Racism / Classism on DCurbanmom trolls or true?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't speak for everyone, but here is my view: My primary objective is my children; I will do whatever I can to make sure they get a good education. That means I want them at a well-run school that's not overcrowded. That means I want them with capable teachers who are focused on teaching all the students, and not just trying to drag the most unprepared students up to the bare minimum of "proficient." That means I want my children surrounded by other kids who want to learn and are not being disruptive. That means I want them in a reasonably safe neighborhood, preferably close to home. Those are my basic criteria; everything else is icing on the cake for me. I would be even more happy if my children were in a school with loads of racial and class diversity - even a school where my child is a distinct racial and class minority - but only if my basic criteria are met.

That's what I want in a school for my children. I suspect most parents - regardless of race or class - want something similar. If you think any of that makes me racist or classist, then you need to explain how.

that's fine. but don't come posting on here about how your white kid can't possibly mix with the "project kids" at Jefferson because they bring the SES average down. Just go self-segregate and accept that you don't believe in diversity.

Go to hell. You don't know me or my family, so don't tell me what I do or don't believe. If you want to explain why you think it's wrong to want my kids at good schools, I'm all ears. But if you just want to call me names, then screw you.

wow, hit a nerve! look, you are the parent and it is your right to educate your kid the way you see fit. but to move to a gentrifying neighborhood in DC and then make a huge deal about how your kids can't go to school with "those" kids and how DCPS needs to cater to your kid's need to be apart from "those" kids, it just ugly.

Yeah, when you inch toward calling me a racist, you're damn right you hit a nerve. You better back off because you don't know me, you don't know what neighborhood I live in, and you don't know what school choices I made. Take your "those kids" crap and shove it. I've got no more time to waste with you. You don't know anything about me, but you judge me. I'm done with you.

Good for you for telling the PP to shove it. Your initial post was completely reasonable. Really tired of posters judging others based on limited information and their own prejudice.

the theme of this thread is racism and classism. this PP seems to be arguing that DC schools are inherently unsuited to her child. The racism/classism comes through loud and clear.

You clearly need to work on your reading comprehension, because that's not what she was saying.

OP's argument is that she does not want her children to go to school with children of other races and classes, despite living in a very mixed race and class city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm black and live a short distance from Banneker. It's obviously a good school, though I have no idea if my elementary school kid is cut out for it. I also don't even know if he'd even want to go there.

But there are so many other factors that we'll consider as a family when the time comes. Social well-being, safety, commute, extra-curriculars. I don't judge any other family using the same criteria and some of those take Banneker out of consideration when there are other options.

I'm not sure why some people forget that. It's almost as if the one thing that would truly make Banneker the best school is more white people.

And I know that's not true.

Right, it's not that white ppl will improve Banneker. It's that white people will not enroll there, which exposes their argument that "all I want is a GOOD
school" for the racist crap that it is.

[Anonymous]

OP's argument is that she does not want her children to go to school with children of other races and classes, despite living in a very mixed race and class city.

Sounds to me like YOU are the racist and troll of this thread. Go away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is why I think soooo many of the white people in DC are racist AF. THERE ARE NO WHITE KIDS AT BANNEKER.

I was shouting this from the rooftops in some thread not too long ago. Not only won't they consider sending their kids there, they didn't even take the time to look up the data to realize it isn't a school only for black kids. People literally kept saying that.

I just looked up some news articles about Banneker's history, and I saw this ...

Washington Post, 1988
In 1980, [DCPS Superintendent Vincent] Reed's plan passed the school board. But four month later, the board, convinced the school cater to middle class whites, reversed itself and killed the idea. ... Reed floated one last proposal ... A quota system would give slots to every D.C. ward; areas east of the Anacostia River got more seats than Ward 3, west of Rock Creek Park.

Are Bannker's admissions still based on a quota system?

