Despite Promises, Little Progress in Drawing Poor to Elite Colleges = Part Deux

Parents Forum
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<p>Deleted–article already posted</p>

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<p>Students coming from a disadvantaged ethos is a very nice way of saying they come from a family who doesn’t give a flip. I agree this is a big part of the problem. But, now we are getting very close to suggesting that poor kids who show some early signs of intelligence be snatched from their homes and shipped off to some place where they can reach what society decides is their full potential without being dragged down by idiot parents. That won’t work, either.</p>

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<p>“I was just too selfish to give them up that soon.”</p>

<p>That was my mom’s attitude. She said, it may well be that it’s the best opportunity for the kids. But I get them for 18 years.</p>

<p>“snatched from their homes and shipped off to some place where they can reach what society decides is their full potential without being dragged down by idiot parents.”</p>

<p>I think there’s middle ground here where we create opportunities and give families more choices about what’s best for their kids. There are lots of low-income parents who are doing the best they can, but who are eager to see their kids get benefits they can’t offer. The public charter boarding school in DC has a lengthy waiting list. (And it’s in SE DC; the kids don’t have to go hundreds of miles away to find a different social environment.)</p>

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<p>Interesting new ranking coming from the NYT: <a href=“http://chronicle.com/article/How-Economically-Diverse-Is/148521/”>http://chronicle.com/article/How-Economically-Diverse-Is/148521/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Enrolling them doesn’t matter much; graduating them does, even if it takes 6+ years. I hope this ranking will take that into account.</p>