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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]That is an over generalization pp. There are truly poor kids in private. Sometimes the school will asked a private donor to kick in for the "extras".[/quote]

In our private there are 0-2 truly poor kids in each class. Not a significant representation, though. Maybe a year ago somebody on DCUM ran the numbers and figured out that, at many schools, the FA budget only supports a handful of full-FA kids. Although my kids don't attend them, I understand that Catholic/parochial schools do a better job at supporting low-income kids than many other area privates.

Honestly, I don't know where I would draw a line and declare X number of kids (1-2 kids? 9-10 kids?) a "meaningful" representation.

What is "meaningful" diversity anyway? Why do schools and parents want diversity? Is it 
(a) the other kids learn about life outside the bubble, or 
(b) the school has a true commitment to helping lower-income kids. 
'd vote for (b), mainly because (a) seems patronizing and the "diversity" kids don't exist to educate the other kids. But well-intentioned people may disagree.

Please don't misunderstand me: I'm not saying that every kid must be exposed to "real" diversity. For some kids, a small, safe environment is necessary and helpful.

I am saying, though, that the people touting "diversity" at the private schools are talking about a very limited type of diversity. I'll be honest here, and say I get the impression that there's "good" diversity (minority kids from families like us) and bad diversity (dad is in jail). Another example: so far as I know, the full-FA kids' parents at our school have generally been to college, so they're in a position to help with algebra homework in a way that many lower-income public school parents are not. We don't have any kids of janitors or lawn guys at our school.

Also, I get the impression that most people haven't given much thought to what they want the diversity to achieve, apart from dispelling the perception that the school is a bastion of white privilege, which is an unfortunate perception in this day and age. My sense, though, is that many families want a comfortable, limited exposure to different points of view.

As a result, many private schools are bubbles in the sense that they offer a comfortable sort of diversity that exposes kids to a limited range of different viewpoints, but in the end doesn't really take kids out of the private school greenhouse.

My two cents. I'm feeling philosophical (and bored) today.[/quote]

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