Can one of you Banneker experts answer this question?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't speak for everyone, but here is my view: My primary objective is my children; I will do whatever I can to make sure they get a good education. That means I want them at a well-run school that's not overcrowded. That means I want them with capable teachers who are focused on teaching all the students, and not just trying to drag the most unprepared students up to the bare minimum of "proficient." That means I want my children surrounded by other kids who want to learn and are not being disruptive. That means I want them in a reasonably safe neighborhood, preferably close to home. Those are my basic criteria; everything else is icing on the cake for me. I would be even more happy if my children were in a school with loads of racial and class diversity - even a school where my child is a distinct racial and class minority - but only if my basic criteria are met.

That's what I want in a school for my children. I suspect most parents - regardless of race or class - want something similar. If you think any of that makes me racist or classist, then you need to explain how.

that's fine. but don't come posting on here about how your white kid can't possibly mix with the "project kids" at Jefferson because they bring the SES average down. Just go self-segregate and accept that you don't believe in diversity.

Go to hell. You don't know me or my family, so don't tell me what I do or don't believe. If you want to explain why you think it's wrong to want my kids at good schools, I'm all ears. But if you just want to call me names, then screw you.

wow, hit a nerve! look, you are the parent and it is your right to educate your kid the way you see fit. but to move to a gentrifying neighborhood in DC and then make a huge deal about how your kids can't go to school with "those" kids and how DCPS needs to cater to your kid's need to be apart from "those" kids, it just ugly.

Yeah, when you inch toward calling me a racist, you're damn right you hit a nerve. You better back off because you don't know me, you don't know what neighborhood I live in, and you don't know what school choices I made. Take your "those kids" crap and shove it. I've got no more time to waste with you. You don't know anything about me, but you judge me. I'm done with you.

Good for you for telling the PP to shove it. Your initial post was completely reasonable. Really tired of posters judging others based on limited information and their own prejudice.

the theme of this thread is racism and classism. this PP seems to be arguing that DC schools are inherently unsuited to her child. The racism/classism comes through loud and clear.

You clearly need to work on your reading comprehension, because that's not what she was saying.

Different poster. The term "unprepared students" means poor and brown in DCUM vernacular. Maybe that's not what the pp meant, but that's how it's read.

I've been surprised to learn that most of the ESL students outperform my high SES kid in his EOTP school. I'm not worried about it but it's a reminder that the unprepared label is meaningless. Wealth and coming from a "good home" is also meaningless as a predictor of behavior.

[Anonymous]

Right, it's not that white ppl will improve Banneker. It's that white people will not enroll there, which exposes their argument that "all I want is a GOOD
school" for the racist crap that it is.

Yeah. Really though - who cares? You've obviously seen the mindset of white parents whose kids can take on the rigor that Banneker offers. Do you really want them at a school where kids are doing really well - likely because that attitude doesn't really exist there?

The other thing that rarely gets discussed here is how certain white people can really be problematic. I don't think of gaining status with that crowd as desirable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is why I think soooo many of the white people in DC are racist AF. THERE ARE NO WHITE KIDS AT BANNEKER.

I was shouting this from the rooftops in some thread not too long ago. Not only won't they consider sending their kids there, they didn't even take the time to look up the data to realize it isn't a school only for black kids. People literally kept saying that.

I just looked up some news articles about Banneker's history, and I saw this ...

Washington Post, 1988
In 1980, [DCPS Superintendent Vincent] Reed's plan passed the school board. But four month later, the board, convinced the school cater to middle class whites, reversed itself and killed the idea. ... Reed floated one last proposal ... A quota system would give slots to every D.C. ward; areas east of the Anacostia River got more seats than Ward 3, west of Rock Creek Park.

Are Bannker's admissions still based on a quota system?

Can one of you Banneker experts answer this question?

You all can google it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't speak for everyone, but here is my view: My primary objective is my children; I will do whatever I can to make sure they get a good education. That means I want them at a well-run school that's not overcrowded. That means I want them with capable teachers who are focused on teaching all the students, and not just trying to drag the most unprepared students up to the bare minimum of "proficient." That means I want my children surrounded by other kids who want to learn and are not being disruptive. That means I want them in a reasonably safe neighborhood, preferably close to home. Those are my basic criteria; everything else is icing on the cake for me. I would be even more happy if my children were in a school with loads of racial and class diversity - even a school where my child is a distinct racial and class minority - but only if my basic criteria are met.

