Anonymous
Post 04/13/2015 14:14     Subject: Ward 6 Middle Schools
A Brent mom actually asked me if I was going to send my kid to Watkins and then shuddered. With this attitude, why would any Brent parents want their kids to go to SH? Latin, Basis, or private seems much better.
Anonymous
Post 04/13/2015 14:12     Subject: Ward 6 Middle Schools
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Totally agree. What are the special interests that are keeping this from happening?


Having watched this for a while here is my opinion:

1) Stuart Hobson has a nice set up smack in the middle of Capitol Hill and won't give an inch. They have Watkins, LT and JO Wilson feeding as well as lots of interest from high functioning students coming from outside the feeder pattern and outside Ward 6. It works, it has worked for years, they are happy with the 3rd best middle school in the city moniker and with their acceptance rate at test in public high schools as well as private high schools. They have well worn political influence and are connected all through city government. They don't care at all about Eastern High School or a pathway there. Why mess with success? Meantime, the SH school boundary cuts an awkward swath across Capitol Hill--diagonal from the far corner near the McDonald's on PEnnsylvania Ave and 18th to over H street near JO Wilson. But it's a narrow band and slices Tyler and Brent into Jefferson and Payne and Maury into Eliot Hine ( both underenrolled )

2) No politician or city official can touch with a ten foot pole a plan that would appear to help, appease, attract, retain or otherwise benefit the white gentrifiers around Ward 6. Mark my words if this group of middle and upper class families were all african American ( rather than partly ) this would have already been solved. Witness test-in middle school slated for Ward 7 and honors programs in all-african American middle schools in Ward 8. This is the truthful politics of our city and it is an unspoken but powerful force behind Everything that happens or doesn't


You could always move into the Cluster boundary if you wanted. My feeling is that most people at Brent and Maury wouldn't want SH anyway, so what's all the fuss about?
Anonymous
Post 04/13/2015 12:49     Subject: Ward 6 Middle Schools
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Totally agree. What are the special interests that are keeping this from happening?


Having watched this for a while here is my opinion:


2) No politician or city official can touch with a ten foot pole a plan that would appear to help, appease, attract, retain or otherwise benefit the white gentrifiers around Ward 6. Mark my words if this group of middle and upper class families were all african American ( rather than partly ) this would have already been solved. Witness test-in middle school slated for Ward 7 and honors programs in all-african American middle schools in Ward 8. This is the truthful politics of our city and it is an unspoken but powerful force behind Everything that happens or doesn't


Wow. Someone finally gave voice to the long forgotton downtrodden rich white families that can't get a fair shake in this city. Thank you for giving voice to the oppressed.


That's your lens. I never characterized anyone as downtrodden or oppressed. Perhaps frustrated is the best characterization. More open minded analysis would help this whole discussion enormously


I was being serious. White people have gotten screwed in this city for years. That's why the best facilities, parks and services are all located in black neighborhoods. Also probably explains the white flight we've seen since about 2000. I mean, I haven't actually looked at numbers or facts (much like yourself) but based on the feel of the truthiness of your statement that black people get all the good stuff I can only assume the city has gotten blacker and less diverse since 2000 when all this screwing of the white-,man, post racism stuff began. In fact, based on your observations I can only assume the population of DC must have fallen and the tax base gotten smaller and smaller.


This is exactly the crap that happens when the middle school in Ward 6 situation comes up anywhere. It can't be discussed in a civil And open way
Anonymous
Post 04/13/2015 12:03     Subject: Ward 6 Middle Schools
*your
Anonymous
Post 04/13/2015 12:02     Subject: Ward 6 Middle Schools
-sigh- I'[m not the one making that argument PP. Someone else was, and yeah, I don't think it's entirely helpful, but at the same time, I DID just watch Bowser give a big f-you to the white wards who didn't vote for her so while I don't think it's as easy as "poor white guys" I also must acknowledge that there may be an element of NIMBY occurring in certain circles in this city that still gain their power from black voters and have no reservations abut cronyism.

