Reply to School Integration in Manhattan piece in the Atlantic

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Anyone have thoughts?

https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2017/04/the-privilege-of-school-choice/524103/

We're trying to live some version of the integrated version of this as a dual-income/upper-income white and Hispanic family in DC in a gentrifying neighborhood. A lot of the considerations here ring true regardless of the differences between DC and the Upper West Side. Despite our choices, I know I feel the opinions of others that seem very similar to what's being expressed in the article. And I wish more of us chose integration - it feels like this country won't really succeed until we're more willing.

One concern I haven't seen addressed for those upper-income families who choose integration is what to do down the line when the kids' learning outstrips the ability of teaching staff to differentiate in the integrated elementary classroom. For example,[b] if your kid reads and comprehends high school English material in second or third grade and can manage algebra in 4th grade, are you SUPPOSED to try to self-segregate[/b] into a gifted program, even if you weren't trying to find some race-based gifted and talented enclave to "breathe easy" away from everyone else? This might sound unlikely or entitled or something, but given the way things have gone in our kids' elementary school experience and our testing and educational attainment as parents, it's probably an upcoming decision point.

I know this is just more grist for the mill for many of us, but I appreciated the article.

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Is this a joke?  If your child is doing HS level work in 2nd or 3rd, then obviously your child needs a highly specialized environment that can address the conflict between the intellectual giftedness and what will be perceived as social retardation.  (By way of example, a 2nd grader who is socially appropriate for 2nd grade probably thinks a red stain on another student's jeans is funny like a jelly stain - and can't understand the mortification of her classmate who is unexpectedly having her period).
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