SWS -- Atmosphere and Leadership

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There isn't really much substance in the discussion here. Sounds more like a bunch of dissatisfied people who couldn't get in.
The racial aspect is ludicrous. John raised his kids in Capitol Hill twenty years ago when none of you would have set a foot there. If he was a racist at that point, he would have moved out to McLean (with all the other ones).


SWS is the most loving place you could be at and I understand that some of you might become "haters" because you didn't get in. Get over it. Life goes on. There are other great schools out there. If we didn't get in, I can think of five other good schools that would have been just fine.

There is no racism at school. Not among the staff, nor the kids. John will hire who is best suited for the job irrespective of skin color. The mission is to provide an education as close to Reggio Emilia principles as possible. And that's it. If you don't understand what that means, please familiarize yourself with what these principles are.

That's a bold statement! Seriously, that statement alone destroys any credibility you could have had. It makes you incapable of participating in any open and honest conversation when you reject outright the possibility that there is any merit to what others are saying. My lord woman/man, do you really think in a sample size that of SWS there are no racist views present? I would hazard to say that your post is THE example of what others are talking about that makes them feel unwelcome at SWS. Only true believers that don't question anything need attend.

[Anonymous]

Yeeeeeessss. Drink the SWS Kool-aid my children. It is laced with the atelierista's fairy dust -- among other things. Legend says it will make you forget not only that your children are skipping off to he Aryan dream school, but that you will forget that you even live in DC! When you drop the kids in the morning among the hugs and smiles you will be offered a cup. Take it, trip balls on happiness and forget that brief you had to file until you wake in a stupor at your desk at 2 pm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeeeeeessss. Drink the SWS Kool-aid my children. It is laced with the atelierista's fairy dust -- among other things. Legend says it will make you forget not only that your children are skipping off to he Aryan dream school, but that you will forget that you even live in DC! When you drop the kids in the morning among the hugs and smiles you will be offered a cup. Take it, trip balls on happiness and forget that brief you had to file until you wake in a stupor at your desk at 2 pm.

That is really good . . . . and I'm guessing was written by a fellow current SWS parent . . . boy I hope I know you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hmm, What do CMI and SWS have in common that may make both schools somewhat less attractive to some AA families?

Perhaps educational approaches that are perceived as being fluffier than what some AAs families may want, and/or reputations that have grown due to word-of-mouth among mostly white DC residents? I don't know if either explanation is accurate, though.

I find it totally bizarre that people seem to be assuming that all Black families want some kind of bootcamp atmosphere for their 3 year olds. I know tons of arty hippie black folks! You do know that being black and ambitious for your kid does not equal compulsory enrollment in KIPP, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hmm, What do CMI and SWS have in common that may make both schools somewhat less attractive to some AA families?

Perhaps educational approaches that are perceived as being fluffier than what some AAs families may want, and/or reputations that have grown due to word-of-mouth among mostly white DC residents? I don't know if either explanation is accurate, though.

I find it totally bizarre that people seem to be assuming that all Black families want some kind of bootcamp atmosphere for their 3 year olds. I know tons of arty hippie black folks! You do know that being black and ambitious for your kid does not equal compulsory enrollment in KIPP, right?

I find that "they all want KIPP" excuse to be veiled racism.
It is also a myth people create so that they don't have to ask what their own school
could be doing to improve themselves.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know what percent of the non-siblings now entering the school are white? Also, don't charters have to show some kind of a plan to try to attract all kinds of students? Is there any evidence that SWS is doing that? Isn't SWS near that homeless shelter that feeds into Miner? Do they put up posters there or do any outreach in poorer neighborhoods near the Hill?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hmm, What do CMI and SWS have in common that may make both schools somewhat less attractive to some AA families?

Perhaps educational approaches that are perceived as being fluffier than what some AAs families may want, and/or reputations that have grown due to word-of-mouth among mostly white DC residents? I don't know if either explanation is accurate, though.

