The Real Problem With D.C. Public Schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Brains are brains. Poverty, race and all the rest of the red herrings that everyone keeps throwing around here have absolutely nothing to do with anything. All other things being equal, a poor child's brain is every bit as capable of learning as a wealthy child's brain, and it doesn't matter if that brain is white, black, latino, asian, or whatever. There is no meaningful difference at the most fundamental level to impede learning.

So what you are saying is that family, community and peer expectations have no bearing on academic outcomes? Are you saying that SES has no bearing on achievement??

I think I know what you are trying to say. If ALL things were equal.... But they are not Blanche, they're not.

[Anonymous]

Brains are brains. Poverty, race and all the rest of the red herrings that everyone keeps throwing around here have absolutely nothing to do with anything. All other things being equal, a poor child's brain is every bit as capable of learning as a wealthy child's brain, and it doesn't matter if that brain is white, black, latino, asian, or whatever. There is no meaningful difference at the most fundamental level to impede learning.

So what do you make of all the talk about the Achievement Gap?

[Anonymous]

Did someone say wealthy can buy you out of stupid and dangerous. Scary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did someone say wealthy can buy you out of stupid and dangerous. Scary.

Yes. With enough family wealth, you can live in a nice, safe neighborhood. Even if you're not too smart, the sort of bad actors who might tempt you into stupid behavior (petty crime) are not present.

Without any wealth at all, you might find yourself living in a dangerous and unsafe neighborhood. Even if you're a bright, well-intentioned child, you may constantly be needled and provoked by bad actors who surround you. They may taunt you and try to discourage you from your goals. There may be few strong characters in the neighborhood to provide good examples.

So yes, wealthy can buy you out of stupid and dangerous. You seriously disagree? Hell, it bought Teddy Kennedy out of years behind bars for DUI and the manslaughter of Mary Jo Kopechne.

[Anonymous]

Scary. But painfully true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did someone say wealthy can buy you out of stupid and dangerous. Scary.

Yes. With enough family wealth, you can live in a nice, safe neighborhood. Even if you're not too smart, the sort of bad actors who might tempt you into stupid behavior (petty crime) are not present.

Without any wealth at all, you might find yourself living in a dangerous and unsafe neighborhood. Even if you're a bright, well-intentioned child, you may constantly be needled and provoked by bad actors who surround you. They may taunt you and try to discourage you from your goals. There may be few strong characters in the neighborhood to provide good examples.

So yes, wealthy can buy you out of stupid and dangerous. You seriously disagree? Hell, it bought Teddy Kennedy out of years behind bars for DUI and the manslaughter of Mary Jo Kopechne.

Wealth also gives people the confidence to take risks and try new things. It gives people a sense of entitlement so that they expect that school officials should educate their kids appropriately. When you're poor and you yourself had a bad experience at school, you're less likely to go meet with the principal and demand better service for your own kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did someone say wealthy can buy you out of stupid and dangerous. Scary.

Yes. With enough family wealth, you can live in a nice, safe neighborhood. Even if you're not too smart, the sort of bad actors who might tempt you into stupid behavior (petty crime) are not present.

Without any wealth at all, you might find yourself living in a dangerous and unsafe neighborhood. Even if you're a bright, well-intentioned child, you may constantly be needled and provoked by bad actors who surround you. They may taunt you and try to discourage you from your goals. There may be few strong characters in the neighborhood to provide good examples.

So yes, wealthy can buy you out of stupid and dangerous. You seriously disagree? Hell, it bought Teddy Kennedy out of years behind bars for DUI and the manslaughter of Mary Jo Kopechne.

Wealth also gives people the confidence to take risks and try new things. It gives people a sense of entitlement so that they expect that school officials should educate their kids appropriately. When you're poor and you yourself had a bad experience at school, you're less likely to go meet with the principal and demand better service for your own kid.

I don't disagree in the least, and I have no problem whatsoever with wealth. Hence, my original statement "Money won't buy you smarts, but it will buy your way out of danger and stupid."

People can disparage wealth all day long and carry on about how it won't buy happiness or brains or love, etc. Who would dispute that? What it buys is insurance and insulation against life's harsh realities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Brains are brains. Poverty, race and all the rest of the red herrings that everyone keeps throwing around here have absolutely nothing to do with anything. All other things being equal, a poor child's brain is every bit as capable of learning as a wealthy child's brain, and it doesn't matter if that brain is white, black, latino, asian, or whatever. There is no meaningful difference at the most fundamental level to impede learning.

So what you are saying is that family, community and peer expectations have no bearing on academic outcomes? Are you saying that SES has no bearing on achievement??

I think I know what you are trying to say. If ALL things were equal.... But they are not Blanche, they're not.

Evidently the expectation of family, community and peers is of anti-intellectualism and anti-achievement; as such, those who tolerate that can thank themselves for keeping themselves in a self-perpetuating low-SES ghetto.

[Anonymous]

A poor family doesn't have the same expectations for their child as a wealthy family. Hogwash. Success stories just doesn't come from wealthy households. Why hell, many of these successful charter schools were not created to embrace the wealthy neighborhood.

I will say, when a wealthy parent come upon the poor teacher then who will relinquish the power. We are quick to say that we are not prejuidice of a race but we do pre-judge those of economic means.

The squeakiest wagon gets the oil and most cases it doesn't rely if it is volvo wagon or a red wagon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Mann is the best elementary school in the whole region.

No one believes this. The best elementary schools in DC have plenty of company in MoCo, Arlington and Fairfax, and no middle or high schools, including Deal, compare to the best suburban middle and high schools.

[Anonymous]

Upper NW patent here. The schools here are abysmal, too. Don't let the nicer house fool ya. Bsmoke and mirrors....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Upper NW patent here. The schools here are abysmal, too. Don't let the nicer house fool ya. Bsmoke and mirrors....

And you thunder along, whacking as many people as possible with that chip on your shoulder, don't you.

How about actually citing a source? Providing some data? Because anybody can be a blowhard - just look in the mirror.

[Anonymous]

Did someone throw a rock into a pack dogs and one got hit? 23:03, do you feel knot coming up on that blockhead of yours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did someone throw a rock into a pack dogs and one got hit? 23:03, do you feel knot coming up on that blockhead of yours.

Nope, sorry. We're not at Mann, we're at a private. And I have no dog in this hunt. In fact, the only dog here appears to be you - I believe the technical term is a bitch?

[Anonymous]

I graduated from Banneker. It was the first time I ever felt comfortable raising my hand to answer a question. In elementary and middle school I was constantly ridiculed for knowing the answer to questions. My friends and I were the nerds of the schools and only because I could "code switch" did I not get beat up or chased home after school. Dumbing down is a horrible thing to be forced to do but being true to yourself and proudly displaying your knowledge will paint a giant target on your back for not just verbal but physical assaults.

It's extremely frustrating having to put your hand down "so someone else can have a chance to answer" most of your life. Also, it's prohibitive to one's development to never feel challenged in class. I think that schools like Walls and Banneker provide a sanctuary where a lot of us can do our best to make up for lost time during the last four years before college, although by then, for some, it's already too late.