Forms for school

[binny]

So I have to ask, if you were filling out paperwork for school at registration, would it bother you to fill one out that asked your (or your childs) race and ethnicity?


This is part of my job, the government REQUIRES this form. I just find their name and explain the form. It gives you choices of hispanic or not hispanic and then asks your race (several choices and you choose as many as are applicable). You can also choose to not answer the question and have someone else identify you (this is how it used to be done anyway) Well today I was called a LOT of names for asking them to fill this out. Was told I was a racist pig and a communist and there is no way that is any of anyones business. Also heard a lot of comments like " I thought we were better than this now. I cant ask someone that one the street why should you be able to ask me?" DH says I should wear a button that says "Dont shoot the messenger"

So would that form bother you? Would you attack the person who is there to help you with it?

 

[Becky2005]

It wouldn't bother me because it seems that question is on every stinking form I fill out for anything. There is always the option of "prefer not to answer".

What they have to do with the form I have no idea but seems it's on everything (or maybe I've just been filling out way too many forms for 4 kids lately that it just seems like it's on every little thing).

I have one starting Kindergarten -- I've been filling out forms since March for this, that & the other thing to get him ready for school. Just finished off his required dental appointment today. I *think* that's the last of the forms...until they give me MORE to fill out the first day of school.

 

[Liberty Belle]

So I have to ask, if you were filling out paperwork for school at registration, would it bother you to fill one out that asked your (or your childs) race and ethnicity?


This is part of my job, the government REQUIRES this form. I just find their name and explain the form. It gives you choices of hispanic or not hispanic and then asks your race (several choices and you choose as many as are applicable). You can also choose to not answer the question and have someone else identify you (this is how it used to be done anyway) Well today I was called a LOT of names for asking them to fill this out. Was told I was a racist pig and a communist and there is no way that is any of anyones business. Also heard a lot of comments like " I thought we were better than this now. I cant ask someone that one the street why should you be able to ask me?" DH says I should wear a button that says "Dont shoot the messenger"

So would that form bother you? Would you attack the person who is there to help you with it?

I used to work for 4H and we had similar forms. Whenever someone signed up for a camp, class, club, etc it asked their race. A lot of people had a lot of problems with it, but I'd explain that it was there so we could make sure we were reaching people of all ethnicities. Most were satisfied with this answer.

 

[kacaju]

I don't mind if you ask me once. I was a Girl Scout leader and not only was it on the registration form (which I was fine with) BUT any EVERY event we did there was a form I had to fill out and they wanted to know how many of each race went on this trip.

 

[torinsmom]

I only minded when my child was asked to fill out his own form and told he could only choose one box. Well, he is biracial, both black AND white, and has always chosen to identify as such. I told him to mark what he wanted or nothing at that time. I told the school office that they could mark whatever they wished for him, but he was not to be forced to choose one box.

When DS was a baby, they gave me a form at the doctor's office that did not have multiracial on it. I left it blank and the nurse thought I just forgot. She marked it white(fair skin, blue eyes) and when I saw it I told her he was biracial, father was black. So then she changed it to black. It is amazing how children can change races that quickly!

I am glad most forms have multiracial now. There was always "other", but I think that is kind of insulting. If they want to be exact, they should have people check all the boxes that apply, IMHO.

Marsha

 

[Pigeon]

Yes, I would mind, and no I wouldn't answer the question. I wouldn't blame you for giving me a government form, however.

 

[binny]

I only minded when my child was asked to fill out his own form and told he could only choose one box. Well, he is biracial, both black AND white, and has always chosen to identify as such. I told him to mark what he wanted or nothing at that time. I told the school office that they could mark whatever they wished for him, but he was not to be forced to choose one box.

When DS was a baby, they gave me a form at the doctor's office that did not have multiracial on it. I left it blank and the nurse thought I just forgot. She marked it white(fair skin, blue eyes) and when I saw it I told her he was biracial, father was black. So then she changed it to black. It is amazing how children can change races that quickly!

I am glad most forms have multiracial now. There was always "other", but I think that is kind of insulting. If they want to be exact, they should have people check all the boxes that apply, IMHO.

Marsha

Thats where this form is better than the ones they have had in the past. They can now choose more than one race. I prefer the new one.

 

[SwedishMeatball]

I don't understand why people would take out their frustrations on someone passing out a form, especially in a school setting. There is probably a reasonable explanation for why that data is compiled, but I think some people are fed up with all the labels and groups our society places on us, particularly when it stems from the government. Sort of like a "take your dang census and then leave us alone" mentality.

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

I can see how it would be irritating to people, but on the other hand it's not your fault that the government requires that form.

 

[merryweather20]

I don't mind if you ask me once. I was a Girl Scout leader and not only was it on the registration form (which I was fine with) BUT any EVERY event we did there was a form I had to fill out and they wanted to know how many of each race went on this trip.

Wow! I've never had to fill this out once for Girl Guides Must be an American thing? They don't ask at school either.

 

[torinsmom]

Oh, forgot to say I would never get mad at the person giving the form. It's not your fault.

Marsha

 

[java]

Yes I mind because I too have children that are half hispanic half non-hispanic. So when they ask me to fill out the form I want to know why they are asking this? They can't ask it on a job application. Why does the school need to know?
There is no "other" choice. That's what I would pick.

