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:

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.

Don't those schools have fewer students next year? They don't need to keep the same number of teachers for fewer students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

Don't those schools have fewer students next year? They don't need to keep the same number of teachers for fewer students.

EOTR parent here. I would argue that cutting resources at a failing school is not the way to go. Smaller classrooms and more individualized attention is probably more appropriate. Anacostia's graduation rate is 59%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

Don't those schools have fewer students next year? They don't need to keep the same number of teachers for fewer students.

+1.

And we know that a significant number of kids don't even show up to class.

[Anonymous]

We need to do what Montgomery County does.

Smaller class sizes across the board at Title 1 schools, and larger class sizes at the schools where students not disadvantaged.

The needs are not the same and the per-pupil funding level shouldn't be either. The plus ups the disadvantaged schools get now are quite small on a per-pupil basis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

Don't those schools have fewer students next year? They don't need to keep the same number of teachers for fewer students.

EOTR parent here. I would argue that cutting resources at a failing school is not the way to go. Smaller classrooms and more individualized attention is probably more appropriate. Anacostia's graduation rate is 59%.

Sometimes they do need to. A class of 24 students requires 1 teacher just like a class of 25 students does. And they are obligated to meet IEPs and offer certain subjects and classes. It isn't as closely tied to enrollment as you might think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

Don't those schools have fewer students next year? They don't need to keep the same number of teachers for fewer students.

+1.

And we know that a significant number of kids don't even show up to class.

This is a textbook equality vs equity question! They would greatly benefit from smaller teacher: student ratios to provide more support for students who are obviously the furthest away from opportunity. Perhaps with less students they would actually have time to reach out to the families of students that are not coming to school and provide supports to get kids in seats

[Anonymous]

credit and taxis?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:credit and taxis?

generational wealth

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Hi it's your friendly OP again. Your points are certainly true. I asked people to share something painful, and motivations can be mixed and complicated. I certainly want to talk to fellow parents at my kids' school east of the Park.

My motivation for asking it here was to get a chance to ask a lot of people at once (plus anonymously). I'm guess I'm not too surprised that there's more argument than information here; this IS the same DCUM it has always been...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Look you can keep b%^&ing or do something

Do you realize what white people do? Do you go to real people in power and complain like your council members, DME folks, etc and complain? That is how you actually get stuff done

[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.

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.

They are taking a hit because they are loosing population. Also why anyone would willingly send their child there is beyond me. You should be going to an application school

Again the main theme is higher income blacks are just like higher income whites. You have 3 choices WOTP, charters/application or private. DCPS is a joke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We need to do what Montgomery County does.

Smaller class sizes across the board at Title 1 schools, and larger class sizes at the schools where students not disadvantaged.

The needs are not the same and the per-pupil funding level shouldn't be either. The plus ups the disadvantaged schools get now are quite small on a per-pupil basis.

We do. I thought smaller classes was a key part of Title 1, no?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

They are taking a hit because they are loosing population. Also why anyone would willingly send their child there is beyond me. You should be going to an application school

Again the main theme is higher income blacks are just like higher income whites. You have 3 choices WOTP, charters/application or private. DCPS is a joke.

Don't follow. PP mentioned MS black hole but there are no application schools until HS. PP also made positive reference to Deal, which is WOTP and none of the above.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Hi it's your friendly OP again. Your points are certainly true. I asked people to share something painful, and motivations can be mixed and complicated. I certainly want to talk to fellow parents at my kids' school east of the Park.

My motivation for asking it here was to get a chance to ask a lot of people at once (plus anonymously). I'm guess I'm not too surprised that there's more argument than information here; this IS the same DCUM it has always been...

PP here. I commented given some of the gaslighting that is going on in the thread--some PPs are questioning the validity of perspectives from the handful of AA PPs who've responded. But yes, you should also be aware of what your ask is of a group that may feel less welcome here--even my white friends have called out the racism on this site. It's often subtle and goes unreported.

Also keep in mind that there may not be many UMC AA families on this site, especially in the DC public schools forum. So I'm not sure you're going to get the fruitful discussion you're hoping for here. I've offered my perspective on other threads that specifically ask about race, only to get racist comments in response, so I'm more reticent recently to even comment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

They are taking a hit because they are loosing population. Also why anyone would willingly send their child there is beyond me. You should be going to an application school

Again the main theme is higher income blacks are just like higher income whites. You have 3 choices WOTP, charters/application or private. DCPS is a joke.

Good luck on the charter front over the next few years. Facility costs, organized activism against charters, politicians working against charter schools and lack of any organized advocacy for charters by parents is undermining the entire charter sector. Then good luck when we are all back to having only two choices.