Anonymous wrote:As you can see in this thread, a lot of PGCPS teachers do not send their kids to PGCPS.

Enough said.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is extremely important that our black children be able to grow up seeing themselves as not only "normal" (rather than tokens or abhorrations), but also see the diversity of themselves within their culture. I think if you need to move East or to PG, that would be a great decision for her self-esteem, which is much more important than a school's "academic" performance.

I know this sounds counter-intuitive, but the reason for this is that the main reason why children of immigrant families tend to do better in our schools (regardless of whether they go to a "good" school or a "bad" one) is because of cultural pride and identity that keeps them motivated to succeed, as well as the high expectations from their parents and families that go along with that. It is simply not enough to throw heavy books at a child for them to succeed--they must also have pride, esteem in themselves, see high-achieving role models THAT LOOK LIKE THEM, etc. There are many schools with good academics and many programs out there that will ensure your child is academically challenged if you put in the effort to give it to them. However, they will not go but so far if they do not have role models, expectations, and pride. White faculty are simply not going to provide that, and will in fact, provide the opposite.

In the meantime, you can instill these things in your daughter while she is a "token" by at the very least celebrating Kwanzaa (DC has tons of events to attend and communities to join for this), Juneteenth, reading stories with her about her own history and heritage, and ensuring she is around other black children and people maybe through her church, join a black Girl Scout troop in PG, wherever. But none of that will be quite as hearty as being in a school with black children and teachers.

I will also add that my husband and I are products of PG county schools. We are now professionals with advanced degrees, and we've met so many black people similar to you from outside of PG that have that typical token experience and it does damage to their self-esteem and success in life, especially when they fail to attend an HBCU. Almost all high-achieving children have a community of people around them rooting for them, and black Americans are generally not in that position at all in comparison with nearly everyone else (on top of the other structural and economic issues many black Americans face).

But yet white parents who want their kids around other similar white children are racist. When they avoid PG schools for the reasons you just stated how is that different?

White kids are not constantly told that everything in this country was built by black people. White kids are not told that they are valued for being athletic or a good dancer, but any academic achievements are out of reach. White kids are not told that majority white schools are unsafe.

White kids are constantly told many things. You really have no clue as you only look at one side of it. For starters, they are now being told all white people are racist.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is extremely important that our black children be able to grow up seeing themselves as not only "normal" (rather than tokens or abhorrations), but also see the diversity of themselves within their culture. I think if you need to move East or to PG, that would be a great decision for her self-esteem, which is much more important than a school's "academic" performance.

I know this sounds counter-intuitive, but the reason for this is that the main reason why children of immigrant families tend to do better in our schools (regardless of whether they go to a "good" school or a "bad" one) is because of cultural pride and identity that keeps them motivated to succeed, as well as the high expectations from their parents and families that go along with that. It is simply not enough to throw heavy books at a child for them to succeed--they must also have pride, esteem in themselves, see high-achieving role models THAT LOOK LIKE THEM, etc. There are many schools with good academics and many programs out there that will ensure your child is academically challenged if you put in the effort to give it to them. However, they will not go but so far if they do not have role models, expectations, and pride. White faculty are simply not going to provide that, and will in fact, provide the opposite.

In the meantime, you can instill these things in your daughter while she is a "token" by at the very least celebrating Kwanzaa (DC has tons of events to attend and communities to join for this), Juneteenth, reading stories with her about her own history and heritage, and ensuring she is around other black children and people maybe through her church, join a black Girl Scout troop in PG, wherever. But none of that will be quite as hearty as being in a school with black children and teachers.

I will also add that my husband and I are products of PG county schools. We are now professionals with advanced degrees, and we've met so many black people similar to you from outside of PG that have that typical token experience and it does damage to their self-esteem and success in life, especially when they fail to attend an HBCU. Almost all high-achieving children have a community of people around them rooting for them, and black Americans are generally not in that position at all in comparison with nearly everyone else (on top of the other structural and economic issues many black Americans face).

But yet white parents who
want their kids around other similar white children are racist. When they avoid PG schools for the reasons you just stated how is that different?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is extremely important that our black children be able to grow up seeing themselves as not only "normal" (rather than tokens or abhorrations), but also see the diversity of themselves within their culture. I think if you need to move East or to PG, that would be a great decision for her self-esteem, which is much more important than a school's "academic" performance.

I know this sounds counter-intuitive, but the reason for this is that the main reason why children of immigrant families tend to do better in our schools (regardless of whether they go to a "good" school or a "bad" one) is because of cultural pride and identity that keeps them motivated to succeed, as well as the high expectations from their parents and families that go along with that. It is simply not enough to throw heavy books at a child for them to succeed--they must also have pride, esteem in themselves, see high-achieving role models THAT LOOK LIKE THEM, etc. There are many schools with good academics and many programs out there that will ensure your child is academically challenged if you put in the effort to give it to them. However, they will not go but so far if they do not have role models, expectations, and pride. White faculty are simply not going to provide that, and will in fact, provide the opposite.

