Jay Mathews Points Readers in Wrong Direction on Top Charters

[Anonymous]

We are white and considering Mckinley Tech over Wilson. I have repeatedly been told that it is not a good school because it is "not diverse." We are still going to go look at it my 8th grader is starting to wonder.

I could not tell you the exact study but the stat I remember is that white parents will start leaving a school once it hits around 20% minority. In DC that is less often the case, we have for better or worse a lower bias threshold of around 40%. Before we get self congratulatory the fact is we have all types of implicit bias and our kids know it. I think what we are seeing is not administrative malfeasance but our own limitations.

[Anonymous]

^^^^This is obviously wrong. If it were correct, there would be no school with less than 60% white kids. Every school mentioned Martel's ranting had fewer white kids as a percentage than that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are white and considering Mckinley Tech over Wilson. I have repeatedly been told that it is not a good school because it is "not diverse." We are still going to go look at it my 8th grader is starting to wonder.

I could not tell you the exact study but the stat I remember is that white parents will start leaving a school once it hits around 20% minority. In DC that is less often the case, we have for better or worse a lower bias threshold of around 40%. Before we get self congratulatory the fact is we have all types of implicit bias and our kids know it. I think what we are seeing is not administrative malfeasance but our own limitations.

+1... not to the implicit biases, but for the ability to be self-reflective. I think more honesty like that would debunk a lot of the baloney like the original article quoted, but it's not a bunch of sunshine and roses either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^^^This is obviously wrong. If it were correct, there would be no school with less than 60% white kids. Every school mentioned Martel's ranting had fewer white kids as a percentage than that.

No I think we in DC are just much more comfortable with a plurality. Maybe none of us black or white should be comfortable with any place 80-100 segregated, maybe some of us just have more choices?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also think that it is families worrying that they won't be welcome at these schools because of race.

I am a white mother. Even though I am a mother of a black child I still find myself privy to conversations that white people have with one another when they think there are no non whites listening. I see / hear a lot of deflated looks and comments of parents disappointed when they look into a classroom of black kids while on school tours. They say things like "I don't this school is up and coming enough yet." I hear a lot of fear of people putting their white children in a situation where they will be too much of a minority. It is as if they expose their kid to being a minority they think they will harm their child. It is as if they burst the white privilege bubble they think they will damage their child rather than build character.

It is stomach turning.

I hear you. I'm a white parent with a white child that attended a predominantly minority middle school, and was privy to these same conversations. It was an invaluable experience for my child - and like you, I heard over and over again the disheartening and stomach-churning comments.

OK folks. Yes there are plenty of people like that. However please don't make the mistake of thinking that all ( or even a majority of ) white parents make decisions or hold thoughts like that

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish we could see an actual smart news piece on school choice and whether or not there is a racial or socio-economic self selection preference for different kinds of programs? Or is it a social network thing? Are there actual barriers to white families applying to Howard University Math and Science charter or to poor black families applying to YuYing or Inspired Teaching? Or is it a social/cultural preference or exposure thing?

Smart reporting on this is welcome. The crap published in the Post and put forward by Mr. Martel is a waste of precious time and energy

I attended the EduFest on Saturday. I talked to the principal of HUMS, a teacher, and a student. I was there for thirty minutes conversing with them and spent another 20-30 minutes in the vicinity. Many families went to HUMS table for information, but I did not notice one white family/parent. They were all Black or recognizable Hispanic. YY and IT had families of all different races at their table. My observation is anecdotal, but for some schools I think it is family choosing not to pursue all available options based on race.

WE didn't consider HUMS because it starts in 6th grade. If it started in 5th-- or we hadn't gotten in to either Latin or BASIS-- we definitely would have applied as our kid is super into Math and they have a great math program. I wouldn't have minded him being a minority and I don't think he would have minded either. Builds character!

