I'm am definitely against racism and classism. Neither are acceptable in a civilized society. But they are both so omnipresent in our society that we really can't avoid their incursion.

I think sometimes, since white people in DC are fairly uniformly high ses, if we see that a school has some white kids, that means they are likely trying to meet the needs of those kids.

The reality is that Dcps has been failing our kids for generations. To ignore that many schools are failing schools is irresponsible.

To take diversity into account is a good idea. So is learning about the school you are zoned for and judging it on its own merits.

To pretend not to notice that most schools in the district have fewer than 2% white kids is to be disingenuous. Most schools don't mirror our fine city's diversity.

We all want the best for all of our kids. And we all struggle with the legacy of a corrupt, ineffective system that is working hard to improve.

I hope that in doing this we can demonstrate this caring for all kids.

I do see that on this board people seem to misunderstand the meaning of high SES. And I'm certain racism and classism is present. But I give parents who have decided to stay in DC without a greatschools 7 and up School to rely on. Maybe we are stupid. Maybe we are brave. But at least we are willing to consider that immediately moving to the suburbs as previous generations did is not necessarily the best choice for our family.

Finally, something different is happening. And charters are part of that but so is DCPS. It gives me some hope that things will change.

I hope D.C. parents are less racist and classist than others. Who knows if we are. But openly talking about the reality and effects of racism and classism and how they might impact our own and other children is a step forward and. It a step back in my book.

I can't speak for everyone, but here is my view: My primary objective is my children; I will do whatever I can to make sure they get a good education. That means I want them at a well-run school that's not overcrowded. That means I want them with capable teachers who are focused on teaching all the students, and not just trying to drag the most unprepared students up to the bare minimum of "proficient." That means I want my children surrounded by other kids who want to learn and are not being disruptive. That means I want them in a reasonably safe neighborhood, preferably close to home. Those are my basic criteria; everything else is icing on the cake for me. I would be even more happy if my children were in a school with loads of racial and class diversity - even a school where my child is a distinct racial and class minority - but only if my basic criteria are met.

That's what I want in a school for my children. I suspect most parents - regardless of race or class - want something similar. If you think any of that makes me racist or classist, then you need to explain how.

Anonymous wrote:Where are you all living?

N Arlington

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The racism and classism (my kid is "high SES" and keep those "low SES" kids away from mine) is omnipresent on this board.

I had to think about this a bit.. here's my story.

When I first moved into my neighborhood many years ago (a MCPS Red Zone and HOA neighborhood BTW), the "suspected" drug and gang dealers pretty much had the run of the place. Kids didn't play in the playgrounds. Beat downs to initiate new members occurred in the parking lot. You were pretty much worried about walking to your own car. I was assaulted for breaking up a party where young (MS or early HS) kids were being invited over to.. whatever. The cops came to my house once and warned me they confiscated a lot of weapons from the guy on a traffic stop and to be careful. We've had stabbings and shootings down the street, etc. The local MS was dealing with drugs, etc. That wasn't even the MS13 crowd down the road, BTW.

Roll forward the clock about 15 years. Today you can't recognize the place. Kids play in the playground. You don't worry about being knifed or shot after dark. Housing prices are up.

Do I discriminate who I let my children play with? I'd have to say 'yes'. I don't believe in letting my children play outside after dark. I don't believe in letting ES kids swear (or hear me doing it). I don't believe in partying with adults from 10 to 3 AM while my kids are upstairs in the house. I believe drug dealers and gang members need to steer clear of my family.

Is that considered 'classism'? Just curious.

I'm with you in this. I live in NE DC and my toddler plays on the playground and we see the older kids in the neighborhood. Some of them use crude language, say violent things. We have seen middle school aged kids smoking pot. I ride the bus and hear parents screaming at their very young kids.

Do I want my kid to be in 7th grade with kids like this? I'm not sure.

You do know that drugs in middle school is a problem for rich kids too?

I grew up in a very wealthy area of Pennsylvania and many of my high school classmates are into coke and heroin and pills. This isn't something limited to poor kids in the inner city. And you should probably wake up to that fact before your kids reach middle school age.

Anonymous wrote:This is one reason why I really dislike this place. Most of y'all hide behind the name anonymous to share your true self: racist and classist.

You'd never in a million years say these things while you go on your woman's march or protest outside the White House.

You'd never in a million years say these on your Facebook wall and instead probably share black lives matters memes. Black lives only matter of most of "them" stay away from you and your child's school.

*if

This is one reason why I really dislike this place. Most of y'all hide behind the name anonymous to share your true self: racist and classist.

You'd never in a million years say these things while you go on your woman's march or protest outside the White House.

You'd never in a million years say these on your Facebook wall and instead probably share black lives matters memes. Black lives only matter of most of "them" stay away from you and your child's school.

People fear poors and the browns, but are hypocrites b/c they claim to be "progressive." Poors is a derogatory term for poor people that was birthed in these boards.

What is SES?

Seriously, I have no idea.

Thanks

But guys, check this out. Me super poor, right. Moved to WOTP. School greatschool 9,wth. Then moved 2 blocks to school zoned greatschool 10. Me poor, me can't be "keep those low SES kids away", me am the low SES.
Now, me also can't be racist, because me kids not white. I'm so sincere that those schools 9 and 10 are the only acceptable ones. I'm not sure who the other kids are who are coming to the school, but we'll see them when the time comes.
Not putting other schools down. Didn't even bother looking at them plus they far away.

