Highland Park Prices (Chicago, Palatine, Skokie: public schools, law, bars)

[Sarah H.]

Originally Posted by Anthera

There are many many jewish families in Kenilworth. During the winter holidays there is a large menorah set up in front of the village hall. Many many mixed religion families too.

The swastica design was probably done in the 1920's when so much of k/w was built up. It did not have any anti-semetic connotations until the Naxi party adopted it in the 1930's.

Good point- I don't know when the house was built.

[edsg25]

Originally Posted by chitown85

Kenilworth is still WASPy, but basically 100% very wealthy. I was merely saying that Glencoe and Wilmette used to be more restrictive, Glencoe especially. Now that is obviously no longer the case. I don't know the reason, but it is plausible that Northbrook and Highland Park became heavily Jewish due to the restrictive covenants in the New Trier area, which began to subside as the decades went by.

There was not an overly significant Jewish population in the suburbs prior to the end of WWII. Then the streets laid out before the war without houses to fill them in Lincolnwood and Skokie became an extension of the traditional Jewish neighborhoods on the city's far North Side.

Highland Park, if I am not mistaken, became inviting to Jews prior to any real scale Jewish movement to the far North Shore. Highland Park was supposedly the restriction to the rule, more open than other NS towns. This was at when summer type homes were popular (the types found in the chain of lakes area) and these in HP became invting for Jews, leading to the eventual real "moves" up the North Shore.

[chitown85]

Sounds about right. NW burbs are better though

[Anthera]

Originally Posted by edsg25

I realize this is off topic, but related to part of the recent end of this discussion: what are demographics of Kenilworth truly like since its famous "restrictive period" is long past? I would imagine that it is the one place that sill remains a WASP stronghold, but I'm not sure.

It would be great if there were a Sears School teacher here who sees demographics play out in the classroom and could enlighten us.

Aside from the fact that it would be completely unethical for a teacher to discuss something like that on a public forum, how in the world would an elementary school teacher know what religion their students practice?

Last names are absolutely no clue to a family's religion. A "jewish sounding" name doesn't mean anything. Anyone with a directory to any of the NS churches could point this out quickly. Any member of a NS temple could show you plenty of waspy names on the list of kids making their Bat Mitzbah.

In fact, if any of my children told me that their teacher asked them what religion we practice, I would be calling the superintendent asap to find out why. Prehaps filing a formal complaint. It is absolutly no business of any branch of government what religion my family practices. There would be no legitimate reason for a elementary school teacher to ever ask.

[Sarah H.]

I think in the discussion of holidays religion comes up. I know my kids' teachers know what we celebrate and therefore know our religion. They also talk in general terms about all the winter holidays- Christmas, Hanukkah, and Quanza- in school. Also before we moved here I called the principal of all the schools where our kids would go depending on which house we got. I asked them in depth questions about the demographics of the school and what religious and ethnic groups were represented. The principals were happy to discuss this with me.

[cohdane]

Reminds me of my freshman year in high school when the homeroom teacher blithely asked, "Who will be absent tomorrow?" All the gentiles' hands stayed in their laps, including mine. Little did we know we'd just missed a golden opportunity to be excused for Jewish holidays for the next four years.

[Anthera]

Originally Posted by Sarah H.

I think in the discussion of holidays religion comes up. I know my kids' teachers know what we celebrate and therefore know our religion. They also talk in general terms about all the winter holidays- Christmas, Hanukkah, and Quanza- in school. Also before we moved here I called the principal of all the schools where our kids would go depending on which house we got. I asked them in depth questions about the demographics of the school and what religious and ethnic groups were represented. The principals were happy to discuss this with me.

I doubt any principal in th NS would have any discussion on religion with a perspective parent. They'd be too afraid you'd be a tester.

I've lived on the NS almost my entire life and my children have attended several of the school here. No one has ever asked us what religion we practice.

[Sarah H.]

Originally Posted by Anthera

I doubt any principal in th NS would have any discussion on religion with a perspective parent. They'd be too afraid you'd be a tester.

I've lived on the NS almost my entire life and my children have attended several of the school here. No one has ever asked us what religion we practice.

Well I'm telling you the principal did discuss this with me. Calling me a liar???

[chitown85]

There's no law that bars the principal from discussing what he/she perceives as the demographic makeup of the school. He cannot approach and question any student about it, it is likely he is basing his opinion on conjecture since they really have no way of knowing.

The principal likely has the same information we all have. Wilmette and Glencoe have large Jewish populations, while Winnetka and Kenilworth are much more WASP.

It is similar to the principal at Palatine HS saying that around 1/3 of his students are Hispanic to an inquisitive parent.

I believe the principal did discuss this, and there is nothing that prevents him from discussing it providing it is not in a public forum.

[Anthera]

Originally Posted by Sarah H.

Well I'm telling you the principal did discuss this with me. Calling me a liar???

I doubt that any principal in a NS school would discuss the religious demographics of his/her student population. It would be unknowable. They could discuss census info for the community, but really would have no way whatsoever to know the religious make up of their students. It is simply not ever asked on any forms at any public school.

You may call yourself anything you wish. If you have any data to disprove my statements I am willing to stand corrected. I highly doubt you will find any.