Anonymous wrote:There was a lot of resentment and bad feelings on the part of the neighborhood parents against the Spanish immersion program. This was reasonable. But the school held an "encounter group" type meeting where people were encouraged to discuss their feelings about the issue.

Instead of real issues (which I agree there are), many parents stood up and said they were tired of defending themselves to their CC neighbors who couldn't understand why anyone would send a kid to Rock Creek Forest, which has a much higher % of lower SES kids than other CC cluster schools. And there was just this underlying feeling of "we pay a lot of taxes, why should our kids go to school with poor kids" kind of thing. I found it ugly and upsetting.

As one of the parents who was there and is in the neighborhood and sends their child to the school in the English program, I have to say that you have it all wrong. We are only annoyed with defending ourselves to our immediate neighbors - those who live in RCF who don't send their kids to the school or refused to once they didn't get into the immersion program. It is from those people that we get the looks of pity. This has nothing to do with the rest of Chevy Chase - we know we are out of their league!

And really, let's face it, if you look in the school directory 95% of the immersion kids come from Silver Spring/Takoma Park and the OTES/Einstein part of Kensington so clearly most of those parents are escaping high FARMS schools as well.

There was a lot of resentment and bad feelings on the part of the neighborhood parents against the Spanish immersion program. This was reasonable. But the school held an "encounter group" type meeting where people were encouraged to discuss their feelings about the issue.

Instead of real issues (which I agree there are), many parents stood up and said they were tired of defending themselves to their CC neighbors who couldn't understand why anyone would send a kid to Rock Creek Forest, which has a much higher % of lower SES kids than other CC cluster schools. And there was just this underlying feeling of "we pay a lot of taxes, why should our kids go to school with poor kids" kind of thing. I found it ugly and upsetting.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the record, I think the nasties on this thread are about as representative of me and my neighbors as the nasties on the forum are representative of the entire metro area (not to say they don't exist, but it would be a mistake to assume they are everyone-- I think many people just get turned off by the nastiness and don't bother participating).

I'm sure you are right. But I witnessed, last year, a revelation of the true attitudes of Rock Creek Forest parents -- who have a hugh chip on their collective shoulders because they feel that the rest of CC looks down on them because their school has more nonwhite children in it. It was shocking. So I think a lot of times these things are just under the surface.

Please elaborate.

Anonymous wrote:To the PP who bought in CCDC to avoid Rosemary Hills - I bet you're really going enjoy your child's future educational options in DCPS.

I'm an RHPS parent and have posted here previously. The attitudes here are so depressing and over-the-top - all because of 1 or 2 miles on the bus? Honestly I just never see or hear any of this from other RHPS parents, most of whom qualify as "high SES white people." Are the horrible snooty racists self-selecting out of Rosemary Hills? Or is this somewhere under the surface among many of them, only to come out in debates like this?

Maybe. I'm not going to pretend I'm not screwed up on race but I live in E. Bethesda and the nastiest comment I've heard about E Bethesda kids going to RHPS came from a family who is sending their child to private school.

01:04, I really what your definition of pyjama is.

Anonymous wrote:For the record, I think the nasties on this thread are about as representative of me and my neighbors as the nasties on the forum are representative of the entire metro area (not to say they don't exist, but it would be a mistake to assume they are everyone-- I think many people just get turned off by the nastiness and don't bother participating).

I'm sure you are right. But I witnessed, last year, a revelation of the true attitudes of Rock Creek Forest parents -- who have a hugh chip on their collective shoulders because they feel that the rest of CC looks down on them because their school has more nonwhite children in it. It was shocking. So I think a lot of times these things are just under the surface.

To the PP who bought in CCDC to avoid Rosemary Hills - I bet you're really going enjoy your child's future educational options in DCPS.

I'm an RHPS parent and have posted here previously. The attitudes here are so depressing and over-the-top - all because of 1 or 2 miles on the bus? Honestly I just never see or hear any of this from other RHPS parents, most of whom qualify as "high SES white people." Are the horrible snooty racists self-selecting out of Rosemary Hills? Or is this somewhere under the surface among many of them, only to come out in debates like this?

As a "higher SES white person" I can tell you that this whole discussion confirms our decision to stay in Silver Spring rather than move when our income made it possible to live pretty much anywhere we want.

My kids are getting a great education, they do interesting activities and sports, and their friends come from a variety of backgrounds and SES levels. They are happy and wella djusted, we love our neighbors, and we are spared the judge-y, NIMBY, hidden/code-word racists that have come out of the woodwork in this thread.

My kids are getting a great education, too, at Murch Elementary DCPS. No one who has ever chosen Mont. Co. over the District is allowed to admit this is even physically possible, but it surely is.

Anyway, here in the District, even in the leafy, leafy enclave part (that strongly resembles CC Md.), we have natural diversity of income and religion and skin tone. And no buses for my family! We go the whole goddam rainbow of kids over here, and DCs walk to school in 6 minutes or less.

For the record, I think the nasties on this thread are about as representative of me and my neighbors as the nasties on the forum are representative of the entire metro area (not to say they don't exist, but it would be a mistake to assume they are everyone-- I think many people just get turned off by the nastiness and don't bother participating).

Anonymous wrote:The mid-70s called, and they want their bussing desegregation plan back.


But seriously, this movement of the higher SES white people thing is the #1 reason DH and I bought in CCDC instead of Martin's Addition/Sec. 5.

As a "higher SES white person" I can tell you that this whole discussion confirms our decision to stay in Silver Spring rather than move when our income made it possible to live pretty much anywhere we want.

My kids are getting a great education, they do interesting activities and sports, and their friends come from a variety of backgrounds and SES levels. They are happy and wella djusted, we love our neighbors, and we are spared the judge-y, NIMBY, hidden/code-word racists that have come out of the woodwork in this thread.

The mid-70s called, and they want their bussing desegregation plan back.


But seriously, this movement of the higher SES white people thing is the #1 reason DH and I bought in CCDC instead of Martin's Addition/Sec. 5.

Anonymous wrote:When the entire county is required to have this level of demographic diversity, logistical complexity, impact to family's time, separation of siblings, then we can talk about sending young kids 5 miles aways from their home for elementary school.

Until then, a large number of families in the Bethesda Chevy Chase area are entitled to economic damages for the current situation.

This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. I hope you reflect on what you've written and are ashamed of yourself.

If you want that much control, you need to send your kids to private school.

And MOST of the county, by far, has a much higher level of demographic diversity. Perhaps the rest of us should be entitled to a little income sharing?

Honestly, I have never met such a group of entitled, self important people as parents in CC. Having had kids in a CC ES for six years now, I am constantly surprised at their nasty NIMBY attitudes. God forbid your kids should have to tolerate demographic diversity. Why don't you call it what it really is?

It is totally the case that the RH white families do not want the FARMS and are trying to hide the FARMS kids in a greater sea of white kids. They are the moms who have chosen not to work or chosen part time jobs who are fighting this fight. If they would only go get a job, they would be able to live in East Bethesda and not have time to fight this ridiculous fight.

When the entire county is required to have this level of demographic diversity, logistical complexity, impact to family's time, separation of siblings, then we can talk about sending young kids 5 miles aways from their home for elementary school.

Until then, a large number of families in the Bethesda Chevy Chase area are entitled to economic damages for the current situation.

Anonymous wrote:Occupy East Bethesda! ; ) [joke]

There are those who live there and those who wish they could walk everywhere