In the meantime, you can instill these things in your daughter while she is a "token" by at the very least celebrating Kwanzaa (DC has tons of events to attend and communities to join for this), Juneteenth, reading stories with her about her own history and heritage, and ensuring she is around other black children and people maybe through her church, join a black Girl Scout troop in PG, wherever. But none of that will be quite as hearty as being in a school with black children and teachers.

I will also add that my husband and I are products of PG county schools. We are now professionals with advanced degrees, and we've met so many black people similar to you from outside of PG that have that typical token experience and it does damage to their self-esteem and success in life, especially when they fail to attend an HBCU. Almost all high-achieving children have a community of people around them rooting for them, and black Americans are generally not in that position at all in comparison with nearly everyone else (on top of the other structural and economic issues many black Americans face).

But yet white parents who want their kids around other similar white children are racist. When they avoid PG schools for the reasons you just stated how is that different?

White kids are not constantly told that everything in this country was built by black people. White kids are not told that they are valued for being athletic or a good dancer, but any academic achievements are out of reach. White kids are not told that majority white schools are unsafe.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is extremely important that our black children be able to grow up seeing themselves as not only "normal" (rather than tokens or abhorrations), but also see the diversity of themselves within their culture. I think if you need to move East or to PG, that would be a great decision for her self-esteem, which is much more important than a school's "academic" performance.

I know this sounds counter-intuitive, but the reason for this is that the main reason why children of immigrant families tend to do better in our schools (regardless of whether they go to a "good" school or a "bad" one) is because of cultural pride and identity that keeps them motivated to succeed, as well as the high expectations from their parents and families that go along with that. It is simply not enough to throw heavy books at a child for them to succeed--they must also have pride, esteem in themselves, see high-achieving role models THAT LOOK LIKE THEM, etc. There are many schools with good academics and many programs out there that will ensure your child is academically challenged if you put in the effort to give it to them. However, they will not go but so far if they do not have role models, expectations, and pride. White faculty are simply not going to provide that, and will in fact, provide the opposite.

In the meantime, you can instill these things in your daughter while she is a "token" by at the very least celebrating Kwanzaa (DC has tons of events to attend and communities to join for this), Juneteenth, reading stories with her about her own history and heritage, and ensuring she is around other black children and people maybe through her church, join a black Girl Scout troop in PG, wherever. But none of that will be quite as hearty as being in a school with black children and teachers.

I will also add that my husband and I are products of PG county schools. We are now professionals with advanced degrees, and we've met so many black people similar to you from outside of PG that have that typical token experience and it does damage to their self-esteem and success in life, especially when they fail to attend an HBCU. Almost all high-achieving children have a community of people around them rooting for them, and black Americans are generally not in that position at all in comparison with nearly everyone else (on top of the other structural and economic issues many black Americans face).

But yet white parents who want their kids around other similar white children are racist. When they avoid PG schools for the reasons you just stated how is that different?

White kids are not constantly told that everything in this country was built by black people. White kids are not told that they are valued for being athletic or a good dancer, but any academic achievements are out of reach. White kids are not told that majority white schools are unsafe.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is extremely important that our black children be able to grow up seeing themselves as not only "normal" (rather than tokens or abhorrations), but also see the diversity of themselves within their culture. I think if you need to move East or to PG, that would be a great decision for her self-esteem, which is much more important than a school's "academic" performance.

I know this sounds counter-intuitive, but the reason for this is that the main reason why children of immigrant families tend to do better in our schools (regardless of whether they go to a "good" school or a "bad" one) is because of cultural pride and identity that keeps them motivated to succeed, as well as the high expectations from their parents and families that go along with that. It is simply not enough to throw heavy books at a child for them to succeed--they must also have pride, esteem in themselves, see high-achieving role models THAT LOOK LIKE THEM, etc. There are many schools with good academics and many programs out there that will ensure your child is academically challenged if you put in the effort to give it to them. However, they will not go but so far if they do not have role models, expectations, and pride. White faculty are simply not going to provide that, and will in fact, provide the opposite.

In the meantime, you can instill these things in your daughter while she is a "token" by at the very least celebrating Kwanzaa (DC has tons of events to attend and communities to join for this), Juneteenth, reading stories with her about her own history and heritage, and ensuring she is around other black children and people maybe through her church, join a black Girl Scout troop in PG, wherever. But none of that will be quite as hearty as being in a school with black children and teachers.

I will also add that my husband and I are products of PG county schools. We are now professionals with advanced degrees, and we've met so many black people similar to you from outside of PG that have that typical token experience and it does damage to their self-esteem and success in life, especially when they fail to attend an HBCU. Almost all high-achieving children have a community of people around them rooting for them, and black Americans are generally not in that position at all in comparison with nearly everyone else (on top of the other structural and economic issues many black Americans face).