+100. I've been in my Cap Hill neighborhood since the 1990s and I feel the same way about protecting my two kids.

Anonymous wrote:

The racism and classism (my kid is "high SES" and keep those "low SES" kids away from mine) is omnipresent on this board.

I had to think about this a bit.. here's my story.

When I first moved into my neighborhood many years ago (a MCPS Red Zone and HOA neighborhood BTW), the "suspected" drug and gang dealers pretty much had the run of the place. Kids didn't play in the playgrounds. Beat downs to initiate new members occurred in the parking lot. You were pretty much worried about walking to your own car. I was assaulted for breaking up a party where young (MS or early HS) kids were being invited over to.. whatever. The cops came to my house once and warned me they confiscated a lot of weapons from the guy on a traffic stop and to be careful. We've had stabbings and shootings down the street, etc. The local MS was dealing with drugs, etc. That wasn't even the MS13 crowd down the road, BTW.

Roll forward the clock about 15 years. Today you can't recognize the place. Kids play in the playground. You don't worry about being knifed or shot after dark. Housing prices are up.

Do I discriminate who I let my children play with? I'd have to say 'yes'. I don't believe in letting my children play outside after dark. I don't believe in letting ES kids swear (or hear me doing it). I don't believe in partying with adults from 10 to 3 AM while my kids are upstairs in the house. I believe drug dealers and gang members need to steer clear of my family.

Is that considered 'classism'? Just curious.

I'm with you in this. I live in NE DC and my toddler plays on the playground and we see the older kids in the neighborhood. Some of them use crude language, say violent things. We have seen middle school aged kids smoking pot. I ride the bus and hear parents screaming at their very young kids.

Do I want my kid to be in 7th grade with kids like this? I'm not sure.

Anonymous wrote:The racism and classism (my kid is "high SES" and keep those "low SES" kids away from mine) is omnipresent on this board. What percentage of it is trolls? What percentage is sincere?

I wonder the same thing myself. Maybe it's a minority of enthusiastic posters??

There is also a lot of other types of racism and classism that send to be acceptable here.

You know, all those dumb whities in the flyover states. Or, my kid is superior to your kid, so he will goof off at college for several years instead of serving his country. I mean, it would be such a waste because he is so smart!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the vast majority of "higher SES" (i.e. educated middle and upper middle class) people want their kids to go to school with a solid majority of kids of the same SES. A majority (no matter which race) probably also prefer their kid not to be in a tiny minority in terms of race. It's just that people will rarely admit these things unless they are on an anonymous board.

So the reality is that the world is full of such "awful" people, if that's how you judge those preferences.

I'd have more respect for them if they just moved into a neighborhood that reflected the demographics they find acceptable. Most of the "trolls" have options, even if it meant moving to an apartment or :gasp: the suburbs

I am interested in your use of "them" here. Do you honestly consider yourself free of racism and classism? Can you truly say that neither race nor class played a role in your choice of neighborhood and thus school or charter school?

I can say that as I look for schools for my child I know that she will be in the minority as a white child heading for a charter school. And I take some WOTP or Subrban parent's tsk taking with a grain of salt. You made your racist classist choice years ago. I'm making mine now. Are we really all that different? My child will probably be educated with a more diverse cohort than yours. Are you really sure you win the award for less racist? Not so sure.

Your post is very revealing pp. It's a good thing your child will be educated in a diverse cohort, maybe they'll learn not to make so many assumptions - I'm not white and I don't live WOTP or in the suburbs.

Then you weren't the intended audience of my post.

My point is that it's easy to point the finger but if we are truly honest with ourselves, we all take race and class into account.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the vast majority of "higher SES" (i.e. educated middle and upper middle class) people want their kids to go to school with a solid majority of kids of the same SES. A majority (no matter which race) probably also prefer their kid not to be in a tiny minority in terms of race. It's just that people will rarely admit these things unless they are on an anonymous board.

So the reality is that the world is full of such "awful" people, if that's how you judge those preferences.

I'd have more respect for them if they just moved into a neighborhood that reflected the demographics they find acceptable. Most of the "trolls" have options, even if it meant moving to an apartment or :gasp: the suburbs

I am interested in your use of "them" here. Do you honestly consider yourself free of racism and classism? Can you truly say that neither race nor class played a role in your choice of neighborhood and thus school or charter school?

I can say that as I look for schools for my child I know that she will be in the minority as a white child heading for a charter school. And I take some WOTP or Subrban parent's tsk taking with a grain of salt. You made your racist classist choice years ago. I'm making mine now. Are we really all that different? My child will probably be educated with a more diverse cohort than yours. Are you really sure you win the award for less racist? Not so sure.

Your post is very revealing pp. It's a good thing your child will be educated in a diverse cohort, maybe they'll learn not to make so many assumptions - I'm not white and I don't live WOTP or in the suburbs.

Some of the people that feel the need to boast that they are high SES are probably insecure. What salary are people talking about when they talk high SES? $250k and above?

Do they turn their noses down on others that they think don't make that much? Low income people have high values, too, and want the same things.

Try to get your kids in the school you want but don't waste time talking negatively about others. Also, some schools are good for a decade or so and then another school becomes the preferred flavor and the status afforded the previous school is lost. Additionally, some of the so called high SES kids aren't so bright. And some people spend so much money on their mortgages that they can't do anything else. They don't always treat their kids so well. Time for all of us to just get along.