Anonymous wrote:Well, I'm glad to hear that it's all about YOU. God forbid that you actually put your children first.

I grew up in the Maryland suburbs. Believe me, whatever inconveniences staying in the city present, the reason we stay *is* because we put our children first.

Well, I'm glad to hear that it's all about YOU. God forbid that you actually put your children first.

Anonymous wrote:It would kill me too to live in the burbs and apparently the move sucked the logic right out of her. In Dc, we need the privates because the publics suck. That's my point. Those of you out in the burbs have your publics...so stay away from our privates!

If you love living in D.C.--good for you. And if your DC lives in one of the DC neighborhoods with good public schools--good for you. But if you can afford $30K/year for private school yet choose to live in a part of DC with poor public schools, it's silly to feel entitled that your child will get into Sidwell (acceptance rate of 14%), GDS (acceptance rate of 30%) or Beauvoir (acceptance rate of 30%). Considering the competitive admissions at the top schools, there is a reasonably high likelihood that your child will not get into any of those places. Then what?

Personally, I prefer the suburbs because of better schools, better shopping, better services, more safety, and more yard space for children to play. But to each his/her own...

Anonymous wrote:Holy cow --people are actually insulting us for living in the District. Wow. I don't agree OP, but I'm also terribly offended by this idea that I'm somehow stupid for living in DC. This is an amazing city, and my hometown, and I don't want to live anywhere else. I love visiting my friends in the burbs but I can't possibly live there. I would never insult them for their choice and i can't for the life of me see why you are insulting me for mine,

yep, the only problem is that to take advantage of any of the "vibrant ethnic communities", you have to get in the car and brave traffic; and city-dwellers can get there just about as quickly as folks who "venture all over the metro region".

You might just as well argue that Gaithersburg's better than DC because MD has beaches.

What "cultural wasteland" are you talking about in the suburbs? Some of the most vibrant ethnic communities are in the suburbs, along with some of the best ethnic restaurants. Ask anyone from China who lives here - the real Chinatown is in Rockville. Annadale has the largest Korean community and Arlington has a great mix of everything. Go out to Riverdale, MD for little Mexico. We venture all over the metro region to find the best ethnic food - and it's rarely in the city, with the exception of Ethiopian.

And I would argue that Arlington and Bethesda are more urban and vibrant than Tenleytown, Cleveland Park, AU Park, Spring Valley, Chevy Chase DC, etc. etc. etc. No Applebees either!

Yes, I read about that trend in the paper the other day pp. Yea...people who moved to the burbs to avoid city problems will only have themselves to blame for their shortsidedness.

we reluctantly chose to move to the 'burbs because we thought it would be better for our kids for us to be able to send them to public or private schools.

The saddest thing about this statement--especially if you've got younger kids--is that there are numerous, perfectly fine options that will get you through at least 5th grade. And with the suburbanization of poverty that we've seen over the last decade, and which according to the census is accelerating, it's the suburbs which are going to be carrying a greater and greater burden of the poverty that has historically crushed DCPS. It's not something in the water that poisons the public schools, it's concentration of poverty.

Meanwhile, if you live in the 'burbs, you're not just in a cultural wasteland--the demographic shift is out to get you. Moving to the 'burbs at this point in history would be a bit like moving into the city on the eve of the '68 riots.

funny

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mmmm no -- I don't like public schools in any neighborhood...so enjoy Applebees out in the burbs in your SUVs hogging resources.

This was only slightly funny about six months ago. Now you just sound like a silly teenager. Give it up.

Exactly. All the smart sophisticates who moved out to the burbs also have Olive Garden now too, you know. You wouldn't know anything about these cultivated and urbane ways of course, being as you are a "not smart enough" resident of the District. We'll enjoy the cosmopolitan Reston Town Center all to ourselves!

Yes mother dear

Anonymous wrote:Mmmm no -- I don't like public schools in any neighborhood...so enjoy Applebees out in the burbs in your SUVs hogging resources.

This was only slightly funny about six months ago. Now you just sound like a silly teenager. Give it up.

Anonymous wrote:Holy cow --people are actually insulting us for living in the District. Wow. I don't agree OP, but I'm also terribly offended by this idea that I'm somehow stupid for living in DC. This is an amazing city, and my hometown, and I don't want to live anywhere else. I love visiting my friends in the burbs but I can't possibly live there. I would never insult them for their choice and i can't for the life of me see why you are insulting me for mine,

Actually, I do think that attitude of "the suburbs are fine for you rubes but I couldn't POSSIBLE live there" to be insulting. I loved living in DC for many years, and I miss living there, but we reluctantly chose to move to the 'burbs because we thought it would be better for our kids for us to be able to send them to public or private schools. The notion that we are somehow not able to send our kids to a private school because we're not district residents is also offensive. As is the assumption that those of us who don't live in DC only eat at Applebees.

Anonymous wrote:Holy cow --people are actually insulting us for living in the District. Wow. I don't agree OP, but I'm also terribly offended by this idea that I'm somehow stupid for living in DC.

I don't think you can play the martyr when the insults are clearly going both ways.

Holy cow --people are actually insulting us for living in the District. Wow. I don't agree OP, but I'm also terribly offended by this idea that I'm somehow stupid for living in DC. This is an amazing city, and my hometown, and I don't want to live anywhere else. I love visiting my friends in the burbs but I can't possibly live there. I would never insult them for their choice and i can't for the life of me see why you are insulting me for mine,

Mmmm no -- I don't like public schools in any neighborhood...so enjoy Applebees out in the burbs in your SUVs hogging resources.