Sending kid to school where they would be the minority

[Anonymous]

Would you send a pre-k or kindergartner to a school where they would be in the extreme minority? Struggling with this as I really like the school but I’m nearly sure they would stick out as the only in their class.

[Anonymous]

Children at this age tend not to see differences.

[Anonymous]

No. I hated being an extreme minority as a kid so I’m not doing that to my kids. Unless it’s a white kid. In that case, I think you get enough positive depictions who look like you just by living in the US, so it’s ok if that doesn’t happen at school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Children at this age tend not to see differences.

of course they see differences.

[Anonymous]

My kids were minorities in certain situations but they were white so the implication was minor..

[Anonymous]

My child is always a minority. So... what’s your question again?

[Anonymous]

This should be good.

[Anonymous]

My son was the only white boy in his K class at a school 95% black/brown. It’s different than being the only black/brown kid in an all-white environment in important ways.

For us, the bigger problem was being the only UMC family when it came to things like community, play dates, birthday parties, etc.

[Anonymous]

We did it prek-2nd and it was fine but after that we wanted more diversity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. I hated being an extreme minority as a kid so I’m not doing that to my kids. Unless it’s a white kid. In that case, I think you get enough positive depictions who look like you just by living in the US, so it’s ok if that doesn’t happen at school.

My kid was white and the minority. It was fine early on but kids often self-segregate especially in middle and high school, where it is a bigger issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son was the only white boy in his K class at a school 95% black/brown. It’s different than being the only black/brown kid in an all-white environment in important ways.

For us, the bigger problem was being the only UMC family when it came to things like community, play dates, birthday parties, etc.

How? A minority is a minority. No one can speak for and represent every single unique experience.

You could be a minority in race, gender, intelligence, wealth, etc. You are the minority if you are not representing the majority of whatever group is in question.

If they can’t learn how to stand out in school, where else will they learn?

[Anonymous]

I was one of 6 people of color on my grade all through high school. Was fine although all six of us became friends. We were also “model minority” groups and lived up to the reputation of being high achievers. When I was really little I didn’t mind being a POC and liked showing off my culture to my white classmates.

[Anonymous]

My kids have always been among the only kids of their race in school. (They are white).

When we bought our house, I knew the kids would be zoned for large-majority minority schools. We are all of the same SES though more or less. I thought it would be ok, a good learning experience, etc.

If I had to do it again I would have looked for a school pyramid where at least 25% of the students were white. Being the *only* white kids in their schools has not been a great thing for them and I'm not sure they learned the lessons I would have liked them to learn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids have always been among the only kids of their race in school. (They are white).

When we bought our house, I knew the kids would be zoned for large-majority minority schools. We are all of the same SES though more or less. I thought it would be ok, a good learning experience, etc.

If I had to do it again I would have looked for a school pyramid where at least 25% of the students were white. Being the *only* white kids in their schools has not been a great thing for them and I'm not sure they learned the lessons I would have liked them to learn.

Such as what? I’m dying to know.

[Anonymous]

DH and I both grew up being one of a handful of Asians in our schools when we were growing up. I didn’t mind and didn’t know better.

Our Asian American kids used to be the only Asian kids in their old school. They had lots of friends.

We recently moved to a school with a lot of Asians (30%). Their AAP class is majority Asian. Both my kids hang out with mostly white kids. I don’t think it has anything to do with race and purely to do with interests.