That's what I want in a school for my children. I suspect most parents - regardless of race or class - want something similar. If you think any of that makes me racist or classist, then you need to explain how.

that's fine. but don't come posting on here about how your white kid can't possibly mix with the "project kids" at Jefferson because they bring the SES average down. Just go self-segregate and accept that you don't believe in diversity.

Go to hell. You don't know me or my family, so don't tell me what I do or don't believe. If you want to explain why you think it's wrong to want my kids at good schools, I'm all ears. But if you just want to call me names, then screw you.

wow, hit a nerve! look, you are the parent and it is your right to educate your kid the way you see fit. but to move to a gentrifying neighborhood in DC and then make a huge deal about how your kids can't go to school with "those" kids and how DCPS needs to cater to your kid's need to be apart from "those" kids, it just ugly.

Yeah, when you inch toward calling me a racist, you're damn right you hit a nerve. You better back off because you don't know me, you don't know what neighborhood I live in, and you don't know what school choices I made. Take your "those kids" crap and shove it. I've got no more time to waste with you. You don't know anything about me, but you judge me. I'm done with you.

Good for you for telling the PP to shove it. Your initial post was completely reasonable. Really tired of posters judging others based on limited information and their own prejudice.

the theme of this thread is racism and classism. this PP seems to be arguing that DC schools are inherently unsuited to her child. The racism/classism comes through loud and clear.

You clearly need to work on your reading comprehension, because that's not what she was saying.

Different poster. The term "unprepared students" means poor and brown in DCUM vernacular. Maybe that's not what the pp meant, but that's how it's read.

I've been surprised to learn that most of the ESL students outperform my high SES kid in his EOTP school. I'm not worried about it but it's a reminder that the unprepared label is meaningless. Wealth and coming from a "good home" is also meaningless as a predictor of behavior.

Yes. That's a great example of a microagression.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is why I think soooo many of the white people in DC are racist AF. THERE ARE NO WHITE KIDS AT BANNEKER.

I was shouting this from the rooftops in some thread not too long ago. Not only won't they consider sending their kids there, they didn't even take the time to look up the data to realize it isn't a school only for black kids. People literally kept saying that.

I just looked up some news articles about Banneker's history, and I saw this ...

Washington Post, 1988
In 1980, [DCPS Superintendent Vincent] Reed's plan passed the school board. But four month later, the board, convinced the school cater to middle class whites, reversed itself and killed the idea. ... Reed floated one last proposal ... A quota system would give slots to every D.C. ward; areas east of the Anacostia River got more seats than Ward 3, west of Rock Creek Park.

Are Bannker's admissions still based on a quota system?

Can one of you Banneker experts answer this question?

I doubt many people who know Banneker well spend time on DCUM.

Curious why a quota system matters to you, though. Thirty years ago, ALL DCPS schools were considered subpar, particularly those EOTP. Schools east of the Anacostia were even lower. Banneker was a doorway out for families that didn't have private schools as an option.

On the rare (more like nonexistent) chance that white families were going to start taking spots, there was very good reason to reserve seats for other wards.

[Anonymous]

Different poster. The term "unprepared students" means poor and brown in DCUM vernacular. Maybe that's not what the pp meant, but that's how it's read.

I've been surprised to learn that most of the ESL students outperform my high SES kid in his EOTP school. I'm not worried about it but it's a reminder that the unprepared label is meaningless. Wealth and coming from a "good home" is also meaningless as a predictor of behavior.

Sounds to me like maybe your child is an example of an "unprepared student."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Different poster. The term "unprepared students" means poor and brown in DCUM vernacular. Maybe that's not what the pp meant, but that's how it's read.

I've been surprised to learn that most of the ESL students outperform my high SES kid in his EOTP school. I'm not worried about it but it's a reminder that the unprepared label is meaningless. Wealth and coming from a "good home" is also meaningless as a predictor of behavior.

Sounds to me like maybe your child is an example of an "unprepared student."