I find it totally bizarre that people seem to be assuming that all Black families want some kind of bootcamp atmosphere for their 3 year olds. I know tons of arty hippie black folks! You do know that being black and ambitious for your kid does not equal compulsory enrollment in KIPP, right?

I'm the PP you quoted, and I wasn't necessarily saying these explanations are accurate--I was just saying that these are the explanations that have been put out there on the CMI and SWS threads. I'm black BTW, and I definitely do know some black families who might go for either curriculum--I wouldn't say a ton, though. So tell me, where do those arty, hippie AA families send their kids to school? I'm a newcomer to DC so I don't know, but from these threads, it seems there aren't many of them at either school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hmm, What do CMI and SWS have in common that may make both schools somewhat less attractive to some AA families?

Perhaps educational approaches that are perceived as being fluffier than what some AAs families may want, and/or reputations that have grown due to word-of-mouth among mostly white DC residents? I don't know if either explanation is accurate, though.

I find it totally bizarre that people seem to be assuming that all Black families want some kind of bootcamp atmosphere for their 3 year olds. I know tons of arty hippie black folks! You do know that being black and ambitious for your kid does not equal compulsory enrollment in KIPP, right?

I find that "they all want KIPP" excuse to be veiled racism.
It is also a myth people create so that they don't have to ask what their own school
could be doing to improve themselves.

Where exactly is the veil? Seems pretty overt to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hmm, What do CMI and SWS have in common that may make both schools somewhat less attractive to some AA families?

Perhaps educational approaches that are perceived as being fluffier than what some AAs families may want, and/or reputations that have grown due to word-of-mouth among mostly white DC residents? I don't know if either explanation is accurate, though.

I find it totally bizarre that people seem to be assuming that all Black families want some kind of bootcamp atmosphere for their 3 year olds. I know tons of arty hippie black folks! You do know that being black and ambitious for your kid does not equal compulsory enrollment in KIPP, right?

I find that "they all want KIPP" excuse to be veiled racism.
It is also a myth people create so that they don't have to ask what their own school
could be doing to improve themselves.

Where exactly is the veil? Seems pretty overt to me.

Your right I shouldnt have said "veiled". I should have said a "racist way to try to say 'we are not racist'."

[Anonymous]

The accusation that the "leadership" at SWS is displaying-- even subconscious --racism here, is beyond the pale. They may not get it all right at SWS, but it's just total BS that anyone that knows them thinks this is true. At least two or three of the lead teachers are white BUT married to, or parents of, BLACK peole.

Bring up a valid concern but that is intolerable slander, and just not true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The accusation that the "leadership" at SWS is displaying-- even subconscious --racism here, is beyond the pale. They may not get it all right at SWS, but it's just total BS that anyone that knows them thinks this is true. At least two or three of the lead teachers are white BUT married to, or parents of, BLACK peole.

Bring up a valid concern but that is intolerable slander, and just not true.

I have a black friend!!! Again, because the SWS devotees seem not to understand the concept here. There are almost no black lead teachers and the percentage of white students is exceedingly low for a lottery school. If the principal was a black panther and had 4 black wives it still wouldn't make the response that there are no black students because we aren't near a metro any less racist.

[Anonymous]

Honey. Is SWS is racist. We're fucked.

[Anonymous]

I think accusing the parents or the principal of being racist is excessive. But I do think there is a certain lack of awareness if parents are looking around and thinking, this looks normal and good for a DC school that grew out of the Cluster catchment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The accusation that the "leadership" at SWS is displaying-- even subconscious --racism here, is beyond the pale. They may not get it all right at SWS, but it's just total BS that anyone that knows them thinks this is true. At least two or three of the lead teachers are white BUT married to, or parents of, BLACK peole.

Bring up a valid concern but that is intolerable slander, and just not true.

Slander is spoken, liable is written. You understand defamation as well as you understand racism.

[Anonymous]

^ no one is doing that. No one.