Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone please explain why one would leave a school solely because there aren't enough children (let me reiterate...children) that are "middle class"?

In short come out and say what you really mean.

Bigots.

There is a tipping point where once you reach 40-50% of low-income students, the school begins to adversely impact middle- and high-impact students.

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/sarameads_policy_notebook/2010/10/the_limits_of_socioeconomic_integration.html

The effects of poverty suck. That's why we have government programs to try and mitigate it, and why people don't want their kids to grow up poor.

While you call this "bigotry", most of this would call it "recognizing one of the plainest facts of human existence."

I would ask that you read some additional literature on this subject. Specifically read the research-based article by Richard A. Kahlenberg entitled 'From All Walks of Life". Your viewpoint is misguided and frankly wrong. The article is from the Winter 2012 American Educator.

I had the pleasure of touring Ludlow last school year. I even went upstairs (I am looking for long-term for my two year old). Students in upper grade classrooms seemed focused and engaged. The hallways were calm and quite. I did not see anything ghetto or chaotic. I guess I am confused. Have these posters been inside the school? You can't rely on gossip.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think many a person from an "upper-middle class" neighborhood could say the same thing about their local elementary school playground. It's called teenagers. Like you never banged and drank a beer on a playground as a teen. But I guess it's more problematic if the suspects are...gasp...black.

And what constitutes "ghetto?"

You could start with parents flinging fists at a PTA meeting, for one. Does Brent's playground have broken 40 ouncers and used condoms all over it? Not last time I was there. But apparently you think that kind of thing everywhere is "normal", which may explain why you don't know what's "ghetto". It's *not* normal for most of the rest of the country.

Really? You thin that it is uncommon for a playground in a major city to have those things on a playground? ok...

Have you ever been in a classroom and witnessed this for yourself?

Anonymous wrote:It only takes a handful of unruly, talkative or extremely underprepared kids in a class of 20-some kids to completely disrupt and ruin the learning experience for all of the rest of the students, regardless of any of their income levels.

Point being, it is naive, magical thinking to believe that getting 5 or 10 high-SES students into a classroom will somehow miraculously make all the difference in the world. If that handful in the room is still noisy, unruly, not paying attention, struggling with the material and so on, the biggest outcome will be that rest will still suffer. More fundamental changes than that need to happen.

"Children raised in poverty rarely choose to behave differently, but they are faced daily with overwhelming challenges that affluent children never have to confront, and their brains have adapted to suboptimal conditions in ways that undermine good school performance."

More here: http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/109074/chapters/how-poverty-affects-behavior-and-academic-performance.aspx

Anonymous wrote:It only takes a handful of unruly, talkative or extremely underprepared kids in a class of 20-some kids to completely disrupt and ruin the learning experience for all of the rest of the students, regardless of any of their income levels.

Yep, and poor kids have much higher rates of behavioral problems. So while disruptive kids are disruptive regardless of their income levels, poor kids are much more likely to be disruptive. And because of peer effects, majority poor schools tend to have even higher numbers of disruptive kids.

It only takes a handful of unruly, talkative or extremely underprepared kids in a class of 20-some kids to completely disrupt and ruin the learning experience for all of the rest of the students, regardless of any of their income levels.

(PP here. Also, greater than 40% low-income students also--it goes without saying--adversely impacts low-income students as well. Probably more so than the middle- and high-income cohorts.)

Anonymous wrote:Can someone please explain why one would leave a school solely because there aren't enough children (let me reiterate...children) that are "middle class"?

In short come out and say what you really mean.

Bigots.

There is a tipping point where once you reach 40-50% of low-income students, the school begins to adversely impact middle- and high-impact students.

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/sarameads_policy_notebook/2010/10/the_limits_of_socioeconomic_integration.html

The effects of poverty suck. That's why we have government programs to try and mitigate it, and why people don't want their kids to grow up poor.

While you call this "bigotry", most of this would call it "recognizing one of the plainest facts of human existence."

As someone who has spent 3 years at Ludlow- I can honestly say I would send my child here through 5th grade. As I had read in other posts about the all of the "AA" teachers- they are excellent (which I'm confused why their racial background is even something to be concerned with?) You need to get off your high horse. The aftercare program is excellent. The school is going to be renovated. Get a grip. The thought that your child will not be challenged above K- why not challenge that by staying. If your child is really the genius that you think- they can apply for academic scholarships elsewhere.

PS- I'm white.

Anonymous wrote:I think many a person from an "upper-middle class" neighborhood could say the same thing about their local elementary school playground. It's called teenagers. Like you never banged and drank a beer on a playground as a teen. But I guess it's more problematic if the suspects are...gasp...black.

And what constitutes "ghetto?"

You could start with parents flinging fists at a PTA meeting, for one. Does Brent's playground have broken 40 ouncers and used condoms all over it? Not last time I was there. But apparently you think that kind of thing everywhere is "normal", which may explain why you don't know what's "ghetto". It's *not* normal for most of the rest of the country.

Is that ghetto or true?

So i guess now we get on the custodial staff and the problems solved.

What constitutes ghetto?

Being told "you don't want to send your white child here."

Yep. That's Ludlow-Taylor, pride of DCPS.