their parents. I think this is a big reason for some class divides.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UMC Af-Am family here. One kid is slightly academically advanced, the other is average. We are NOT WOTP and do not want to be -to us, diversity means more than a few brown kids in the class or neighborhood. That said, we absolutely get NO attention for either kid in the schools. This is in STARK contrast to the similarly-situated white kids at the school - some of whom are given enrichment activities and others who are “average”who are given focus because they might be able to help with PARCC scores. Nobody in the schools sees our kids as anything since we are not low-income, there are no special needs and we are not white. I have been sick to my stomach for two years about this. What do we want? A good education for our kids and schools that are as committed to our type of family as any other type of family. And we do not think we should have to go WOTP for that.

Are you sure about this? We are a white family in a EoTP school and it’s clear that white families are routinely sly ignored. The assumption being that all white kids are UMC and will “be fine” anywhere and aren’t going to bring the PARCC
Scores down. Any hint at differentiation or tracking is shot down. Also no extra stuff in aftercare that would
Cost money since that might leave some
Families out (the implication being families of color).

This has been our experience. I am ok with it. My kid is scoring very high and having fun. Sure I would love more acceleration/differentiation but it isn’t going to happen. The school only has time for the low scoring kids. In the meantime, we buy a ton of books, do enrichment activities, and travel. Assume MS will be more challenging.

Why are ok with this? And middle school will be worse. More behavioral issues and even bigger achievement gaps without tracking. I never u defeat and the mentatioitybof families just letting things slide because they value diversity over academics and good class management.

Because my spouse and I had similar school experiences, it is irrelevant in the long term. We both have PhDs and went to great schools. Nothing was challenging to us until college. It is just the way it is academically. But what is important is peer relationships and navigating social environments. These skills are critical and can’t really be taught. We value diversity because we value people and an equitable society. Segregation is terrible.

Then you both did not go to schools that challenged you enough. It is not “just the way it is academically.”

This isn’t Korea or Japan, where kids work like crazy in high school then do little in college. Here in the US, as long as you work hard in college, it’s not the end of the world if you don’t do academics 12 hours a day in high school. Sounds like PP did well starting in college. That’s not too unusual in the US.

I did not say kids had to work like crazy in high school nor did I say you needed academics 12 hours a day in high school. Where did I say that?
I said they were not challenged enough and that this is not the norm. It isn’t.

People can make all the excuses they want for DCPS. Reality is they have no interest in challenging kids at or above grade level. I’m not interested in my kid being bored, ignored, or cruising thru school because it’s too easy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:respect
benefit of the doubt
credence
attention

white lives - even to many black people - have greater value/importance than black lives.

school leadership sometimes responds accordingly

I’m an UMC AA woman, and my children attend their IB WotP school. We receive all of those things from teachers and administrators at my children’s school. At my request, my oldest child (who is very academically advanced) has received differentiation EVERY YEAR both inside and outside the classroom. Any concerns that we have voiced have been respectfully addressed.

I don’t think that our experience is isolated, but it probably depends on the school (and the parent).

It probably helps that you are WOTP at a school that is largely filled with White UMC students.

+1000

When the schools are diverse, AA parents have a better chance at their voices being heard. This is one of the reasons that I refused to send DC to our EOTP IB school.

I’m the PP (UMC AA woman). Who knows why for sure, but I do know that our children’s needs are being met by teachers and administrators alike. We (meaning mostly me) have asked for certain accommodations and I usually get them with little to very very little pushback. It probably helps that I don’t treat every little thing as a life or death issue. You have to choose which hill you’re willing to die on.

Respectfully, its the environment. Also, UMC AA families aren't unusual in your school.

We're a MC AA family EOTR. Zoned for some of the worst schools, but DC attends private. My neighbors live a different experience of total disregard and indifference when it comes to city services in general. PP is correct. I've watched some of our community leaders react differently when complaints are from newer White residents. Our zoned MS scores 1% and 3%, respectively, in Math and ELA (PARCC). Therefore, schools like Banneker/SWW/McKinley Tech aren't even an option for these kids. My best friend is a MS Math teacher who is continually frustrated with her colleagues and school leadership for dialing it in. One of her colleagues recently sent a student on an errand to a neighborhood deli during school hours. That ish would NOT fly at Deal. I would love to support my neighborhood pyramid, but I know that it would very likely lead to diminished opportunities for my kid. We have one elem school showing progress (Ketcham) but then you're back to square one at MS.

To answer the OP, I would like to see higher expectations for Black children. In a nutshell.

And some of the strongest advocates for school change are EOTR and they get ignored by DCPS. Cutting teacher numbers, less resources. This would not fly at Wilson to the extent that Eastern and Anacostia high schools are about to take a hit next year.