WTF is Focus?

[Anonymous]

Do they ALWAYS schedule it on the night of the dance because dancing is not Christian-like?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is Focus club? Can someone please fill me I don't quite understand.

It’s a “Christian” “Bible study” for kids who go to expensive private schools. It seems to be halfway sanctioned by the schools. The combination of not inviting all students and hosting summer camp in Martha’s Vineyard makes it an ideal for elitism. It’s a youth group for rich kids.

What schools are typically involved?

We know a lot of kids from the Heights who do Focus. People here clearly have an agenda about the program - I love how the thread was started by an angry mom who was disappointed that her DC had to attend a school dance with low attendance due to a Focus event - but we've heard only good things about it

It’s really weird for a school to sanction an exclusive Bible study program the same night as a school dance. She’s got a point. It’s a very bad look for the school.

VERY bad look. How are these kids ever going to succeed in life if they can’t get the benefit of a well-attended middle school dance? I’d be pissed too if I wasted money buying my DD a new dress only to have her joy of wearing it be stolen by a bunch of bible thumping weirdos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:VERY bad look. How are these kids ever going to succeed in life if they can’t get the benefit of a well-attended middle school dance? I’d be pissed too if I wasted money buying my DD a new dress only to have her joy of wearing it be stolen by a bunch of bible thumping weirdos.

The school's image isn't define by student who chose bible study over the school dance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is Focus club? Can someone please fill me I don't quite understand.

It’s a “Christian” “Bible study” for kids who go to expensive private schools. It seems to be halfway sanctioned by the schools. The combination of not inviting all students and hosting summer camp in Martha’s Vineyard makes it an ideal for elitism. It’s a youth group for rich kids.

What schools are typically involved?

We know a lot of kids from the Heights who do Focus. People here clearly have an agenda about the program - I love how the thread was started by an angry mom who was disappointed that her DC had to attend a school dance with low attendance due to a Focus event - but we've heard only good things about it

It’s really weird for a school to sanction an exclusive Bible study program the same night as a school dance. She’s got a point. It’s a very bad look for the school.

Is it actually exclusive? I've never heard of anything that could be described as "bible study" that wouldn't take all comers.

[Anonymous]

For those who are actually interested in facts vs. polemics and flame throwing, here is a link to their site. While I don't have children who attend a school whose students have a FOCUS group, I wish I did, as I have known families who have found it to be a wonderful experience grounding kids in lasting, positive, healthy relationships that last a lifetime.

https://infocus.org/

[Anonymous]

Wow, the national group’s leadership looks very…white.

https://infocus.org/about/national-ministry/

[Anonymous]

FOCUS I think is like a Christian club. They had this at NCS a decade ago.

[Anonymous]

It is naive to say it’s open to all. It is really not. It is spread by word of mouth only. That’s just another way of saying it’s not for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do they ALWAYS schedule it on the night of the dance because dancing is not Christian-like?

I was wondering if the scheduling was intentional too?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do they ALWAYS schedule it on the night of the dance because dancing is not Christian-like?

I was wondering if the scheduling was intentional too?

Of course it was. These groups always tend to try to compete with other social events. It really helps with their recruitment and attendance numbers.

[Anonymous]

NCS Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School all have FOCUS

[Anonymous]

...sorry clicked enter before I was done...

NCS Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School all have FOCUS in concert with STA. From what I can tell, it's not inclusive of all (only kids who identify as white [even one who is clearly mixed, but OK] are in FOCUS), but "perhaps" that's not intentional. There was an email or message that went out to all parents welcoming anyone who would like to attend. That being said, even though I am a Christian, it felt like it was nothing more than another way for rich, elite, white families to curate a specific type of group of friends for their kids (for dating and even possibly marriage in the future), and in reality had very little, if anything at all, to do with actually being a bible study group. In fact, I would say some of the NCS girls who attend are the daughters of the "mean moms" click. Hard to believe those same moms would enroll their girls in a group that's actually about true Christian values (and not this crazy MAGA Christian thing that's taken root). That was enough for it to be a turn off for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
...sorry clicked enter before I was done...

NCS Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School all have FOCUS in concert with STA. From what I can tell, it's not inclusive of all (only kids who identify as white [even one who is clearly mixed, but OK] are in FOCUS), but "perhaps" that's not intentional. There was an email or message that went out to all parents welcoming anyone who would like to attend. That being said, even though I am a Christian, it felt like it was nothing more than another way for rich, elite, white families to curate a specific type of group of friends for their kids (for dating and even possibly marriage in the future), and in reality had very little, if anything at all, to do with actually being a bible study group. In fact, I would say some of the NCS girls who attend are the daughters of the "mean moms" click. Hard to believe those same moms would enroll their girls in a group that's actually about true Christian values (and not this crazy MAGA Christian thing that's taken root). That was enough for it to be a turn off for me.

You obviously do not have a student in upper school at NCS or STA but have decided to spread completely false information. Upper school Focus at STA/NCS is full of non-white students and one of the Focus staff is not white.

[Anonymous]

FULL of non-white students?
Doubt that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is naive to say it’s open to all. It is really not. It is spread by word of mouth only. That’s just another way of saying it’s not for everyone.

It is open to all students at my child's school.