I'm hoping to hear views especially from anyone who has grappled with this issue for their own DCs...
DS has a place at our local state primary for September. It's an outstanding school and I like it.
When I applied I knew he was likely to be the only child in his year who is not from one particular cultural and ethnic background. At that time I didn't give this fact any thought because "that shouldn't matter". But now we've got the offer I'm finding it does and I'm worried even though I don't want to be.
My concern is that all the other children come from the same culture (>90% speak the same first language). DS is very social and loves play dates, birthday parties etc. I know he'll be fine making friends in school, but I worry he'll be excluded from social gatherings out of school and people won't take up our invite to parties etc.
I've spoken to local parents - including one teacher who sent her DC to a school that was similarly monocultural - and she said she regretted it as it made her DD sad. Her DD always felt left out, wasn't included in cultural events because she was not of that culture, and other kids (even her pals) turned down her invites to parties, play dates etc. There was no problem per se - she had genuine friends in school. She was simply an outsider in the wider community. Her DM cautioned me to think about these things when choosing a school for my DS.
Other state schools have places which are more diverse but they aren't on my doorstep!
So, what would you do? Send your DS to the local state school which is otherwise great? Or look elsewhere? We have other options both state and private.
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Are my concerns about cultural differences valid or am I being racist?
107 replies
TheMotherOfBears · 26/04/2018 22:43
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