tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541468051247516447.post2520511199672914607..comments2024-02-19T05:18:27.849-05:00Comments on <center>the Q at Parkside</center>: The Q's School Tool: Part 6: Rocket Scientists Agree: It Ain't Rocket ScienceClarkson FlatBedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13463744536115119388noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541468051247516447.post-4883616369570609022013-05-09T16:14:19.819-04:002013-05-09T16:14:19.819-04:00Re: She's looking at the "gentry" fr...Re: She's looking at the "gentry" from their perspective, which happens to be her own, and she's describing the view very well.<br /><br />At least she disclosed her own bias as a researcher. I'm not sure though how this will affect the validity of the research.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541468051247516447.post-14740199490177504412013-05-08T14:56:45.916-04:002013-05-08T14:56:45.916-04:00Being a minority as a white person has been an ama...Being a minority as a white person has been an amazing experience. Every piece I've read including now this one about how to change and/or improve public schools lists an open-minded principal as being essential. PS 92 does not have that kind of principal. Just pointing it out. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541468051247516447.post-75776187395185122462013-05-08T11:48:37.231-04:002013-05-08T11:48:37.231-04:00JDB -- you are right. When I said "superficia...JDB -- you are right. When I said "superficials of race" I didn't mean it to read as trivial. I meant "on the surface," as in white-skin and brown-skin, when the issues are more complex. And as far as character building, you are again right. I think it's character building for white people to be minorities sometimes.<br /><br />Getting that critical mass is important. I think the author's goal was to give all the "gentry" a safety net so they could be sure that they would all jump in together. It seems a little contrived. And a little priveledged.<br /><br /> The Snobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08651104992931398542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541468051247516447.post-10883614018869043122013-05-08T11:42:03.513-04:002013-05-08T11:42:03.513-04:00JDB, I think you make a very good point.
There is...JDB, I think you make a very good point. <br />There is a huge difference between being a white "minority" as a relatively wealthy kid among people of color in your school/ neighborhood, versus being a person of color, well pretty much anywhere in America. White privilege is such a strong force, it allows people to analogize themselves to being a minority when really - they are still a member of the white majority with all attendant white privilege in this country, and this city. The neighborhood/school they are in at that moment has just forced them to think about their own race -- for once. In that way - perhaps it is "character building"!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541468051247516447.post-71875118922362926042013-05-08T10:55:15.217-04:002013-05-08T10:55:15.217-04:00Snob perhaps race will one day be something that i...Snob perhaps race will one day be something that is "superficial" but I doubt many non-whites would make the statement that race is "superficial." I am not saying that it is right but race very much matters. Being a minority in any circumstance will, in part, shape your view of those around you and shape the views of others towards you. I am not trying to be critical of your statement because I obviously hope we can get to a point where race is not a defining issue but we are certainly a long way off.<br /><br />I grew up in a very white school and was at times one of one non-white students and at other times I was one of a few non-whites. I'm not sure I would say it was an exercise in "character-building." <br /><br />I agree with the author in that there must be a critical mass of minorities in a situation in order for them to have some comfort level but the idea of separating out the white kids in the school does not seem to be meaningful integration.<br /><br />As to the Q's point about the fight over the Great Society ideas - I think that is a fight that is still very much alive but with any grand theories there comes a time to reevaluate and discard things that don't work. As an example, does anyone think it would be a good idea to build new giant public housing projects that would be administered by the geniuses at NYCHA. When there is enough evidence that something doesn't work, I would much rather move to a new idea then continue to throw money at bad ideas no matter how noble the stated goal.JDBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541468051247516447.post-62445069161849404562013-05-08T10:16:24.948-04:002013-05-08T10:16:24.948-04:00I admire your dedication to unpacking this thorny ...I admire your dedication to unpacking this thorny topic.<br /><br />I also somewhat loathe her use of the word "gentry" -- it's so typical of the mindset that says nothing exists before white people get there (colonialism, right?). I also find her policy conclusion a little off-putting (why such special treatment?). However, as a white person, I can reflect on my own reality and the challenge is, as she puts it, spot-on: You have to be comfortable with being a minority, and having your children be minorities. Personally, I think that's character-building, and it's a big part of why we are city people. But we are also lucky to be in an educational setting where we feel comfortable, which speaks to school culture and not just superficials of race.<br /><br />As to your observations about our market-driven way of life, that fight, unfortunately, seems very much over.<br /><br />Nice job, as always. The Snobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08651104992931398542noreply@blogger.com