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[quote=Anonymous][quote]One thing he mentioned is kids from all socioeconomic backgrounds benefit academically from a school population that is diverse economically. He said he will address that in later columns. I am interested in what impact that has on kids. I was on the lower $ spectrum and went to a much more economically diverse school. I was able to take AP and honors courses with kids from much wealthier families. I still didn't do as well as they did, but it at least gave me a group of kids who cared about educational achievement. And it was a competitive atmosphere that made me strive even harder.

But what benefit is a diverse school to the wealthy? How did my presence benefit the rich kids? [/quote]

I think there is a definite benefit (although I'm not sure it's "academic") to having an economically diverse school population.  I attended a private school in the NY metro area that prided itself on its "diversity."  But really, it was not so diverse.  I think very similar to a lot of elite colleges/universities, there was a very large, very affluent (not just moderately affluent) white population, and then there were the kids on scholarship - and nearly all of the kids of color were on scholarship and mostly from poor/working poor families (not middle class).  I am white, but financially it was a huge stretch for my parents to send me to this school.  I really felt out of place.  I did not fit in with the majority of kids, for whom money was not an issue for anything, ever.  It did not enter into their thinking when it came time to apply to college.  It did not enter into thinking on summer plans, vacation plans, wardrobe, etc. etc., etc.  I didn't see having some scholarship kids attending the school really change that thinking.

I think that when there is true diversity (not just tokens, or a population of just the top and bottom ends of the economic spectrum with no one in the middle) that breeds greater sensitivity/understanding and helps to form a cohesive feeling of community and not us/them mentality.[/quote]

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