Anonymous
Post 06/01/2010 08:58     Subject: Re:DC privates educating suburban kids
Anonymous wrote:So I lived in DC for 13 years, my husband for over 30, I work for a public international organization that has the mission of alleviating poverty, and I travel world-wide regularly, but somehow my former neighbors and current colleagues won't be able to find anything to talk with me about because I now live in Virginia and must have an insular, non-empathetic view of the world? Right. I'm beginning to think some posters have never been to Virginia and Maryland.



And over here in Maryland, we are TOTALLY homogenous too! My Iranian, Indian, African-American, Cuban, Russian, Spanish, and Chinese neighbors would all agree!!
Anonymous
Post 06/01/2010 07:51     Subject: Re:DC privates educating suburban kids
Good point--and what about those folks at Yale who aren't from Connecticut? And all those meanies at Princeton who aren't from New Jersey? And those jerks at Columbia who aren't from New York? The horrors!

We could go on and on with this ridiculous nonsense. The bottom line is that if you're a DC resident and you want to "guarantee" your child a spot at school, then send him/her to your local DC PUBLIC school--because that's the only "guarantee" that you're ever going to get.

Anonymous wrote:You know what burns me up? All those people at Harvard who aren't from Massachusetts.
Anonymous
Post 06/01/2010 07:46     Subject: DC privates educating suburban kids
Excellent post and excellent point!

Anonymous wrote:Here is a list of over 17,000 tax-exempt entities operating in the District of Columbia: http://fwd4.me/QxW . The list includes many entities that are not designed to serve DC residents, including such national organizations as AARP, NARAL, NAACP, and the National Academy of Sciences. Nevertheless, these organizations employ thousands of DC residents, and buy many millions of dollars of goods and services from DC businesses.

Are you really proposing that DC revoke the tax-exempt status of all these entities to the extent they're not aimed at DC residents? If so, I think you're taking a short-sighted view of tax and revenue policy.

I also think you're off-base to suggest this is an issue of DC sovereignty. DC chose to extend tax-exempt status to all these organizations, and DC could revoke that right. It's not that DC lacks the authority -- it's just a stupid idea.
Anonymous
Post 05/31/2010 23:11     Subject: DC privates educating suburban kids
Anonymous wrote:PRIVATE SCHOOL VOUCHERS!!! That used to be a hot button policy issue. What happened to that debate? Is it dead in the water? Is there any hope down the road?


bump
Anonymous
Post 05/31/2010 08:39     Subject: Re:DC privates educating suburban kids
You know what burns me up? All those people at Harvard who aren't from Massachusetts.
Anonymous
Post 05/31/2010 08:31     Subject: Re:DC privates educating suburban kids
So I lived in DC for 13 years, my husband for over 30, I work for a public international organization that has the mission of alleviating poverty, and I travel world-wide regularly, but somehow my former neighbors and current colleagues won't be able to find anything to talk with me about because I now live in Virginia and must have an insular, non-empathetic view of the world? Right. I'm beginning to think some posters have never been to Virginia and Maryland.
Anonymous
Post 05/30/2010 22:48     Subject: DC privates educating suburban kids
I am a novice to DCUM but think I just identified "sock puppeting". "missed her point" of 22:42 actually totally misses the point! It's about school districts, community, qualified candidates and last but not least parents just heading to DC privates because it's on the way to work. Those families who find an incentive by having their children attend schools because it makes their family and transportation life easier might consider that being taxed for the privilege may be not an insult, but worth the fee.
Anonymous
Post 05/30/2010 22:42     Subject: Re:DC privates educating suburban kids
Wow. You completely missed her point.
Anonymous
Post 05/30/2010 22:38     Subject: DC privates educating suburban kids
Anonymous wrote:Here is a list of over 17,000 tax-exempt entities operating in the District of Columbia: http://fwd4.me/QxW . The list includes many entities that are not designed to serve DC residents, including such national organizations as AARP, NARAL, NAACP, and the National Academy of Sciences. Nevertheless, these organizations employ thousands of DC residents, and buy many millions of dollars of goods and services from DC businesses.

