Difference between NW parent involvement and Capitol Hill parent involvement.

[Anonymous]

I have experienced both as a parent and a teacher. My observation is that Capitol Hill families are just meaner and expect the worst as the norm from teachers and schools. NW families are so much more open to collaborating and feedback. Cap Hill families are tightly strung. Wish they would chill out for the sake of their own kids if not anything else. Honestly, offering as friendly advice for people who are interested in the observation.

[Anonymous]

Wow, weird, thanks. My friends on the hill (albeit childless) are way more chill than my friends in NW. So many lawyers and people obsessed with money in NW, though, yes we also have so many wonderful friends here.

[Anonymous]

People are often more chill about schools if they have an adequate middle and high school feeder.

[Anonymous]

We are active in both communities. I think because the middle school / high school path is not as strong on the hill vs WOTP, there is a constant stress that starts pretty early.

I was listening to the Self-Driven Child - and the stress that parents are constantly under drive some of this behavior (IMO)

[Anonymous]

My own children attended DC Public elementary with Cap Hill kids. Those parents were (mostly) great. I think the most high strung of the families self selected out of public school along the way. I did notice Cap Hill parents to be pretty informed, so I can imagine if you came at them with some concept they already do not buy into and ask for them to follow this plan they will push back. I witnessed (in public high school more so) other parents going along with requests of their kids I refused for my own.
What “collaboration” were you seeking from your students parents?

[Anonymous]

^^ PP here, before you accuse me of being a mean , anti-collaboration or feedback Capital Hill parent, I am instead an East of the River DC native mom who is still not interested in my kids education being someone’s social experiment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have experienced both as a parent and a teacher. My observation is that Capitol Hill families are just meaner and expect the worst as the norm from teachers and schools. NW families are so much more open to collaborating and feedback. Cap Hill families are tightly strung. Wish they would chill out for the sake of their own kids if not anything else. Honestly, offering as friendly advice for people who are interested in the observation.

I’ve had the exact opposite impression.

[Anonymous]

Capitol Hill parents seem resentful of upper NW parents and like to denigrate upper NW as elitist and suburban. I’m not sure I get the elitist label as there are some extremely expensive row houses in Capitol Hill

[Anonymous]

I haven't experienced that at all in our Hill elementary. I expected to see a lot more of it, but with the exception of one mildly ridiculous class mom one year, really everyone seems to be trying their hardest to make it all work. However, there is one well-known anti-government advocate who had children later in life on the Hill, and I am very glad my kids didn't go to his kids' school!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Capitol Hill parents seem resentful of upper NW parents and like to denigrate upper NW as elitist and suburban. I’m not sure I get the elitist label as there are some extremely expensive row houses in Capitol Hill

I literally never see or speak to NW parents, except one or two work colleagues. Are you confusing DCUM with real life?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have experienced both as a parent and a teacher. My observation is that Capitol Hill families are just meaner and expect the worst as the norm from teachers and schools. NW families are so much more open to collaborating and feedback. Cap Hill families are tightly strung. Wish they would chill out for the sake of their own kids if not anything else. Honestly, offering as friendly advice for people who are interested in the observation.

It is easy to go along with things when your schools have not been used as labs for the city, see the TWO city-wide schools without a proximity preference, the debacle that was the closing and reopening of Eastern, the many programmatic changes at Stuart Hobson, etc. And very few close private or parochial options, particularly for females.

When you just have steady stable IB elementary schools, the feed to Deal and Wilson, with the option of Ellington and SWW and all the good private’s in your ward, why wouldn’t you be chill?

[Anonymous]

If you had to deal with the principal at Watkins, you’d be tightly strung too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you had to deal with the principal at Watkins, you’d be tightly strung too.

thanks grover

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Capitol Hill parents seem resentful of upper NW parents and like to denigrate upper NW as elitist and suburban. I’m not sure I get the elitist label as there are some extremely expensive row houses in Capitol Hill

Eh, what I see in several different wards is a lot of engaged parents who care about everyone getting a good education.

And what I also see is a lot of trolling effort at DCUM (mostly along the lines of conservative talking points) to divide us, denigrate DC, inflame racial division, and spread lies about public schools and DCPS.

I’m sure there are some posters here that really do hate DC and DC public schools. But there’s a lot of conservatives spreading division too. Gotta distract from their party sliding into fascism for tax cuts, I guess?

[Anonymous]

I like the parents I know from both Capitol Hill and NW schools. They’re pretty much all focused on getting their kids a good education.