However, since he did get into Latin and he is happy there, we haven't subsequently considered HUMS. if HUMS wanted to increase their racial diversity I guess they could try starting at 5th grade to compete with Latin and BASIS admission. But what they are doing seems to work for them, so I don't see that happening. (alternatively, as it becomes more and more difficult to get into BASIS or Latin in 5th, more white families are likely to start applying to HUMS.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also think that it is families worrying that they won't be welcome at these schools because of race.

I am a white mother. Even though I am a mother of a black child I still find myself privy to conversations that white people have with one another when they think there are no non whites listening. I see / hear a lot of deflated looks and comments of parents disappointed when they look into a classroom of black kids while on school tours. They say things like "I don't this school is up and coming enough yet." I hear a lot of fear of people putting their white children in a situation where they will be too much of a minority. It is as if they expose their kid to being a minority they think they will harm their child. It is as if they burst the white privilege bubble they think they will damage their child rather than build character.

It is stomach turning.

I hear you. I'm a white parent with a white child that attended a predominantly minority middle school, and was privy to these same conversations. It was an invaluable experience for my child - and like you, I heard over and over again the disheartening and stomach-churning comments.

OK folks. Yes there are plenty of people like that. However please don't make the mistake of thinking that all ( or even a majority of ) white parents make decisions or hold thoughts like that

Sorry, I actually believe the majority hold that view. If you were honest with yourself, you would actually agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also think that it is families worrying that they won't be welcome at these schools because of race.

I am a white mother. Even though I am a mother of a black child I still find myself privy to conversations that white people have with one another when they think there are no non whites listening. I see / hear a lot of deflated looks and comments of parents disappointed when they look into a classroom of black kids while on school tours. They say things like "I don't this school is up and coming enough yet." I hear a lot of fear of people putting their white children in a situation where they will be too much of a minority. It is as if they expose their kid to being a minority they think they will harm their child. It is as if they burst the white privilege bubble they think they will damage their child rather than build character.

It is stomach turning.

I hear you. I'm a white parent with a white child that attended a predominantly minority middle school, and was privy to these same conversations. It was an invaluable experience for my child - and like you, I heard over and over again the disheartening and stomach-churning comments.

OK folks. Yes there are plenty of people like that. However please don't make the mistake of thinking that all ( or even a majority of ) white parents make decisions or hold thoughts like that

Are you kidding me? I have heard this in one way or another from countless white & Asian parents. If you are not hearing this you are not getting out much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also think that it is families worrying that they won't be welcome at these schools because of race.

I am a white mother. Even though I am a mother of a black child I still find myself privy to conversations that white people have with one another when they think there are no non whites listening. I see / hear a lot of deflated looks and comments of parents disappointed when they look into a classroom of black kids while on school tours. They say things like "I don't this school is up and coming enough yet." I hear a lot of fear of people putting their white children in a situation where they will be too much of a minority. It is as if they expose their kid to being a minority they think they will harm their child. It is as if they burst the white privilege bubble they think they will damage their child rather than build character.

It is stomach turning.

I hear you. I'm a white parent with a white child that attended a predominantly minority middle school, and was privy to these same conversations. It was an invaluable experience for my child - and like you, I heard over and over again the disheartening and stomach-churning comments.

OK folks. Yes there are plenty of people like that. However please don't make the mistake of thinking that all ( or even a majority of ) white parents make decisions or hold thoughts like that

Sorry, I actually believe the majority hold that view. If you were honest with yourself, you would actually agree.

I think it's pretty hard to tell how many really feel that way and how many are just going with the flow of others. Not that it's an excuse...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also think that it is families worrying that they won't be welcome at these schools because of race.

I am a white mother. Even though I am a mother of a black child I still find myself privy to conversations that white people have with one another when they think there are no non whites listening. I see / hear a lot of deflated looks and comments of parents disappointed when they look into a classroom of black kids while on school tours. They say things like "I don't this school is up and coming enough yet." I hear a lot of fear of people putting their white children in a situation where they will be too much of a minority. It is as if they expose their kid to being a minority they think they will harm their child. It is as if they burst the white privilege bubble they think they will damage their child rather than build character.

