On the WSJ Article

Okay, last week, I published the full text of a WSJ Article on how white students are leaving Monta Vista because of the high fraction of Asian immigrants.

Let me comment on this article, coming from the point of view of someone who attended Monta Vista, albeit back in the early 90's. This is relevant because I'd estimate the white population of the school at more like 50%, instead of the 33% figure cited in the article.

First, the article points out that white students may feel uncomfortable because of the high population of Asian students, and because the school is too competitive. While I think this point has merit, I need to take a moment to rip on one of the article's sources: MVHS Parent Teacher Association (PTA) president Cathy Gatley.

The article says:

"Cathy Gatley, co-president of Monta Vista High School's parent-teacher association, recently dissuaded a family with a young child from moving to Cupertino because there are so few young white kids left in the public schools. 'This may not sound good,' she confides, 'but their child may be the only Caucasian kid in the class.'" Later on in the article, the articulate Ms. Gatley says, "White kids are thought of as the dumb kids."

What is wrong with this woman? One main purpose of the MVHS PTA, according to their website is to "offer support for the many school activities and organizations". Parents should join the PTA to "support the MV community as a dedicated parent."

Does it sound like Ms. Gatley is supporting Monta Vista? Is she meeting her duty as the President of the PTA by encouraging borderline-racist behaviors among parents? Why would any true supporter of a school discourage kids from attending it?

Okay, end of rant.

The article also cites other, more legitimate evidence that white students can feel uncomfortable there. It points out that Monta Vista is too "academically driven", can be too competitive, and can put whites in the position of underachievers.

What can I say about this? Is Monta Vista very academically driven and competitive? Yes. After getting a test back, the first question everyone asks is: "What did Insert Name Here get?" Does it place emphasis on subjects like math and science? Yes again, as quantifiable by the high number of AP courses available in the math and science fields, and the low number in the humanities fields (we didn't have AP economics or AP political science, for example).

Is this bad? I'd argue that this depends on your persuasion as far as the methods of education. Competition, in many cases, can lift the overall quality of education by offering metrics and incentives for students to assess themselves. Also, an early focus on math and science is a broadly valuable preparation for virtually any career. On the other hand, the purpose of schools is to educate the kids, not to put them in a Darwinian struggle to get into top colleges.

So, depending on your bent, competition is good and bad. I'll note that Asian parents aren't cited here as keeping their kids from Monta Vista because of the level of competition.

Do Asian high schools put whites in the positions of underachievers? I'm not sure what to say here. Certainly, there were smart white kids in my class: Anthony Sturzu, Paul Katz, Guy Berger. But the AP classes were definitely mostly Asian, particularly AP chemistry (considered the most prestigious AP class to be during my 4 years there). Also, I didn't take many remedial or lower division classes, so I'd say I'm not qualified on any level to assess whether more whites or Asians underachieve.

I think there's a few points that the article missed: the influence of high incomes on high test results. Certainly, the incomes in Cupertino, which feeds students into Monta Vista, are much higher than national averages. So, even if the students had a more "representative" demographic, performance would still be high along with levels of competition.

In addition, there's a selection issue with Asian students at Monta Vista. Monta Vista has acquired a reputation among Asians for being a top performing school. Many parents who value their kid's educations will move to the Cupertino area for this reason. So I'd argue that parents who value their kid's educations enough to pay purchase expensive housing and pay increased rents will have kids who perform better academically.

One final point (for anybody who's still reading this long, rather rambling post) is a comment on whether Asian students get sheltered at largely Asian high schools.

I think that this is true. It's been a bit of a culture shock to be in D.C., and to feel at times that there are no Asian people around. And to be fair, according to the census, the percentage of Asian people in D.C. (2.7%) is substantially less than than the percentage of Asian people in the U.S. as a whole (3.6%).

But this culture shock might have been lessened if I'd gone to a high school with a smaller Asian population.