Capital Cotillion for Beauvoir Son

[Anonymous]

Exactly! This is why I find these organizations to be disgusting and completely counter to my family's values of inclusiveness and diversity. I know many parents who send their children to private school say that they want "diversity", but they also want the best education. I know DC public schools can be bad, but do you really want to go to this extreme where you children are only exposed to other wealthy children who come from similar backgrounds and socio-economic circumstances?

CC and Mrs. Simpson's discriminate on many levels. They are not simply "businesses" who are open to all patrons. They are as bad as country clubs that exclude women or people of color!

[Anonymous]

CC and Mrs. Simpson's have no interest in inviting public school children to participate. 13:10's tongue-in-cheek response is right.

[Anonymous]

can I ask how diverse these cotillion events are? Are there any Asian, Latin or African American families invited?

[Anonymous]

PP here. One of the PPs is right, if CC or Mrs. Simpson's included no African Americans, I would be much more likely to assume a horrible discriminatory intent, since it would presumably take some effort and intent for the school to identify children of a particular race and then to exclude them intentionally from mailing lists, etc. For a business offering children's programs to send invites to kids from schools where they've had recruiting success before, however, doesn't seem to me to rise to that level. And from what I've read on DCUM, many people have found the area private schools to have greater diversity than many public schools, and have no idea what the ethnic or other make-up of the classes are. Again, maybe I'm missing something, but have public school parents attempted to offer to coordinate names and addresses for their schools and been rejected? Have parents of kids in public school tried to sign up and been rejected from CC? If whats being said about these places is true, I certainly would never send my children, I just hate the idea of businesses being slammed for what may be lore, assumptions, or an outdated reality. Does anyone have any direct experience with having been rejected from CC or Mrs. Simpson's? I think it would be useful in clarifying the facts.

[Anonymous]

Mrs. Simpson's and CC have a sprinkling of racial diversity but not much. Mrs. Simpsons's has a documented anti-semitic past.

[Anonymous]

Until we get confirmation about public school kids being invited AND accepted, I stand by my opinion that these groups discriminate. I don't know any public school kids who have been invited.

[Anonymous]

why doesn't someone who is really interested in this contact the local news - this would make for an interesting consumer report segment.

i am reading this as a voyeur but have no interest in sending my kids, so i am not the irate consumer they are looking for.

[Anonymous]

I have been reading this thread with a bit of interest but the latest posting just appall me, especially the link to the article. I am so tired of parents who do not take responsibility for their children's manners and behavior. My children have known that saying "please" and "thank you" and "may I" are required since they started speaking. They know to look a grown-up in the eye and shake hands. And, not just to parents but to nannies and au pairs and wait staff and maids etc... Everyone is to be treated with kindness and courtesy at all times. We also chose an independent school that appreciates and encourages this in the students. We have taken our children to dinner at (casual and fine) restaurants, at our clubs, and at friends' houses with regularity since they were babies and they (both under eight) know the outlines of proper behavior (sitting politely, no elbows, no speaking with food in your mouth) even if they don't yet know which fork is for which course. These things are not that difficult to instill if you spend time with your children and have proper manners yourself. Also, for goodnesss sakes, writing a thank you note should be the job of the child, not the parents, and second nature, by the time you are 7 or 8! The article referenced above is so sad, these parents seem so clueless. Their children are probably poorly behaved because they have not been set a proper example. Yes, when/if my childen are invited to Mrs. Simpson's they will go BUT, they will certainly already be capable of the basics of good behavior. This type of class has been around for generations. Its for polishing, not for the basics!!

[Anonymous]

Your child is not a piece of silverware.

Your child can perfectly well learn manners -- behavior that shows others thoughtfulness and kindness -- at home. You do not need to subject your child to these silly, elistist organizations which instill in them that they are somehow superior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have been reading this thread with a bit of interest but the latest posting just appall me, especially the link to the article. I am so tired of parents who do not take responsibility for their children's manners and behavior. My children have known that saying "please" and "thank you" and "may I" are required since they started speaking. They know to look a grown-up in the eye and shake hands. And, not just to parents but to nannies and au pairs and wait staff and maids etc... Everyone is to be treated with kindness and courtesy at all times. We also chose an independent school that appreciates and encourages this in the students. We have taken our children to dinner at (casual and fine) restaurants, at our clubs, and at friends' houses with regularity since they were babies and they (both under eight) know the outlines of proper behavior (sitting politely, no elbows, no speaking with food in your mouth) even if they don't yet know which fork is for which course. These things are not that difficult to instill if you spend time with your children and have proper manners yourself. Also, for goodnesss sakes, writing a thank you note should be the job of the child, not the parents, and second nature, by the time you are 7 or 8! The article referenced above is so sad, these parents seem so clueless. Their children are probably poorly behaved because they have not been set a proper example. Yes, when/if my childen are invited to Mrs. Simpson's they will go BUT, they will certainly already be capable of the basics of good behavior. This type of class has been around for generations. Its for polishing, not for the basics!!

I can't help but think this person is pulling our leg. Who writes about talking to au pairs and maids with courtesy? Or makes a point about a child behaving well at 'our clubs'? If you are real, person, then Mrs. Simpson's is definitely for you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have been reading this thread with a bit of interest but the latest posting just appall me, especially the link to the article. I am so tired of parents who do not take responsibility for their children's manners and behavior. My children have known that saying "please" and "thank you" and "may I" are required since they started speaking. They know to look a grown-up in the eye and shake hands. And, not just to parents but to nannies and au pairs and wait staff and maids etc... Everyone is to be treated with kindness and courtesy at all times. We also chose an independent school that appreciates and encourages this in the students. We have taken our children to dinner at (casual and fine) restaurants, at our clubs, and at friends' houses with regularity since they were babies and they (both under eight) know the outlines of proper behavior (sitting politely, no elbows, no speaking with food in your mouth) even if they don't yet know which fork is for which course. These things are not that difficult to instill if you spend time with your children and have proper manners yourself. Also, for goodnesss sakes, writing a thank you note should be the job of the child, not the parents, and second nature, by the time you are 7 or 8! The article referenced above is so sad, these parents seem so clueless. Their children are probably poorly behaved because they have not been set a proper example. Yes, when/if my childen are invited to Mrs. Simpson's they will go BUT, they will certainly already be capable of the basics of good behavior. This type of class has been around for generations. Its for polishing, not for the basics!!

Oh! Would that I should be as perfect as thee!

[Anonymous]

11:11, I don't think this person is kidding at all. I have a sick feeling it's a very real person.

[zumbamama]

I think I will start a Zumbatillion. Everyone will be invited. We will learn customs and etiquette from all over the world. We will celebrate each other's differences. We'll learn to accept each other no matter where we are from, what we look like or how much money we have. And we will definitely learn how to dance. : ) couldn't resist.

[Anonymous]

That sounds like a lot healthier option all around! And a lot more fun!

I am a military brat and we did not have Cotillion when I was living overseas, but my parents instilled manners in us and respect for everyone around - people from different cultures, different socio-economic backgrounds, etc. I just don't see what this type of activity really adds, especially if your child is already in an exclusive environment. It just seems so discriminatory!

[Anonymous]

zumbamama wrote:I think I will start a Zumbatillion. Everyone will be invited. We will learn customs and etiquette from all over the world. We will celebrate each other's differences. We'll learn to accept each other no matter where we are from, what we look like or how much money we have. And we will definitely learn how to dance. : ) couldn't resist.

I LOVE it!!!