Montgomery County vs. Frederick County

[Anonymous]

My wife(Japanese) did not feel comfortable in Frederick County when we lived there for six months. She felt actively ignored in many situations where people would talk to me but not ask her anything. The reality is that diversity is a relatively new aspect for Frederick Co. Some people are still learning how to interact with someone who does no look like them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My wife(Japanese) did not feel comfortable in Frederick County when we lived there for six months. She felt actively ignored in many situations where people would talk to me but not ask her anything. The reality is that diversity is a relatively new aspect for Frederick Co. Some people are still learning how to interact with someone who does no look like them.

Well, this is not the case in our new 'hood. new builds in a relatively small (and well-established) area which was once very rural

There's more diversity in our area than there is in the rest of the town. why? b/c good schools attract people of all races who want a solid educational experience for their kids

I saw this changeover in our former cluster in Mo Co. Growth in diversity was due mainly to an influx of Asians - South and West Asia (or Middle East).

I know it's easy for me to speak about this as a white woman, but as a teacher with over 25 years under my belt in very diverse schools, kids adapt quite well. In our area, however, the expectations are much higher. Kids are expected to be resourceful, as the system isn't catering to their every need. So they bond over academics, not necessarily race/ethnicity, which is a much healthier way to bond imo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My wife(Japanese) did not feel comfortable in Frederick County when we lived there for six months. She felt actively ignored in many situations where people would talk to me but not ask her anything. The reality is that diversity is a relatively new aspect for Frederick Co. Some people are still learning how to interact with someone who does no look like them.

Well, this is not the case in our new 'hood. new builds in a relatively small (and well-established) area which was once very rural

There's more diversity in our area than there is in the rest of the town. why? b/c good schools attract people of all races who want a solid educational experience for their kids

I saw this changeover in our former cluster in Mo Co. Growth in diversity was due mainly to an influx of Asians - South and West Asia (or Middle East).

I know it's easy for me to speak about this as a white woman, but as a teacher with over 25 years under my belt in very diverse schools, kids adapt quite well. In our area, however, the expectations are much higher. Kids are expected to be resourceful, as the system isn't catering to their every need. So they bond over academics, not necessarily race/ethnicity, which is a much healthier way to bond imo.

DP.. I can appreciate your perspective as a teacher, but as an Asian person myself with biracial children, I don't want my children to go to school where they are only a handful or "only". It's important for minority children to see others who look like them. Most of the people you see in media are still majority white. If they see mostly white faces in school, too, where are they going to see people like them?

I have seen firsthand what it is like for children who are the "only" in a sea of white kids. It was hard for the minority children. Why would I purposefully put my child in that position when I have alternatives?

I don't have a problem with Frederick County, though. I happen to like their downtown. But as far as living there, and having my kids go to school there, I would probably pass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My wife(Japanese) did not feel comfortable in Frederick County when we lived there for six months. She felt actively ignored in many situations where people would talk to me but not ask her anything. The reality is that diversity is a relatively new aspect for Frederick Co. Some people are still learning how to interact with someone who does no look like them.

Well, this is not the case in our new 'hood. new builds in a relatively small (and well-established) area which was once very rural

There's more diversity in our area than there is in the rest of the town. why? b/c good schools attract people of all races who want a solid educational experience for their kids

I saw this changeover in our former cluster in Mo Co. Growth in diversity was due mainly to an influx of Asians - South and West Asia (or Middle East).

I know it's easy for me to speak about this as a white woman, but as a teacher with over 25 years under my belt in very diverse schools, kids adapt quite well. In our area, however, the expectations are much higher. Kids are expected to be resourceful, as the system isn't catering to their every need. So they bond over academics, not necessarily race/ethnicity, which is a much healthier way to bond imo.

DP.. I can appreciate your perspective as a teacher, but as an Asian person myself with biracial children, I don't want my children to go to school where they are only a handful or "only". It's important for minority children to see others who look like them. Most of the people you see in media are still majority white. If they see mostly white faces in school, too, where are they going to see people like them?

I have seen firsthand what it is like for children who are the "only" in a sea of white kids. It was hard for the minority children. Why would I purposefully put my child in that position when I have alternatives?

I don't have a problem with Frederick County, though. I happen to like their downtown. But as far as living there, and having my kids go to school there, I would probably pass.

I think it depends on where in Frederick your family would live. I live in the Villages of Urbana which seems quite diverse and have been very happy with the schools. I don't think I'd want to live north of here though because I do have a friend whose husband was given grief for his ethnicity at a park up in Thurmont.

[Anonymous]

Thurmont is Klan country. I don’t think the rest of Frederick is that bad, but I certainly don’t feel as comfortable there as I feel in CCMD, where I am still a black woman and obviously not wealthy. I’m likely to get followed in a store in any predominantly white area but Urbana was the only place I’ve been in the DC area that everyone openly stared at me. I get that subtle racism is still racism, but sometimes I’ll take the subtle over the open hostility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thurmont is Klan country. I don’t think the rest of Frederick is that bad, but I certainly don’t feel as comfortable there as I feel in CCMD, where I am still a black woman and obviously not wealthy. I’m likely to get followed in a store in any predominantly white area but Urbana was the only place I’ve been in the DC area that everyone openly stared at me. I get that subtle racism is still racism, but sometimes I’ll take the subtle over the open hostility.

