Apparently its racist to hire tutors and form pods, we must all suffer equally?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure it's the same people trying desperately to put these pods together who pretend that they want schools to open because they are "so concerned" about "the underprivileged".

At least in my social group it’s the opposite - people who wanted distance learning for all, no exceptions. Ironically one neighbor even mentioned asking a teacher who was nervous about going back to school to take a leave of absence and teach her pod for $$. According to a Washington Post article on the subject, she isn’t the only one trying to lure teachers away from public schools for the year.

This is happening a lot with MCPS teachers. Some of them are going to make bank this year.

[Anonymous]

It's not racist, but it's certainly not equitable. You are very privileged.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there’s it’s extremely risky (and morally bankrupt) to ignore the different effects distance learning is going to have on various community members/groups but I don’t know if this take on it is the most effective. It feels like it will put people stressed/frantic people who would be amenable/educable on the defensive about their very human efforts to work something out for their kids (which in the end helps no one.) Rich urban liberals can be powerful advocates, to put it diplomatically, and this doesn’t feel it’s poised to harness that potential.

+100. This kind of thing is actually harmful to the cause of real equality and eradication of racism.

It's not harmful. It's redefining "racism" as "actions that have a disproportionate impact on minorities due to race." If it's not racism (structural) that some of us in rich white zip codes can have our "pods" while we work from home, and kids from predominately black zip codes will just learn nothing while their parents are out of work or work essential jobs ... then what is it called?

You need to get past the idea that someone is telling you, specifically, Larla's mom, to cancel her "pod." We're not. We're saying - if you purport to care about BLM and racism, then NOW is the time to do something about this inequality that you are playing a STRUCTURAL role in.

And for those of us actually in economically mixed or Title I schools, then yeah, I think the moral responsibility does become a little more personal. Are you really going to cocoon at home and not try to help the other kids?

I think people should allow low income families of color to speak for themselves rather than assuming what is desired or helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there’s it’s extremely risky (and morally bankrupt) to ignore the different effects distance learning is going to have on various community members/groups but I don’t know if this take on it is the most effective. It feels like it will put people stressed/frantic people who would be amenable/educable on the defensive about their very human efforts to work something out for their kids (which in the end helps no one.) Rich urban liberals can be powerful advocates, to put it diplomatically, and this doesn’t feel it’s poised to harness that potential.

+100. This kind of thing is actually harmful to the cause of real equality and eradication of racism.

It's not harmful. It's redefining "racism" as "actions that have a disproportionate impact on minorities due to race." If it's not racism (structural) that some of us in rich white zip codes can have our "pods" while we work from home, and kids from predominately black zip codes will just learn nothing while their parents are out of work or work essential jobs ... then what is it called?

You need to get past the idea that someone is telling you, specifically, Larla's mom, to cancel her "pod." We're not. We're saying - if you purport to care about BLM and racism, then NOW is the time to do something about this inequality that you are playing a STRUCTURAL role in.

And for those of us actually in economically mixed or Title I schools, then yeah, I think the moral responsibility does become a little more personal. Are you really going to cocoon at home and not try to help the other kids?

I think people should allow low income families of color to speak for themselves rather than assuming what is desired or helpful.

yes, I’m sure low income families of color are thrilled about the vast differences in outcomes based on zip code ... come on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Now people are saying it's racist and privileged to hire a tutor or form pods. What's even more ridiculous is suggesting to make it illegal or force parents to include others for free to promote diversity of race and income. Lol good luck.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10220656647060383&set=a.1168976058860&type=3&theater

I’m sick and tired of people using racist in this way. It diminishes the term and it makes it seem that all black ppl or minorities can’t afford pods. That’s wrong to assume since some of us actually can afford to do the same. Some of us are also forming pods! Honestly this whole thing is just so taxing- real racism is being dragged by the KKK in the middle of the night.

Black and brown kids are experiencing racism in the content and quality of their educations in the public schools every day. Why do you think there are so many middle class AA kids being homeschooled? It’s rarely religious. Parents are protecting their kids from being underserved and overpoliced in public schools. And they don’t want them to be a token in private.

Are you suggesting that most middle class AA families have been homeschooling their kids even before covid? Because that is laughable. Maybe some but not "so many."

. There are lots of home school programs around. Look for them on Facebook. Lots. Pre Covid. You don’t know everything we do.

[Anonymous]

This all highlights why we need schools open ASAP.

[Anonymous]

I posted a bit above but want to reflect a bit on what this thread is as well as the broader “anti-racist” movement. I read White Fragility not long ago and was left with this feeling of “so what is it you want me to be doing” feeling which is much of what I get from this thread. I’m racist because I’m privileged and chose to act on that privilege, be it that I could form a pod or that I intend to fully pay for kids college or that we live in a wealthy part of town. Those are all privileged choices that allows my kid advantage that others don’t have because of systematic inequity. I get all that. The problem is I am not willing to not do these things, and really what needs to happen for structural racism to be dismantled is for people to give up privilege.... and therein lies the huge issue that we likely will never get to a place where there isn’t structural racism...

[Anonymous]

I haven't read the responses. It's only racist in that it perpetuates socio-economic inequity, which does affect Black and Hispanic students most.

If you stood for BLM and equity and hire away a public school teacher for your pod, it's clear you only stand for it so much. Part of fixing the equity imbalance is being willing to walk the walk too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s inherently privileged. It is not inherently racist.

There was advice in the NYT article to invite economically disadvantaged students to join your pods. I doubt anyone on DCUM will.

How does one do that? We talked about inviting others in our group but not sure how to go about it.

Bump for ideas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s inherently privileged. It is not inherently racist.

There was advice in the NYT article to invite economically disadvantaged students to join your pods. I doubt anyone on DCUM will.

How does one do that? We talked about inviting others in our group but not sure how to go about it.

Bump for ideas.

Honestly the most equitable thing would be to put the money you would be spending on this in a pot and the divvy it out to everyone based on need. The SAHM who has a college degree needs it much less than the single mom with a GED who has to work to support the family...

But again, most likely you only want to spend on your kid... so face the fact that you’ll be furthering inequity.

Perhaps pay all costs for a kid who needs it in addition to your own?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Now people are saying it's racist and privileged to hire a tutor or form pods. What's even more ridiculous is suggesting to make it illegal or force parents to include others for free to promote diversity of race and income. Lol good luck.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10220656647060383&set=a.1168976058860&type=3&theater

The mob leftist socialists and their puppet politicians will make sure NO ONE gets schooled this Fall. Not private schools, parochial schools, preschools, tutors, etc. Teachers union already nixed most public county districts which are sloshing in $b of funds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Other countries have much larger inequality. The US has free public education for everyone for 13+ years. I guess that’s not enough anymore.

Like where???

Please name one developed country with more inequality than the U.S.

[Anonymous]

Define inequality.

[Anonymous]

Most countries have billionaires and piss poor people.

Lots of countries have billionaires and millionaires and poor or welfare pops.

Unlike America, some countries even fail to have quality of life or income of the bottom third rise, unless coming from unheard of troughs (China, India, Brazil).

[Anonymous]

We're not doing a pod, but we're paying for a tutor just for our kids. We can afford it. I guess we're privileged. We also drive nice cars and live in a nice house.

None of this was handed to us -- we studied hard, worked hard, and enjoy the results of that. If there's one area we prioritize, it's spending on our kids. What is so wrong with that?