Is Race a factor when deciding Where You send your child to school?

[serene]

I don't know if this was ever a topic in here but, how many of consider race when deciding the school you'll place your child in. What do you thinking about placing your child in a predominately white school? Do you want your black child to be around "their own". Education is the most important thing, but there are people consider this when putting their children in a school. Your thoughts......

[s8loud]

What a timely post! My 5-year old is entering kindergarten in the fall, and since we're not too impressed with the public schools in our area, we decided on a private school which is mostly white. Now, I can't say I'm terribly excited about that, however the only other alternatives were to send him to the aforementioned public school or drive an hour each way to the Marcus Garvey school in the city (which we really, really like and prefer over any other school we've visited). Being the Black nationalist that I am, I keep hearing Malcolm X say "...only a fool would let his enemy educate his children...", so despite the decision we've made for my son, I'm still quite conflicted. Don't get me wrong, the school we've chosen is indeed a very good one, however I'm just a bit fearful that the school's 'multicultural' curriculum is just a pseudonym for a eurocentric one with sprinkles of "other people's teachings/values". As much as I don't like doing this, I've taken the 'wait and see' approach for this first school year...

[Istlota]

Go with the school that will do the best job of preparing your child for college, irregardless of what the race mix is.

[Chinky]

To s8loud: Regardless of what school your child attends the curriculum will be Eurocentrically based, unless you home train them.

With schools nowadays you are basically choosing the lesser evil. The classmates arent as important as the curriculum itself. I would choose the best school for him BUT i wouldnt let the school be the only place where he receives education. Teaching them to question and research everything is key. IMO.

[JamieC]

Originally Posted by Chinky

Regardless of what school your child attends the curriculum will be Eurocentrically based, unless you home train them.

You meant home school them right? My son who will be a 7th grader this Fall attends a very well rounded magnet school and my daughter will be graduating from one of the best high schools in Vegas next week. It's not a matter of race because when I was going to high school I can honestly say that 85% of the students there were white and we didn't have a problem with it. I'm just thankful for the students who choose to continue their education and not drop out.

[serene]

I asked this question in here because the conversation came up by way of another conversation, and i was really surprised at the number of people who said it did matter. There were people who pulled their children from school who pulled their kid from a school because they didn't think, they could do well in school where their child was one of five black students in the school.

[sumayyah]

I prefer my child to be in a school that is pretty diverse, simply because that's what the "real world" looks like. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depends on how you look at it), we live in a predominately Black city, so the public schools are overwhelmingly Black, with Black teachers, etc. The school is decent.. for the lower primary grades. (My oldest will enter kindergarten in the fall.) I want the best education for my child, as all parents do; however, finances, travel distance, and racial make-up are concerns of mine. I am unable to afford private school; public is my only option. There ARE charter schools in the area, but they're further away, and transportation will become an issue. So, we're taking the "wait and see" approach. He may do well, he may not. His first 6 months will determine for me if I need to search for another (better) school.

[Samoon]

"Only a fool would let his enemy educate his children."

Agreed! But we must be realistic as well. I would have to examine very thoroughly, the curriculum of any school in question for my child.

[MadameX]

Originally Posted by Samoon

"Only a fool would let his enemy educate his children."

Agreed! But we must be realistic as well. I would have to examine very thoroughly, the curriculum of any school in question for my child.

I agree with you totally Sistergirl. Our Black children are the seeds of our future as a people. It's important that we nuture their minds with appropriate stimuli not inappropriate stereotypical proproganda. That's why parents must stay involved our childrens educational process .