September 14, 2014 - 11:43
I am white. I am middle class. I live in the United States. I have parents who care about me and about my education. In short, I am privileged.
My original home on Orange County, CA had a public school system of which most of my neighbors took advantage. Well, actually there were two systems, or districts,rather. The dividing line just happened to cross right through my family's backyard, meaning we had the freedom to choose either Saddleback or Capo so I suppose I could add another privilege born of luck to the list. But I never went to school in either district, nor did either of my siblings. Anyone familiar with the CA school system can tell you just how broken, or rather broke, it is, and those that can afford to go somewhere else do. My brother, sister, and I all went to Serra Catholic School.
For all of my complaining about uniforms and monthly madatory Friday Masses, I don't think I could have recieved even half as good an education anywhere else. Classes were small, none larger than 28 students, and the teachers kneweach and everyone of us by name before the first week was out. Elementary school me was impossibly shy and never like to speak up or speak out, but I was lucky enough that my teachers understood my unwillingness to speak had no bearing on my learning quality whatsoever, which is why my third grade teacher had me placed in the Advanced Educatin Program (AEP).
Being a private school Serra also had a good deal of capital to invest in educational programs, namely hands-on experiences and field trips. In both kindergarten and first grade we went to a local farm to learn about agriculture and pick our own fruits and vegetables. There were trips to IMAX theaters, to the Discovery Science Center, to see plays, to museums. In fourth grade for CA history we spent a whole night aboard the Brig Pilgrim in Dana Point harbor as part of the ship's crew (I was the galley mate) and recieved first-hand experience as to what the hide and tallow trade was like for the sailors involved. Sixth grade spent a week in the mountains at science camp, seventh grade went to Catalina, and eighth grade went to the observatory on Palomar, or Pally Mountain. This laundry list of activities only just scratches the surface.
I didn't realize my privilege at the time, how could I as a child completely unaware of what privilege actually was, but looking back I can see it a bit more clearly. The majority of my school was white which for southern CA was a bit unusual. Those enrolled were most often very well off, think a step down or two from the "Real Housewives," unless of course they were in on a scholarship or had family employed by the school. According to the website, if my siblings and I were still enrolled it would cost my parents $25,685 for the year, plus a $275 pariticipation fee. Not to mention a $50 application fee and $50 testing fee for anyone enrolling kindergarten and above. And that's not even factoring in the cost of uniforms. There is a whole application process more or less on par with applying to college but for five year olds. And of course there is the exclusivity of religion. Applicants must show proof of Roman Catholic baptism and have a letter of reccomendation from a pastor. Serra is associated with four area churches and all students and families are expected to attend one of the four. Even the scholarship program is contingent on pastor support and reccomendation.
I don't think I would have received as complete an education anywhere else or had instilled in me such a desire for high academic performance. Here was a school where the stereotypical "popular kids" were the members of the academic decathalon, not the sports teams. I was incredibly lucky as a child and I fully acknowledge that without the educational experience I received at Serra I honestly don't know if I would have continued to push myself in my studies, especially after switching to the TX public school system in seventh grade, and if I would even be at Bryn Mawr right now. It amazes me and honestlty makes me a uncomfortable that so much of my trajectory in life has been contingent on my childhood privilege but as it stands, that's how I got to where I am.