Scio Oregon?? Qustions about mixed family. (Salem, Tillamook: cliquey, crimes, high school)

[jmckinley2007]

Hello me and my husband are looking at moving to Scio, Oregon. Its a wonderful quite small town that we could feel good in. Salem is not very far away and the schools from what I see are GREAT. However, there isnt much diversity. We have a blended family, White and Hawaiian. Also African-American. We don't want our kids to be called the "N" word or made run of becuase they have a tan in one way or another. Could anyone give any insight as to how people are there and if it would be a good idea to move there?

Thank you

[Leisesturm]

What does your gut instinct tell you about the likelihood of finding open arms welcoming you and your blended brood? I've never been there and certainly can't tell you what even the majority of people are like but I can tell you that if you do move it won't be if, but when one of your darker family hears the awful 'n' word. Thing is, that could be anywhere in OR or the U.S. for that matter so for me, whether or not I hear the 'n' word (I do) wouldn't be the deal breaker. Physical violence, egregious hate crimes involving property or vehicles... that becomes serious. AFAIK that wouldn't exist in Scio. So, if Scio really does it for you, go for it, just don't expect that it will be especially welcoming, it won't, but neither will anywhere else. The best you can hope for is to be left in peace... most of the time. I have to ask, however, why would you want to drag kids off the map into some little town with less than 1000 people? Salem isn't great, but it is at least more... everything. Adults want to hole up and be safe but I can't see how that helps a child develop, but thats me.

H

[Silverfall]

Scio is a wonderful small town but it has around 700 people in it. So just keep that in mind. Many families there have lived there for a long time so it is typical small town in that way.

I don't know the stats for Scio, but I'm guessing it is almost all Caucasian. Obviously there are no guarantees, but I would be surprised if you experience any blatant racism there. I would expect people to be courteous. I would expect you to experience more of "racial awkwardness." You know how some people get so focused on not sounding racist that they start to focus on everything they say and end up being awkward? This might not be coming out right but some people are so bent on showing that they aren't racists that they go overboard and it ends up being weird. Anyway...not sure if that makes any sense, but I would expect more "oh they're a mixed family" comments than any in your face type of racism.

The school is really great, but it is a small rural school. If that is what you are looking for Scio is a really great small community.

[iowasam]

My family and I (single mom, 3 boys 10-17) just moved to Scio from the Oregon coast. Overall this has been a very welcoming town. The grade school through the high school have a smattering of "brown" kids. My neighbors are a mixed marriage with 3 kids. He coaches little league, and both are active in the community. We like it here, but I would take a small town anyday over a city. Small schools make it easy to participate and join in when you are a kid. If you like to join clubs or volunteer, small towns are always eager for new people to participate in organizations. It would be great if you added to our diversity.

[sarahkate_m]

If you can be a part of the PTA scene & get in with those gals: it'll be your ace up your sleeve. At least get in good with the teachers by finding any way to volunteer & be an asset: teachers need all the help & support they can get. That'll get you allies with people who can enforce the kind of environment your children deserve, at least in the context of the school environment.

Your kids probably already know at their age that there are jerks out there. The stronger they can learn to be & the strength they see in you will be their assets in life.

Best wishes & welcome to Oregon,

Kate

[Fiddlehead]

I have only passed through Scio. It is certainly in a lovely area, up near the Cascades, with woods all around. I would expect that folks in Scio, as in the rest of Oregon, would be trained in the evils of racist goings ons. However, that is in an area that has been down on its luck ever since big timber died in the early 1990s. The folks in old logging towns of Oregon can sometimes be downright resentful. Particularly, if you come and act superior, likes some of the exurban folks can do. If you come in and take an interest in the town and its people for what they are, I am sure they will respond in kind.

[merls]

I have lived in Scio for the past six years. Scio has a very active and community supported AFS student exchange program. It is not uncommon for this small community to host up to three exchange students from countries all over the world each year. This program has been active for over twenty years. I think that is testament enough about how open this community is.

[TXknitter]

We lived in Tillamook county for six years. Scio was a town (lovely) that I visited often as my good buddy married a fellow from there. She said it was a little cliquey to start but she and the other natives warmed up to each other and now she LOVES it. You will never find a place on this earth (not just the U.S.) where you can guarantee your darling child will never hear the "N" word. Just like I have a NY friend whose mixed race kids are called awful names referring to their white heritage. Just go there, make a home, be friendly and teach your wonderful children to ignore other people's ignorance. 98% of people are far more interested in a person's character, not the color of their skin. Lots and lots of luck to you!