But yet white parents who want their kids around other similar white children are racist. When they avoid PG schools for the reasons you just stated how is that different?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You could always stay within MoCo- my daughter’s school is less than 5% white and is 66% black. Move east!

Anonymous wrote:I second moving East. The DCC and NEC have lots of families like yours (we’re one and DH and I teach many others) and the kids are thriving academically and socially. Network with other parents now in late ES. I still keep in touch with my Mocha Moms group although I returned to work 13 years ago. Get your DD linked up with MSP starting in MS.

I third this. Blair meets your needs.

Not if she has hopes for gifted track. Look at the black populations of the best programs be they CAP, Magnet or APs at Blair. It becomes clear it isn’t just about enrichment.

Anonymous wrote:It is extremely important that our black children be able to grow up seeing themselves as not only "normal" (rather than tokens or abhorrations), but also see the diversity of themselves within their culture. I think if you need to move East or to PG, that would be a great decision for her self-esteem, which is much more important than a school's "academic" performance.

I know this sounds counter-intuitive, but the reason for this is that the main reason why children of immigrant families tend to do better in our schools (regardless of whether they go to a "good" school or a "bad" one) is because of cultural pride and identity that keeps them motivated to succeed, as well as the high expectations from their parents and families that go along with that. It is simply not enough to throw heavy books at a child for them to succeed--they must also have pride, esteem in themselves, see high-achieving role models THAT LOOK LIKE THEM, etc. There are many schools with good academics and many programs out there that will ensure your child is academically challenged if you put in the effort to give it to them. However, they will not go but so far if they do not have role models, expectations, and pride. White faculty are simply not going to provide that, and will in fact, provide the opposite.

In the meantime, you can instill these things in your daughter while she is a "token" by at the very least celebrating Kwanzaa (DC has tons of events to attend and communities to join for this), Juneteenth, reading stories with her about her own history and heritage, and ensuring she is around other black children and people maybe through her church, join a black Girl Scout troop in PG, wherever. But none of that will be quite as hearty as being in a school with black children and teachers.

I will also add that my husband and I are products of PG county schools. We are now professionals with advanced degrees, and we've met so many black people similar to you from outside of PG that have that typical token experience and it does damage to their self-esteem and success in life, especially when they fail to attend an HBCU. Almost all high-achieving children have a community of people around them rooting for them, and black Americans are generally not in that position at all in comparison with nearly everyone else (on top of the other structural and economic issues many black Americans face).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You could always stay within MoCo- my daughter’s school is less than 5% white and is 66% black. Move east!

Anonymous wrote:I second moving East. The DCC and NEC have lots of families like yours (we’re one and DH and I teach many others) and the kids are thriving academically and socially. Network with other parents now in late ES. I still keep in touch with my Mocha Moms group although I returned to work 13 years ago. Get your DD linked up with MSP starting in MS.

I third this. Blair meets your needs.

Anonymous wrote:It is extremely important that our black children be able to grow up seeing themselves as not only "normal" (rather than tokens or abhorrations), but also see the diversity of themselves within their culture. I think if you need to move East or to PG, that would be a great decision for her self-esteem, which is much more important than a school's "academic" performance.

I know this sounds counter-intuitive, but the reason for this is that the main reason why children of immigrant families tend to do better in our schools (regardless of whether they go to a "good" school or a "bad" one) is because of cultural pride and identity that keeps them motivated to succeed, as well as the high expectations from their parents and families that go along with that. It is simply not enough to throw heavy books at a child for them to succeed--they must also have pride, esteem in themselves, see high-achieving role models THAT LOOK LIKE THEM, etc. There are many schools with good academics and many programs out there that will ensure your child is academically challenged if you put in the effort to give it to them. However, they will not go but so far if they do not have role models, expectations, and pride. White faculty are simply not going to provide that, and will in fact, provide the opposite.

In the meantime, you can instill these things in your daughter while she is a "token" by at the very least celebrating Kwanzaa (DC has tons of events to attend and communities to join for this), Juneteenth, reading stories with her about her own history and heritage, and ensuring she is around other black children and people maybe through her church, join a black Girl Scout troop in PG, wherever. But none of that will be quite as hearty as being in a school with black children and teachers.

I will also add that my husband and I are products of PG county schools. We are now professionals with advanced degrees, and we've met so many black people similar to you from outside of PG that have that typical token experience and it does damage to their self-esteem and success in life, especially when they fail to attend an HBCU. Almost all high-achieving children have a community of people around them rooting for them, and black Americans are generally not in that position at all in comparison with nearly everyone else (on top of the other structural and economic issues many black Americans face).