Now I didn't make a stink about it. I just didn't fill it in. I got the call explained why I didn't fill it in- calmly and politely. I said they could write in 50/50 if they wanted. She said I had to pick one. I said well they aren't one of the choices.

Making friends.

And yes I don't blame the form person- or the person calling - they are just doing their job.

 

[mum4jenn]

Yes, I would mind, and no I wouldn't answer the question. I wouldn't blame you for giving me a government form, however.

WHY???


In regards to the education field they have to know so that if there is money available for extra services for those that have been "left out" in the past. For example we have several children with parents from India. There is a language barrier in the home and the state provides extra language services for these children. If the parents had refused to answer this question that help would not be available.

The answers to this question will also help when looking at test scores to see what demographic needs the most extra help and the school systems can appeal to the government for more funds to help these under-served children.If the parents refused to answer they might not get that help because it would be assumed that the child did not want to learn rather than coming from a background of traditionally under-served groups.

There are different sorts of help available and there usually needs to be a good cross-section of white children, black children, Asian children, Latino children, etc. If the parent refuses to answer this question their child might miss out on a chance for help. For example, if the county is 50% black, 30% white and 20% Latino, these groups would be divided up like this also. It would not be fair to create a help group with 80% Latino if the County is only 20%. Again if the parent refuses to fill this out then the child loses out.

 

[Tiffer]

Yes I mind because I too have children that are half hispanic half non-hispanic. So when they ask me to fill out the form I want to know why they are asking this? They can't ask it on a job application. Why does the school need to know?
There is no "other" choice. That's what I would pick.

Now I didn't make a stink about it. I just didn't fill it in. I got the call explained why I didn't fill it in- calmly and politely. I said they could write in 50/50 if they wanted. She said I had to pick one. I said well they aren't one of the choices.

Making friends.

And yes I don't blame the form person- or the person calling - they are just doing their job.

Same here, only my kids are 1/2 asian. Never a box that fit them on any of the school forms.

But no, "don't kill the messenger". That's not fair either.

 

[Stacerita]

Those questions on forms don't bother me. What bothers me is that there is never a box that fits my child. She can be white or hispanic, but not both. Or she has to choose Pacific Islander and nothing else. Most times you can only choose one bubble to fill in. A lot of times the "Other" bubble or perfer not to answer gets filled in since she doesn't fit into the other.

 

[binny]

The new federal forms now allow multiple answers. You have to choose hispanic or no then you can choose as many ofthe other choices as you feel are applicaple I believe the choices are
white, Asian, Pacific Islander, Black or African American, and maybe a couple more. You can choose as many as you want now, which is why we all get new forms this year ( at least I think everyone will get them)

 

[java]

The new federal forms now allow multiple answers. You have to choose hispanic or no then you can choose as many ofthe other choices as you feel are applicaple I believe the choices are
white, Asian, Pacific Islander, Black or African American, and maybe a couple more. You can choose as many as you want now, which is why we all get new forms this year ( at least I think everyone will get them)

So how are my half hispanic half not supposed to fill it out. They are not either Hispanic or not. They are BOTH.

 

[binny]

I just tell them to go with what they identify most with. The lower portion allows more in depth explanation.
It isnt perfect but they are at least making an effort.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I know this is a horrible thing to say and I do not agree with it, but there are some districts that when testing your child for the gifted program, if you check anything other than "white" your child doesn't have to "score" as high on the testing to be accepted into the program.. and I really don't agree with that. It is either holding a "white" child to a higher standard or stating a child who is not white cannot be as smart.. which is it.. either is not right. I don't know if they still do it. I work in the schools but I have nothing to do with that end of it & don't know if they still do it. Some distircts also felt that if you come from a lower income bracket, your child didn't have to score as high either...again, I think that is wrong.. so if you don't have x-amount of income your child must be stupid.. or you have x-amount of income so your child has to score higher.. again, either way, not right for the child.

but back to to original question, would I answer it? Yes.. I would. Hasn't anyone ever noticed that when there is a survey online or in person at Universal or Disney they ask it.. would you answer it for them?

 

[Sparx]

I know this is a horrible thing to say and I do not agree with it, but there are some districts that when testing your child for the gifted program, if you check anything other than "white" your child doesn't have to "score" as high on the testing to be accepted into the program.. and I really don't agree with that. It is either holding a "white" child to a higher standard or stating a child who is not white cannot be as smart.. which is it.. either is not right. I don't know if they still do it. I work in the schools but I have nothing to do with that end of it & don't know if they still do it. Some distircts also felt that if you come from a lower income bracket, your child didn't have to score as high either...again, I think that is wrong.. so if you don't have x-amount of income your child must be stupid.. or you have x-amount of income so your child has to score higher.. again, either way, not right for the child.

but back to to original question, would I answer it? Yes.. I would. Hasn't anyone ever noticed that when there is a survey online or in person at Universal or Disney they ask it.. would you answer it for them?

its called affirmative action. i bet if you looked at the demographics, there are fewer white children in the gifted program than other races. how does that matter.

i don't understand why people freak out so much over being asked their race. its really not a big deal.