Anonymous wrote:I will admit that I find it embarrassing. Few people in my neighborhood could afford private and it's the only real "tell" that we are higher income. I have felt other moms withdraw once they realize we are probably wealthier than they would otherwise have thought.

Are you sure that’s the reason they withdraw? Could be a lot of reasons.

Anonymous wrote:If you’re liberal and full pay it can be a bit embarrassing to admit your kids are not in public.

Right. It's a combination of hypocrisy and Bethesda Guilt.

Anonymous wrote:I've actually had this conversation more than once. What school does your child attend? Oh it's in DC. DCPS? No. It's private. Which private? Sidwell

With other parents the conversation goes, what school does your child attend? And then an actual answer.

I had the same conversation with someone whose kids go to Beauvoir. They said it so quietly l had to ask them to repeat the name. I had already told them what DC private my kid goes to, and it’s one they also applied to, so the hushed response was a bit surprising.

I will admit that I find it embarrassing. Few people in my neighborhood could afford private and it's the only real "tell" that we are higher income. I have felt other moms withdraw once they realize we are probably wealthier than they would otherwise have thought.

It might not be embarrassment so much as not wanting to open the door to another conversation about “oh, where the Obamas went!” or “oh, isn’t that so expensive?” or “oh, the Kavanaugh school,” or whatever flavor of those comments their school gets. If they’re not the type of parent to want to brag about what school their kid is in, they may be the type who just doesn’t want to hear more inane comments about it, either.

Anonymous wrote:Are you a book burning MAGA OP?

Do you think they would have applied to those particular schools?

I've actually had this conversation more than once. What school does your child attend? Oh it's in DC. DCPS? No. It's private. Which private? Sidwell

With other parents the conversation goes, what school does your child attend? And then an actual answer.

Are you a book burning MAGA OP?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you’re liberal and full pay it can be a bit embarrassing to admit your kids are not in public.

+1

It is mostly conservatives who have constrained public education and turned it into what it is today. If you are liberal, I wouldn't feel bad about opting out at all, especially given how liberal most of the private schools are values alignment wise.

What do conservatives have to do with public school in DC or Maryland?

Anonymous wrote:But within that bubble there's a lot of judgment. You can see it on this board.

People in a bubble are going to have one reason or another for why they or their kid is better or deserving. Not talking at all about being at a school or being great at an activity isn't helpful or going to change that judgment in my opinion.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you’re liberal and full pay it can be a bit embarrassing to admit your kids are not in public.

+1

It is mostly conservatives who have constrained public education and turned it into what it is today. If you are liberal, I wouldn't feel bad about opting out at all, especially given how liberal most of the private schools are values alignment wise.

But within that bubble there's a lot of judgment. You can see it on this board.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BTW, it’s “I went to school in Boston.”

It’s this, and 100%. IYKYK.

It is funny that kids/parents would think it is anything like saying they go to school in Boston. Definitely throw an "I just assumed you meant MIT" joke in after you hear that btw.

It is so true that no one has heard of these schools outside of a small bubble. I'd only heard of Sidwell before moving back here for a 2nd time bc of the Obamas. I had relatives at Sidwell and GDS at that time and didn't think about it at all. It isn't like we are taking about Exeter here.

Anonymous wrote:If you’re liberal and full pay it can be a bit embarrassing to admit your kids are not in public.

+1

Anonymous wrote:BTW, it’s “I went to school in Boston.”

It’s this, and 100%. IYKYK.