Is Sidwell "joyless"?

[Anonymous]

There is no hate or bitterness between Landon/Sidwell students, parents, alum or admin. They are in different spheres and respect each other. The petty barbs and bitterness on these threads are from pathetic parents who really don't know what is going on.

I agree for the most part with two very specific exceptions.

[Anonymous]

Sidwell is a great school; and everyone on this forum knows it. No school is perfect, there will always be challenges. The real issue is how well the (any) school is suited for YOUR child, and what you as a parent are going to do to help guide your child through the challenges. It's really just that simple. To ask if Sidwell is "joyless" is really an insightful question, so there's no wonder why you got the comments you got. But perhaps that was your intent.

good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell is a great school; and everyone on this forum knows it. No school is perfect, there will always be challenges. The real issue is how well the (any) school is suited for YOUR child, and what you as a parent are going to do to help guide your child through the challenges. It's really just that simple. To ask if Sidwell is "joyless" is really an insightful question, so there's no wonder why you got the comments you got. But perhaps that was your intent.

good luck!

This post was so 2010!

[Anonymous]

My chid loves Sidwell and its quite joyful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

As a Sidwell alum, private school parent and public school parent I will put in a pitch for public schools. 100% friendlier and more balanced than private schools. And quite "joyful".

I'm not a Sidwell alum but went to a top private in a less brainy/competitive area. It wasn't joyless, but there were some pretty horrific social norms there. Seventh graders would frequently discuss how lazy poor people were. Bullying was accepted by teachers and administrators (some of that was the time). Very rich children were admitted who were not nearly capable of working at the level of the other students. Scholarship kids were treated worse than other children by some teachers.

It's one of the reasons my son is in public school now - and thriving and loving going to school every day.

While waiting for my DS at the GDS lower school visit, I watched in horror as what appeared to be a 3rd or 4th grade class headed to music - a group of 4 girls walking ahead while one girl (a minority) lagged behind carrying different instrument cases. One of the 4 girls loudly announced to all the parents waiting, that the girl behind them carrying their instruments was their butler for the day.

[Anonymous]

PP - Bullshit. Musical instruments are kept in the music room in 3d and 4th.

[Anonymous]

Most top privates are joyless. The kid typically want to attend a public school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP - Bullshit. Musical instruments are kept in the music room in 3d and 4th.

Wow. Defensive? Maybe they weren't instrument cases but her arms were full, carrying who knows what. There were many other parents in the waiting area right outside the library who saw the same thing.

[Anonymous]

Maybe they take turns being the butler. I wouldn't infer much from a single observation.

[Anonymous]

10:50. Not defensive at all. There are just so many pathetic liars on the private school board that people who actually know the truth about a school need to call you out on your bullshit. But in your original post you were quite adamant that the girl was carrying musical instruments. Now, it may have been something else. What - luggage? Just crawl back under your rock and go away.

[Anonymous]

OP's question is quite funny to me. What is considered "joy" by one person may be considered to be "work" by another. If a kid is quite smart and goes to Sidwell -- they will likely enjoy it. If they have to struggle a lot to keep up and consider the working to be too much...they won't. And, parents need to be reminded it is the child that goes to the school -- not the parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:10:50. Not defensive at all. There are just so many pathetic liars on the private school board that people who actually know the truth about a school need to call you out on your bullshit. But in your original post you were quite adamant that the girl was carrying musical instruments. Now, it may have been something else. What - luggage? Just crawl back under your rock and go away.

Ew. You are gross. I'm glad my kids don't go to school with your kids. Black, white, who cares...one kid being a group of other kids "butler" seems like borderline bullying to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:While waiting for my DS at the GDS lower school visit, I watched in horror as what appeared to be a 3rd or 4th grade class headed to music - a group of 4 girls walking ahead while one girl (a minority) lagged behind carrying different instrument cases. One of the 4 girls loudly announced to all the parents waiting, that the girl behind them carrying their instruments was their butler for the day.

While that's clearly an unfortunate scene for parents to witness -- especially when you highlight the racial element -- I don't think it's fair to suggest it says something about the school or attitudes of students there. There clearly was a lot going on in that situation, and the relationship between the girls, that you don't know anything about.

BTW, I've got no connection whatsoever to GDS. I just think the implication you're suggesting is unfair, no matter what school you're describing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:10:50. Not defensive at all. There are just so many pathetic liars on the private school board that people who actually know the truth about a school need to call you out on your bullshit. But in your original post you were quite adamant that the girl was carrying musical instruments. Now, it may have been something else. What - luggage? Just crawl back under your rock and go away.

Wow again. Anger issues? Just saying that sort of crap happens every where - public and private. Guess I could've left out the name cause clearly it hit a nerve.

[Anonymous]

Excuse me, troll, you woke up, poured yourself a cup of coffee, logged in and wrote that you saw this happen. Somebody challenged you on it and you call them defensive. I'd look in the mirror, sweetheart, for the defensive one.