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So What If Sidwell's Elitist?
A graduate of the Obama girls’ new school defends its hallowed halls.
It’s not easy being a graduate of Sidwell. Often, I avoid mentioning it. But people get it out of me somehow. It begins innocently with, “Where are you from?” I say, “Washington, D.C.” They think that’s interesting, then ask, “Really? Downtown D.C.?” I say, “Just outside.” They say, “Where?” I say, “Near Connecticut Avenue,” then finally am forced to say, “Chevy Chase.” Then, they get it. Along with my blonde hair and blue eyes and white skin, they have me all figured out.
If they want to know where I went to school, I can give a half truth and say, “Public school.” (I went to one for half my education). But they press me, and I am forced to admit I went to Sidwell Friends. That elitist private school. I can’t run forever from my labels. Or can I?
Not only is it private, it has wealthy kids and is a Quaker school. The Quaker part confuses people and they usually dismiss it as just another religion.
But it’s a weird religion. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not all about oatmeal, or about not using electricity or wearing plain, dark clothes. It’s not about that at all. It’s not a religion whose most famous member was Richard Nixon.
Quakers are odd because they don’t have sacraments and they sit in silence.
They are strange because they use words like “consensus,” “mediate,” “peace," and “tolerance.”
Located on the edge of town, situated between city and suburb, Sidwell is racially diverse and has been for years. I attended in the ‘60s, and it is where I first learned about skin color—I lived a sheltered life in the suburbs where all the white people lived. People called neighborhoods like mine “vanilla suburbs,” and downtown Washington “chocolate city.”
In 1968, Washington experienced severe downtown riots following Martin Luther King’s assassination. We were in school when the riots broke out, and I was about to go home when I learned that a friend—an African American girl—could not go home because of the curfews from the riots.
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pdhayesesq
Wow, since when is having a good education such a drama! Believe me it is nothing you should feel embarrassed about and the only question that I have are you doing something good with you education. Lastly, if you want to help all those poor inner city residents get them some scholarships to Sidwell and stop winning.
lizziellen
I think this is the dumbest I have read in a long time. This woman draws cartoons for the NEW YORKER, and she's worried that SIDWELL is what's going to make her an elitist!?!?
This comment has been removed by The Daily Beast's editors.
harlemita
"Stop winning"?
I believe the above commenter meant "whining" not "winning". Either that, or the envy got her schadenfreude chomping at the bit. Keep winning.
Frankly, anyone who can afford to go to any "better" school is elitist. I didn't go to some fancy school like Sidwell, but the very fact that my parents moved me out of Flushing to keep me away from the dreaded Flushing High (where they, in their bigoted minds, assumed I'd turn into a slut and do drugs), and moved me to Bayside, means that I was in a "better school" with certain ideas about itself and its students.
Yeah, I felt like I'd gone to an elitist school. Everyone there thought they were better than everyone else.
But then I went to Europe and had an even BETTER education.
I was in a university system where you actually have to DO WELL -- do better than everyone else and be one of the top students your class just to remain in your university (because they halve the student population every year), no matter how much money you have. Because it's for free.
If you think I was elitist before....
cbeenthere
Oh, you mean you lived in Chevy Chase, MARYLAND. What did you call the area just south of Chevy Chase Circle in those days? NOW it is called Chevy Chase DC. because the elitists needed to spread south and only then did Washington DC become Chevy Chase DC. My, my such confusion on your part, and I am glad you learned "tolerance".
cbeenthere
And I might add that as a result of the new enclave the cost of living changed the whole face of that area which used to be a working class neighborhood of government workers, cab drivers, chinese restaurant owners, and yes a judge , but no African Americans into well, Chevy Chase DC.
Culocho
*Shrug* I don't get it. Lot's of people live in Chevy Chase. Lots of people go to private school. Not sure why anyone would hide anything.
finderj
Lots of private schools are 'country club' schools where only people who are 'just like us' send their children because they are the only ones who can afford to. Doesn't mean that some of these schools don't provide first-rate academics, but real education, like Donnelly writes about, is rare in any school. Not many school teach respect, tolerance, and honor. Elitist isn't because it is private, it is a lable these 'country club' school have tarred all private schools with, and have done so because in most instances it is accurate. And who are we kidding here? The Obamas are not 'just like us'. We haven't elected a president who was 'just like us' since Lincoln. We elect people who move in circles of privilege and power. That is just the way it is. People 'just like us' can't get elected to dogcatcher in Podunkville. So why not send their kids to a prestigious, elitist school. What does it matter? These girls will be surrounded by the trappings of power for the rest of their lives. They were born into privilege. It is true, they may be only first- or second-generation privilege, but it is privilege nonetheles. So hope that Sidwell is exactly what Donnelly claims, and that the Obama girls, who will be living with the legacy of their history-making father all of their lives, learn exactly what Donnelly claims she learned at Sidwell.
flyoverland
Private schools are not what they used to be. The good ones (at least in their opinion) are accredited by something called ISSACS. If you are not part of this group, your graduates don't get into the good schools. All this group cares about is diversity. Most of these schools that people think are elite, white, debutante factories are at least 25% minority. The schools demand the rich white parents subsidize the minority kids and many of the old money crowd just isn't that rich anymore. I predict these schools (not the one described here because there will always be plenty of rich politicians), will become so diluted that their allure will be diminished. My daughter goes to one of the most exclusive private schools in the Midwest and the price is almost $25k a year for Middle School. All of these schools have seen their trust funds whacked and all are scrambling for cash. When we started nine years ago, there were 10 applicants for every slot. Now, just about anyone can get in. Groucho Marx could probably get accepted. But, then, he probably wouldn't want to attend.
bchguyx
Too bad Mr. Elitist Obama won't allow a few poor black kids the opportunity to attend Sidwell with vouchers. Best to keep THOSE blacks down on the plantation where they belong, can't have them poisonong the fruits of HIS annoited loins......
Decobabe
In all of my life lived over several countries and many parts of the US including Chevy Chase, MD I have never been pressed so hard for details of my education and rearing. Was I just lucky? Or do I exude an air that says such pressure is rude and unacceptable? I recommend that the author apply a little fishy eye on people who are that eager to pinpoint her details.
I was hoping that this recent election would help finish the time when white, blonde and blue-eyed meant anything more than info on the driver's license.
Thank you.
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