Reply to Inclusivity Behind Gated Doors: The Paradox of DC's Private Schools

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]In a city where private schools proudly champion inclusivity and social justice, there’s an ironic twist: these values are nurtured within exclusive bubbles, far removed from the diverse realities of public schools. Parents preach the virtues of equity but often pay top dollar to avoid sending their children to public institutions—the very environments where their talent, privilege, and resources could have the most transformative impact. Instead, inclusivity becomes a brand, polished behind ivy-covered walls, while public schools, brimming with untapped potential, are left out of the equation. Is it inclusiveness we seek—or insulation?[/quote]

Liberal here with kids in private, and I disagree with your premise. I don't see my school championing inclusivity, or parents preaching about equity. We all know why our kids aren't in public. 
But, [b]many of us would put our kids (back) into public if public offered the education privates do - small class sizes, appropriate classroom behavior, thoughtful instruction, meaningful art and music opportunities. I think public [/b]school kids should have all of that too. Most of us tried public school first and would have stayed if it were better.

I also disagree that my kid's presence or absence is meaningful to the quality of the school. Not only has that been debunked as a theory, but this is an affluent area with plenty of "talent, privilege, and resources" in public school families. It hasn't transformed anything.

Finally, to the extent my school is concerned with social justice, it's actually nice for those discussions to play out without any crazy parents trying to ban books or get a teacher fired for talking about current events. 
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[b]If you think all kids deserve this, what are you doing to help make sure all kids get it?[/b]  Because that’s the crux of the issue.  It isn’t hope but action that is required.[/quote]

DP. The question is what are you doing?  I’ve spent my time at BOE meetings where of course the arts education is on the chopping block before looking to cut say central office positions.  As lines of people were there trying to save the arts program to the point there wasn’t enough time for everyone to speak, I thought to myself in a the MCPS 2.1 billion dollar school budget was this really the only thing that could be cut to balance the budget?  I also attended the community meetings about the new curriculum and observed that the session was just to check a box, plans weren’t altered based on community feedback.  I also looked into charter school options being offered as an alternative - again wall of bureaucracy.  This was all while trying to get services at the public school for my neurodivergent child but was told basically that they weren’t failing so ….

So like the PP poster said, my kids are in private now and I have zero regrets or apologies. I will donate money to certain enrichment programs that offer scholarships/keep fees low and will donate to public libraries and otherwise keep it moving. [/quote]

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