Regardless, accusing me of being a Fox-news watching conservative bigot is making the point that this is what happens if you do anything in Ward 6 besides tow the line of gentrifer guilt publicly.

It's tired, you're tired. If you don't have anything to add to the discussion beyond you're haughty judgement, please go away. I doubt you're even a ward 6 parent.
Anonymous
Post 04/13/2015 11:43     Subject: Ward 6 Middle Schools
Anonymous wrote:^ Ohhhhh, you're the Bill O'Reilly chick. Mm-kay, thanks for all your helpful input.


If you don't like the argument you are making then look in the mirror. Otherwise own it! You think white people are getting screwed and the black power structure is giving all the good stuff to black people (that was what #2 said, btw). It's a specious argument and the facts don't support it (neither does the success of white kids' test scores or quality of education by demographic concentration), but by god, if you're going to stake out a position then own it, big boy!
Anonymous
Post 04/13/2015 11:33     Subject: Ward 6 Middle Schools
^ Ohhhhh, you're the Bill O'Reilly chick. Mm-kay, thanks for all your helpful input.
Anonymous
Post 04/13/2015 11:27     Subject: Ward 6 Middle Schools
Anonymous wrote:Go away PP, you've got your CHPSPO podium and your Charles Allen and Joe Weedon - the other people are trying to talk about a real solution that'll actually make these schools more attractive to people.


Whatever do you mean? I'm agreeing with everything you are saying!!! I actually wouldn't know Weedon or Allen if they ran into me with their cars. Can you help me understand? Are they on the side of facts and you are against them?

You aren't talking about solutions, you are stoking division and a white persecution complex. Whatever sense your argument might make is completely undermined when you try and argue that white people are getting screwed and black people get all the good stuff. And if only the white people getting screwed were black things would be fixed. The very concept and words defy history and logic...everywhere except on Fox News.

P.S.I just looked and it turns out that the "facts" don't fit the narrative. Black population percentage by year (2000/2010/2013) are 60%/50%/49% while white are 30/38/43. And during that time the overall population of DC was 572k/601k/658k.
Anonymous
Post 04/13/2015 11:21     Subject: Ward 6 Middle Schools
Anonymous wrote:Not to mention the fact that Seaton and Walker Jones are never even mentioned in any conversations because th cluster doesn't even realize they are in Ward 6


WTF? Why should the Cluster give two shits about this? Even dominating CHPSPO, neither school is remotely near Capitol Hill. There may be much accuse cluster folks of in terms blindly protecting our narrow interests, but this is just stupid.
Anonymous
Post 04/13/2015 11:15     Subject: Ward 6 Middle Schools
Go away PP, you've got your CHPSPO podium and your Charles Allen and Joe Weedon - the other people are trying to talk about a real solution that'll actually make these schools more attractive to people.
Anonymous
Post 04/13/2015 11:13     Subject: Ward 6 Middle Schools
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Totally agree. What are the special interests that are keeping this from happening?


Having watched this for a while here is my opinion:


2) No politician or city official can touch with a ten foot pole a plan that would appear to help, appease, attract, retain or otherwise benefit the white gentrifiers around Ward 6. Mark my words if this group of middle and upper class families were all african American ( rather than partly ) this would have already been solved. Witness test-in middle school slated for Ward 7 and honors programs in all-african American middle schools in Ward 8. This is the truthful politics of our city and it is an unspoken but powerful force behind Everything that happens or doesn't


Wow. Someone finally gave voice to the long forgotton downtrodden rich white families that can't get a fair shake in this city. Thank you for giving voice to the oppressed.