Don't be a jerk. Poster has not said anything rude about anyone. For all you know, her student has some extra needs. Check yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm black and live a short distance from Banneker. It's obviously a good school, though I have no idea if my elementary school kid is cut out for it. I also don't even know if he'd even want to go there.

But there are so many other factors that we'll consider as a family when the time comes. Social well-being, safety, commute, extra-curriculars. I don't judge any other family using the same criteria and some of those take Banneker out of consideration when there are other options.

I'm not sure why some people forget that. It's almost as if the one thing that would truly make Banneker the best school is more white people.

And I know that's not true.

Right, it's not that white ppl will improve Banneker. It's that white people will not enroll there, which exposes their argument that "all I want is a GOOD
school" for the racist crap that it is.

I don't get it. If the school is so good, why do you care if it has no Asian or white kids. What will extra races get you? For whatever reason highly rated schools on greatschool are rarely diverse. They are either predominantly Asian or black or white, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is why I think soooo many of the white people in DC are racist AF. THERE ARE NO WHITE KIDS AT BANNEKER.

I was shouting this from the rooftops in some thread not too long ago. Not only won't they consider sending their kids there, they didn't even take the time to look up the data to realize it isn't a school only for black kids. People literally kept saying that.

I just looked up some news articles about Banneker's history, and I saw this ...

Washington Post, 1988
In 1980, [DCPS Superintendent Vincent] Reed's plan passed the school board. But four month later, the board, convinced the school cater to middle class whites, reversed itself and killed the idea. ... Reed floated one last proposal ... A quota system would give slots to every D.C. ward; areas east of the Anacostia River got more seats than Ward 3, west of Rock Creek Park.

Are Bannker's admissions still based on a quota system?

Can one of you Banneker experts answer this question?

I doubt many people who know Banneker well spend time on DCUM.

Curious why a quota system matters to you, though. Thirty years ago, ALL DCPS schools were considered subpar, particularly those EOTP. Schools east of the Anacostia were even lower. Banneker was a doorway out for families that didn't have private schools as an option.

On the rare (more like nonexistent) chance that white families were going to start taking spots, there was very good reason to reserve seats for other wards.

You're curious about why I'm curious??? I'm interested because a few posters are lobbing criticism at people who don't know the details about how Banneker operates and what it's admissions situation is, so I decided to educate myself. Isn't that what people want - for posters to be educated about Banneker?

So now I know that Banneker used to assign seats based on a quota system to ensure adequate black representation. Another quote from Super Reed in that article was that DCPS was 97% black at the time, so the fear of having too many white students at Banneker was nonsensical. So now I'm curious whether any of you know whether Banneker still uses a quota system. I looked at Banneker's website, and it doesn't give much detail. Does anyone know the answer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Different poster. The term "unprepared students" means poor and brown in DCUM vernacular. Maybe that's not what the pp meant, but that's how it's read.

I've been surprised to learn that most of the ESL students outperform my high SES kid in his EOTP school. I'm not worried about it but it's a reminder that the unprepared label is meaningless. Wealth and coming from a "good home" is also meaningless as a predictor of behavior.

Sounds to me like maybe your child is an example of an "unprepared student."

Could be, by your standards. I couldn't care less what those are.

I think a common problem parents have is setting their own standards by what others think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Different poster. The term "unprepared students" means poor and brown in DCUM vernacular. Maybe that's not what the pp meant, but that's how it's read.

I've been surprised to learn that most of the ESL students outperform my high SES kid in his EOTP school. I'm not worried about it but it's a reminder that the unprepared label is meaningless. Wealth and coming from a "good home" is also meaningless as a predictor of behavior.

Sounds to me like maybe your child is an example of an "unprepared student."

Don't be a jerk. Poster has not said anything rude about anyone. For all you know, her student has some extra needs. Check yourself.

Fair point; I apologize. I am the PP who she referred to though, and she's implying that I was somehow using code words to refer to poor and brown children (which is absolutely false), so I was frustrated when I responded.

To be clear, I was referring to any student - regardless of race or HHI - who is making it hard for the other students to learn. The other poster can decide for herself whether her child fits that description.