Are you really proposing that DC revoke the tax-exempt status of all these entities to the extent they're not aimed at DC residents? If so, I think you're taking a short-sighted view of tax and revenue policy.

I also think you're off-base to suggest this is an issue of DC sovereignty. DC chose to extend tax-exempt status to all these organizations, and DC could revoke that right. It's not that DC lacks the authority -- it's just a stupid idea.


talk about being off base. Who said anything about NAACP or the AARP? We're talking about schools here. You're not just off base you're talking about a different sport. I dare say you just like to hear yourself ramble.
Anonymous
Post 05/30/2010 22:32     Subject: DC privates educating suburban kids
PRIVATE SCHOOL VOUCHERS!!! That used to be a hot button policy issue. What happened to that debate? Is it dead in the water? Is there any hope down the road?
Anonymous
Post 05/30/2010 22:32     Subject: DC privates educating suburban kids
PP: I agree. Thank you! DC is not just the drop-off place on the way to your urbane jobs. Actually, it comes down to a matter of taste and sophistication, us DC residents really aren't likely to have much interest in a conversation with adults who choose suburbs over city when given the choice. Families who choose city life for their kids are usually more tolerant, international, adventuresome and forgiving than families who want the homogenous style of MD/VA life and a safe carpool to our great private schools. To the families who just can't afford to live in DC but wish to and find MD and VA 2nd choice, don't be offended! I speak to the superior-minded suburbanites who wouldn't want to ever live in DC.
Anonymous
Post 05/30/2010 22:26     Subject: DC privates educating suburban kids
Here is a list of over 17,000 tax-exempt entities operating in the District of Columbia: http://fwd4.me/QxW . The list includes many entities that are not designed to serve DC residents, including such national organizations as AARP, NARAL, NAACP, and the National Academy of Sciences. Nevertheless, these organizations employ thousands of DC residents, and buy many millions of dollars of goods and services from DC businesses.

Are you really proposing that DC revoke the tax-exempt status of all these entities to the extent they're not aimed at DC residents? If so, I think you're taking a short-sighted view of tax and revenue policy.

I also think you're off-base to suggest this is an issue of DC sovereignty. DC chose to extend tax-exempt status to all these organizations, and DC could revoke that right. It's not that DC lacks the authority -- it's just a stupid idea.
Anonymous
Post 05/30/2010 22:03     Subject: DC privates educating suburban kids
Anonymous wrote:I was born and raised in DC. The theme is so stupid. Private schools take who ever they want. That's why they are private. DC private schools would collapse if they were forced to only take kids from dc.


actually the idea is not that stupid. In the market place the best ones like the Big 3 will still be the cream of the crop and the lesser schools might fold but that is just the economics of it. I don't and shouldn't care if a few schools close down. The point is simple if you are using city resources and not paying for them and not benefitting the city's residents then you should pay taxes. You people who think it's silly realize that this is part of the bigger issue of people from across the country telling Dc what to do controlling our city just because they think they can.
Anonymous
Post 05/30/2010 21:00     Subject: DC privates educating suburban kids
I hate to break it to you snobs from the burbs who think your kids are automatically more qualified for great privates than DC kids: at admissions testing and interviews many of the best DC private schools inform applicants that they try and maintain at least 60% plus from within DC and they seek those kids. In many cases the DC residents get precedent over equally achieving burbers because all of the private schools also will acknowledge it builds ease in community. That said, the 30-40% max many aim for for burb kids rounds it out. it has nothing to do with enough qualified kids from DC, that is the most disgusting suggestion and I hope you stay at the country club in Maryland or Virginia.
Anonymous
Post 05/30/2010 19:14     Subject: DC privates educating suburban kids
I was born and raised in DC. The theme is so stupid. Private schools take who ever they want. That's why they are private. DC private schools would collapse if they were forced to only take kids from dc.