That's your lens. I never characterized anyone as downtrodden or oppressed. Perhaps frustrated is the best characterization. More open minded analysis would help this whole discussion enormously


I was being serious. White people have gotten screwed in this city for years. That's why the best facilities, parks and services are all located in black neighborhoods. Also probably explains the white flight we've seen since about 2000. I mean, I haven't actually looked at numbers or facts (much like yourself) but based on the feel of the truthiness of your statement that black people get all the good stuff I can only assume the city has gotten blacker and less diverse since 2000 when all this screwing of the white-,man, post racism stuff began. In fact, based on your observations I can only assume the population of DC must have fallen and the tax base gotten smaller and smaller.
Anonymous
Post 04/13/2015 11:09     Subject: Ward 6 Middle Schools
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Totally agree. What are the special interests that are keeping this from happening?


Having watched this for a while here is my opinion:


2) No politician or city official can touch with a ten foot pole a plan that would appear to help, appease, attract, retain or otherwise benefit the white gentrifiers around Ward 6. Mark my words if this group of middle and upper class families were all african American ( rather than partly ) this would have already been solved. Witness test-in middle school slated for Ward 7 and honors programs in all-african American middle schools in Ward 8. This is the truthful politics of our city and it is an unspoken but powerful force behind Everything that happens or doesn't


Wow. Someone finally gave voice to the long forgotton downtrodden rich white families that can't get a fair shake in this city. Thank you for giving voice to the oppressed.


That's your lens. I never characterized anyone as downtrodden or oppressed. Perhaps frustrated is the best characterization. More open minded analysis would help this whole discussion enormously
Anonymous
Post 04/13/2015 10:50     Subject: Ward 6 Middle Schools
Not to mention the fact that Seaton and Walker Jones are never even mentioned in any conversations because th cluster doesn't even realize they are in Ward 6
Anonymous
Post 04/13/2015 10:42     Subject: Ward 6 Middle Schools
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Totally agree. What are the special interests that are keeping this from happening?


Having watched this for a while here is my opinion:

1) Stuart Hobson has a nice set up smack in the middle of Capitol Hill and won't give an inch. They have Watkins, LT and JO Wilson feeding as well as lots of interest from high functioning students coming from outside the feeder pattern and outside Ward 6. It works, it has worked for years, they are happy with the 3rd best middle school in the city moniker and with their acceptance rate at test in public high schools as well as private high schools. They have well worn political influence and are connected all through city government. They don't care at all about Eastern High School or a pathway there. Why mess with success? Meantime, the SH school boundary cuts an awkward swath across Capitol Hill--diagonal from the far corner near the McDonald's on PEnnsylvania Ave and 18th to over H street near JO Wilson. But it's a narrow band and slices Tyler and Brent into Jefferson and Payne and Maury into Eliot Hine ( both underenrolled )

2) No politician or city official can touch with a ten foot pole a plan that would appear to help, appease, attract, retain or otherwise benefit the white gentrifiers around Ward 6. Mark my words if this group of middle and upper class families were all african American ( rather than partly ) this would have already been solved. Witness test-in middle school slated for Ward 7 and honors programs in all-african American middle schools in Ward 8. This is the truthful politics of our city and it is an unspoken but powerful force behind Everything that happens or doesn't


Don't overlook the fact that the awkward swath of the Cluster happened to leave Hine Middle School just outside the boundary at 8th & Pennsylvania.
Anonymous
Post 04/13/2015 10:34     Subject: Ward 6 Middle Schools
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Totally agree. What are the special interests that are keeping this from happening?


Having watched this for a while here is my opinion:


2) No politician or city official can touch with a ten foot pole a plan that would appear to help, appease, attract, retain or otherwise benefit the white gentrifiers around Ward 6. Mark my words if this group of middle and upper class families were all african American ( rather than partly ) this would have already been solved. Witness test-in middle school slated for Ward 7 and honors programs in all-african American middle schools in Ward 8. This is the truthful politics of our city and it is an unspoken but powerful force behind Everything that happens or doesn't


Wow. Someone finally gave voice to the long forgotton downtrodden rich white families that can't get a fair shake in this city. Thank you for giving voice to the oppressed.