I should clarify that not everyone in Urban stared at me. Everyone working in the store stared.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My wife(Japanese) did not feel comfortable in Frederick County when we lived there for six months. She felt actively ignored in many situations where people would talk to me but not ask her anything. The reality is that diversity is a relatively new aspect for Frederick Co. Some people are still learning how to interact with someone who does no look like them.

Well, this is not the case in our new 'hood. new builds in a relatively small (and well-established) area which was once very rural

There's more diversity in our area than there is in the rest of the town. why? b/c good schools attract people of all races who want a solid educational experience for their kids

I saw this changeover in our former cluster in Mo Co. Growth in diversity was due mainly to an influx of Asians - South and West Asia (or Middle East).

I know it's easy for me to speak about this as a white woman, but as a teacher with over 25 years under my belt in very diverse schools, kids adapt quite well. In our area, however, the expectations are much higher. Kids are expected to be resourceful, as the system isn't catering to their every need. So they bond over academics, not necessarily race/ethnicity, which is a much healthier way to bond imo.

Villages of Urbana? I like the look of it, and I think many Asian families move there if they need a bigger, cheaper house for generational living. Too far for our commute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My wife(Japanese) did not feel comfortable in Frederick County when we lived there for six months. She felt actively ignored in many situations where people would talk to me but not ask her anything. The reality is that diversity is a relatively new aspect for Frederick Co. Some people are still learning how to interact with someone who does no look like them.

Well, this is not the case in our new 'hood. new builds in a relatively small (and well-established) area which was once very rural

There's more diversity in our area than there is in the rest of the town. why? b/c good schools attract people of all races who want a solid educational experience for their kids

I saw this changeover in our former cluster in Mo Co. Growth in diversity was due mainly to an influx of Asians - South and West Asia (or Middle East).

I know it's easy for me to speak about this as a white woman, but as a teacher with over 25 years under my belt in very diverse schools, kids adapt quite well. In our area, however, the expectations are much higher. Kids are expected to be resourceful, as the system isn't catering to their every need. So they bond over academics, not necessarily race/ethnicity, which is a much healthier way to bond imo.

Villages of Urbana? I like the look of it, and I think many Asian families move there if they need a bigger, cheaper house for generational living. Too far for our commute.

You would be surprised how many people commute from Urbana and Thurmont. 70% of the traffic passing through Frederick during rush hour is coming from PA and West VA

[Anonymous]

Can someone update about these days situation of Urbana schools? I am thinking of moving there from Montgomery county for my kids education, but I am not sure it is a good move or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone update about these days situation of Urbana schools? I am thinking of moving there from Montgomery county for my kids education, but I am not sure it is a good move or not.

You should start a new thread in the MD school forum, since you aren’t asking about MCPS. Or ask to have this one moved.

[Anonymous]

I live on the county line of Moco and Frederick Co. As soon as I turn on 75, I have insurgent row with flags of Trump 2020, Blue Lives Matter, Don't treat on me, and God Bless America stickers all over their trucks. Ot one house but an ENTIRE row of homes. It is like that in Monrovia, Ijamsville, Mount Airy, and parts of Damascus. I feel surrounded by this but thankful I am in the one neighborhood that zones to Moco schools. I could never send my black girls to Windsor Knolls or Green Valley. So, yes, I would not choose Frederick Co. as I know they will not accept my children with kindness when hate literally covers large swaths of the county.

[Anonymous]

^ tread and Not

[Anonymous]

I'm a MCPS teacher who lives in the Villages of Urbana. Very happy with the schools up here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live on the county line of Moco and Frederick Co. As soon as I turn on 75, I have insurgent row with flags of Trump 2020, Blue Lives Matter, Don't treat on me, and God Bless America stickers all over their trucks. Ot one house but an ENTIRE row of homes. It is like that in Monrovia, Ijamsville, Mount Airy, and parts of Damascus. I feel surrounded by this but thankful I am in the one neighborhood that zones to Moco schools. I could never send my black girls to Windsor Knolls or Green Valley. So, yes, I would not choose Frederick Co. as I know they will not accept my children with kindness when hate literally covers large swaths of the county.

It’s not like that in Urbana.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live on the county line of Moco and Frederick Co. As soon as I turn on 75, I have insurgent row with flags of Trump 2020, Blue Lives Matter, Don't treat on me, and God Bless America stickers all over their trucks. Ot one house but an ENTIRE row of homes. It is like that in Monrovia, Ijamsville, Mount Airy, and parts of Damascus. I feel surrounded by this but thankful I am in the one neighborhood that zones to Moco schools. I could never send my black girls to Windsor Knolls or Green Valley. So, yes, I would not choose Frederick Co. as I know they will not accept my children with kindness when hate literally covers large swaths of the county.

It’s not like that in Urbana.

It's not like that in Landsdale in Monrovia either, but outside of that community, absolutely.