Another Smyrna question... Schools and poverty... What's the deal? (Vinings: apartments, college)

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by aries4118

"Racism" relates to the poverty level because of the fact that many of the white people of Smyrna-Vinings (a largely affluent population) do not want to send their children to schools with "too many" brown and black children.

I suspect it's gang influence or even hiphop culture that many of them want to avoid exposing their kids to, not purely skin color. And no, that isn't code. Such things historically happen a lot more in schools with less affluent kids regardless of skin color.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by rcsteiner

I suspect it's gang influence or even hiphop culture that many of them want to avoid exposing their kids to, not purely skin color. And no, that isn't code. Such things historically happen a lot more in schools with less affluent kids regardless of skin color.

But you have to admit, racism (dislike of any/most things "ethnic/other") is a big part of it, right?

The funny thing is that the affluent, largely white schools have the bigger drug and alcohol problems.

Check it out:

'She is an absolutely sweet child, never a problem in school, made good grades, and [that] shows you that anyone can fall into the SUBSTANCE ABUSE TRAP' | ajc.com


Oh, and a lot of Baby Boomers and older Gen X-ers don't yet realize that "hip-hop culture" is mainstream American culture now.

[RainyRainyDay]

Originally Posted by aries4118

The funny thing is that the affluent, largely white schools have the bigger drug and alcohol problems.

Check it out:

'She is an absolutely sweet child, never a problem in school, made good grades, and [that] shows you that anyone can fall into the SUBSTANCE ABUSE TRAP' | ajc.com

I have a rising 9th grader who'll be entering one of those affluent East Cobb high schools, and I made her read that entire article on the weekend. When she finished she said "Yeah, well, she's one of those nasty cheerleader, 'popular' girls. No surprise they'd be falling into substance abuse." Her father coughed and said "It's going to be your friends too, you know. What are you going to do when one of them invites you to drink or try drugs with them? Hmm?" We're trying.

Not surprisingly, the drugs seem to follow the kids with money. I know someone who pulled their daughter out of a prominent local private school because it was such a hotbed of drug problems. Not what the parents elbowing to make it through the highly exclusive selection process at those places care to contemplate, I'm sure.

[lastminutemom]

The GA Tech pitcher who died of a heroin/drug overdose was a Wesleyan graduate.

A few years ago, during spring break, on a mission trip sponsored by their very Christian high school, multiple students were caught trying to smuggle marijuana back into the states.

Money==access these days, so it isn't surprising that we find a wide range of abuses in affluent communities.

As to the original question, there are many families who move to Metro Atlanta knowing that private school is all that will work for them. There are also couples with no children who know that they will move when the time comes. Keep in mind, that last time I checked, the average length of time people owned a home was 7 years, so if a couple moves in with no children, changes are they will be gone by the time any child is ready to start school.

[lastminutemom]

Originally Posted by CMMom

In all seriousness here (I'm not being sarcastic), are there not any poor Caucasian families in Cobb County? Certainly there must be. I just don't think that "racism" is a reasonable explanation for the school poverty rates. That seems like a very simplistic viewpoint to me.

I am sure there are a few. But many years ago, the education reporter pointed out me that in DeKalb and Fulton if you saw a white face (that wasn't a recent immigrant or refugee) at a poor DeKalb or Fulton school, they were the poorest of the poor. Everyone else fled during the white flight period to Gwinnett, etc.

It isn't about racism anymore, so much, I think as it is about classism Middle class and higher families want their schools to be full of children who come from similar backgrounds. I see it with African-American families as well, so in many ways it isn't about race.

[spacelord75]

Most people I know who have lived in the Vinings/Smyrna/Mableton areas (myself included) moved there for their first house b/c of affordability and the fact that there was stuff to do in terms of restaurants and bars nearby, but ultimately, in almost every single case, when the couple decided it was time to have kids or their kids were neary school-age, they moved to either East Cobb, Dunwoody, Roswell, or Alpharetta to be in better school environs. So I think a big thing is that many of the people moving into the area are young professionals who either don't have kids or have very, very young children. In the cases of the people I know who have stayed after having kids, they are very wealthy and plan to send their kids to private schools.

As for this whole ridiculous racism card that inevitably gets thrown around....look, if a school has bad stats in terms of test scores or rankings, people who can afford to do so are usually going to avoid it. If it happens to be predominantly black, well, who cares...the scores/rankings are what they are. I hate how people are supposed to feel guilty about making the best decisions for their families, and if ,to you, "bad test scores" = "black", then it sounds like you are the one with the problem. I grew up going to public schools and we had 40% minority students and I think it put me at an advantage compared to other kids when I got to college b/c I was used to be around other people from other cultures....however, having said that, when I lived in Mableton, there would have been no way in hell I would have sent my kid to any of the public schools to which we were assigned based solely on the pathetic test scores and all the low-income apartment complexes that feed into it (both black AND white).

[Rhonda K]

Originally Posted by aries4118

"Racism" relates to the poverty level because of the fact that many of the white people of Smyrna-Vinings (a largely affluent population) do not want to send their children to schools with "too many" brown and black children.

No, that's not it.....we don't want to send our children to poor performing schools....regardless of color. FYI, Nickjack Elem. is a very diverse school, mostly Black, with a wonderful Principal, they do fine on testing(we aren't in their zone).....other schools in Smyrna, not so well...

It's ironic, not sure if anyone here is aware, but Campbell High School was once again rated as one of the best High Schools in the Nation....I think number 212....I saw Harrison was in the 800's.....I think Campbelll was the highest rated school in the county......when my daughter is ready for HS, she will go to Campbell....actually Harrison has the biggest drug problem of all Cobb County High schools.....a little fact that many don't want known!.....

[Merin]

I am also confused by the racism claim. Most middle class people would rather not send their kids to sub-par schools.

[RainyRainyDay]

Originally Posted by Rhonda K

It's ironic, not sure if anyone here is aware, but Campbell High School was once again rated as one of the best High Schools in the Nation....I think number 212....I saw Harrison was in the 800's.....I think Campbelll was the highest rated school in the county......

I think you are probably referring to the recently published Newsweek/Washington Post Challenge Index, which uses the following formula (quoted from the website at http://projects.washingtonpost.com/c...eindex/2008/):

Divide the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or Cambridge tests a school gave by the number of seniors who graduated in May or June. Tests taken by all students, not just seniors, are counted.

That's something to measure, but it might not be an all-encompassing index of school quality.

By the way, on that index, the best-ranking Cobb County school is Walton (no news there!). However, Campbell is indeed next, followed in order by Lassiter, Wheeler, Harrison, Osborne, Pope, Sprayberry and Kell.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by aries4118

But you have to admit, racism (dislike of any/most things "ethnic/other") is a big part of it, right?

I can't speak for other people, but I do suspect it's true for some.

The funny thing is that the affluent, largely white schools have the bigger drug and alcohol problems.

Drugs and alcohol don't bother me so much. Those are reality everywhere, and if kids aren't exposed to them in high school, they'll get blindsided by them in college. I'd rather they develop antibodies early. :-)

Oh, and a lot of Baby Boomers and older Gen X-ers don't yet realize that "hip-hop culture" is mainstream American culture now.

Doesn't matter -- they'll have to outgrow it eventually if they want to impress the grown-ups in the business world.