It is stomach turning.

I hear you. I'm a white parent with a white child that attended a predominantly minority middle school, and was privy to these same conversations. It was an invaluable experience for my child - and like you, I heard over and over again the disheartening and stomach-churning comments.

OK folks. Yes there are plenty of people like that. However please don't make the mistake of thinking that all ( or even a majority of ) white parents make decisions or hold thoughts like that

Sorry, I actually believe the majority hold that view. If you were honest with yourself, you would actually agree.

You think the majority of white parents looking at schools in Washington DC think " If my child is in a classroom full of black or brown children they will be harmed"? I just don't believe it. I have actually enrolled my child as the only white student in the class and my only concern was about educational quality provided by the school for all the children in the class. I don't think I am any better or more enlightened than the majority of my peers. I just don't believe it and its sad that you do think you are "better" than most.

[Anonymous]

The race-baiting PP who insists she's heard all this certainly does not speak for me - nor for most people I know

-- signed, happy white parent of a white kid who is not in the majority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The race-baiting PP who insists she's heard all this certainly does not speak for me - nor for most people I know

-- signed, happy white parent of a white kid who is not in the majority.

You can call my post race baiting if you want. These are real things I heard more often than not. I did not claim to be speaking about all white parents.

[Anonymous]

I am quite sure that all these "enlightened" white parents who assume the majority of other white parents are acting out of racist feeling are actually doing a great deal of "interpretation" of the comments they hear in order to make themselves feel above it all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also think that it is families worrying that they won't be welcome at these schools because of race.

I am a white mother. Even though I am a mother of a black child I still find myself privy to conversations that white people have with one another when they think there are no non whites listening. I see / hear a lot of deflated looks and comments of parents disappointed when they look into a classroom of black kids while on school tours. They say things like "I don't this school is up and coming enough yet." I hear a lot of fear of people putting their white children in a situation where they will be too much of a minority. It is as if they expose their kid to being a minority they think they will harm their child. It is as if they burst the white privilege bubble they think they will damage their child rather than build character.

It is stomach turning.

I hear you. I'm a white parent with a white child that attended a predominantly minority middle school, and was privy to these same conversations. It was an invaluable experience for my child - and like you, I heard over and over again the disheartening and stomach-churning comments.

OK folks. Yes there are plenty of people like that. However please don't make the mistake of thinking that all ( or even a majority of ) white parents make decisions or hold thoughts like that

Sorry, I actually believe the majority hold that view. If you were honest with yourself, you would actually agree.

You think the majority of white parents looking at schools in Washington DC think " If my child is in a classroom full of black or brown children they will be harmed"? I just don't believe it. I have actually enrolled my child as the only white student in the class and my only concern was about educational quality provided by the school for all the children in the class. I don't think I am any better or more enlightened than the majority of my peers. I just don't believe it and its sad that you do think you are "better" than most.

This isn't how it goes. First, all the naive liberal white parents decide that to will be a good experience for both their child and their family. This is at the PS3, pk4 level. They are OK with everything at first, but then start to notice some things -- no play dates, no family events at the school, your child using interesting language that you have never used before around him. THEN, around age 5 or 6, the children all start to notice that not everyone is the same color. And then one day in first grade, your child comes home upset because another child told him that his mother says that all white people are nasty.

That is how the brave liberals take their children and run to the more diverse middle class charters or suburbs. We know. We are them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

This isn't how it goes. First, all the naive liberal white parents decide that to will be a good experience for both their child and their family. This is at the PS3, pk4 level. They are OK with everything at first, but then start to notice some things -- no play dates, no family events at the school, your child using interesting language that you have never used before around him. THEN, around age 5 or 6, the children all start to notice that not everyone is the same color. And then one day in first grade, your child comes home upset because another child told him that his mother says that all white people are nasty.

That is how the brave liberals take their children and run to the more diverse middle class charters or suburbs. We know. We are them.

Wow, normally I have to pay $5 to get my fortune told. Hey, what lotto numbers should I pick?