Is it possible to teach kids to be inclusive and not racist when

[Anonymous]

there are essentially no black kids in their school? It's my understanding that the few black kids at whitman are leaving for private, AND that the principal has made it a mission to create an inclusive student body that doesn't target anyone because of their differences. This is a laudible goal, but is it possible for him to be successful in that goal when there's no diversity to speak of at the school? I'm hoping he can make progress, obviously, but am upset that the little diversity there was is now basically nonexistent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:there are essentially no black kids in their school? It's my understanding that the few black kids at whitman are leaving for private, AND that the principal has made it a mission to create an inclusive student body that doesn't target anyone because of their differences. This is a laudible goal, but is it possible for him to be successful in that goal when there's no diversity to speak of at the school? I'm hoping he can make progress, obviously, but am upset that the little diversity there was is now basically nonexistent.

It's 33 percent minority; how is that "basically nonexistent "?

[Anonymous]

Obviously you are a racist for sending your kid to Whitman. You should move to Silver Spring and send your kid to JFK so he can derive the enormous benefits that rich, vibrant diversity confers.

[Anonymous]

I attended a meeting in June about diversity in MCPS, where a black Whitman parent presented the situation very powerfully. The (white) Principal also spoke, and he seemed motivated and engaged, as were the central admin representatives (all black).

Apparently they are implementing a series of trainings and meetings for the various stakeholders (students, staff, parents) over the course of this coming school year, which they hope will turn the atmosphere around. I wish them well, but the weakest link here are the (non-black) parents who think that all this does not apply to them because "they are not racist". If everyone doesn't engage in the conversation about what's appropriate behavior and what's not, someone will end up doing something stupid once again. The easiest people to reach is the choir. It's the hard=to-reach folk who need the most training.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:there are essentially no black kids in their school? It's my understanding that the few black kids at whitman are leaving for private, AND that the principal has made it a mission to create an inclusive student body that doesn't target anyone because of their differences. This is a laudible goal, but is it possible for him to be successful in that goal when there's no diversity to speak of at the school? I'm hoping he can make progress, obviously, but am upset that the little diversity there was is now basically nonexistent.

It's 33 percent minority; how is that "basically nonexistent "?

What?! Minority does not necessarily equal black. Whitman is:

66.8% white
8.7% hispanic
15.2% asian
and less than 5% any other group, including black

[Anonymous]

Kids learn to be inclusive by having parents who are inclusive. OP, do you have a diverse set of friends? Who do you invite to your home? If everyone important in your family's life looks just like you, you’re sending a message stronger than what your kids would learn from having a black kid in their chemistry class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:there are essentially no black kids in their school? It's my understanding that the few black kids at whitman are leaving for private, AND that the principal has made it a mission to create an inclusive student body that doesn't target anyone because of their differences. This is a laudible goal, but is it possible for him to be successful in that goal when there's no diversity to speak of at the school? I'm hoping he can make progress, obviously, but am upset that the little diversity there was is now basically nonexistent.

What's the basis for that understanding? There are approximately 75 "black kids" at Whitman. That's dozens of families who can make their own decisions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Obviously you are a racist for sending your kid to Whitman. You should move to Silver Spring and send your kid to JFK so he can derive the enormous benefits that rich, vibrant diversity confers.

I'm staff. I heard this from other staff. I know the principal cares and is trying.

[Anonymous]

You moved there as you didn't want diversity and now you are compelling about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:there are essentially no black kids in their school? It's my understanding that the few black kids at whitman are leaving for private, AND that the principal has made it a mission to create an inclusive student body that doesn't target anyone because of their differences. This is a laudible goal, but is it possible for him to be successful in that goal when there's no diversity to speak of at the school? I'm hoping he can make progress, obviously, but am upset that the little diversity there was is now basically nonexistent.

It's 33 percent minority; how is that "basically nonexistent "?

What?! Minority does not necessarily equal black. Whitman is:

66.8% white
8.7% hispanic
15.2% asian
and less than 5% any other group, including black

So you agree, diversity is not "basically nonexistent "

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You moved there as you didn't want diversity and now you are compelling about it.

I said I'm staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:there are essentially no black kids in their school? It's my understanding that the few black kids at whitman are leaving for private, AND that the principal has made it a mission to create an inclusive student body that doesn't target anyone because of their differences. This is a laudible goal, but is it possible for him to be successful in that goal when there's no diversity to speak of at the school? I'm hoping he can make progress, obviously, but am upset that the little diversity there was is now basically nonexistent.

It's 33 percent minority; how is that "basically nonexistent "?

What?! Minority does not necessarily equal black. Whitman is:

66.8% white
8.7% hispanic
15.2% asian
and less than 5% any other group, including black

So you agree, diversity is not "basically nonexistent "

The question was about black student representation. Can you read or do you just think all non-white kids are the same?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I attended a meeting in June about diversity in MCPS, where a black Whitman parent presented the situation very powerfully. The (white) Principal also spoke, and he seemed motivated and engaged, as were the central admin representatives (all black).

Apparently they are implementing a series of trainings and meetings for the various stakeholders (students, staff, parents) over the course of this coming school year, which they hope will turn the atmosphere around. I wish them well, but the weakest link here are the (non-black) parents who think that all this does not apply to them because "they are not racist". If everyone doesn't engage in the conversation about what's appropriate behavior and what's not, someone will end up doing something stupid once again. The easiest people to reach is the choir. It's the hard=to-reach folk who need the most training.

What exactly are the white parents supposed to do about it? They should encourage their kids to be friends with everyone but reality is kids self-segregate at all schools. If I was a minority there is no way I'd move to an area and send my child to a school where there was little diversity. Same a when I worked in DC, I was hired to be the diversity and it was very difficult. Some treated me very well and others were clear I was not welcome.

[Anonymous]

I know a number of Whitman parents who will point to accepting Asians as their proof they aren’t racist all the while being vigorously anti-Black.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I attended a meeting in June about diversity in MCPS, where a black Whitman parent presented the situation very powerfully. The (white) Principal also spoke, and he seemed motivated and engaged, as were the central admin representatives (all black).

Apparently they are implementing a series of trainings and meetings for the various stakeholders (students, staff, parents) over the course of this coming school year, which they hope will turn the atmosphere around. I wish them well, but the weakest link here are the (non-black) parents who think that all this does not apply to them because "they are not racist". If everyone doesn't engage in the conversation about what's appropriate behavior and what's not, someone will end up doing something stupid once again. The easiest people to reach is the choir. It's the hard=to-reach folk who need the most training.

What exactly are the white parents supposed to do about it? They should encourage their kids to be friends with everyone but reality is kids self-segregate at all schools. If I was a minority there is no way I'd move to an area and send my child to a school where there was little diversity. Same a when I worked in DC, I was hired to be the diversity and it was very difficult. Some treated me very well and others were clear I was not welcome.

You clearly don't know what happened there. There were three racial incidents in the past school year, the last of which was a white student posting a photo of herself in blackface with the n-word in a sentence.
There are non-black families who clearly don't understand what's so wrong about this, and even for the ones who do understand, most probably didn't think to spell it out to their kids. So this is about EDUCATING youth in a connected world, where they find inspiration online, outside their immediate circle, to do dumb things, and being specific about it.