Is Sidwell "joyless"?

[Anonymous]

I doubt it is joyless. My friends with children at the school say that their kids do enjoy it. However, when the parents talk about it I get the sense that the kids (and parents) find it very stressful. But I imagine this is true at most of the areas top schools. Is Sidwell less joyful? Probably depends on the kid. And the expectation of the parents.

[Anonymous]

I cannot speak for anyone else at Sidwell, but my kids are all happy and excited to go to school. They love the place, and with the exception of writing the tuition checks, I too like it a lot. Definitely joyful.

[Anonymous]

What is definitely not joyful is seeing TIRED, OLD POSTS(this over 2 years old) literally dredged up again. Don't folks have anything original to ask or to write about??

[Anonymous]

4 hours of homework a night is not joy. Kids on Xanax who are seeing the local therapist down the street is not joy! We have been there!

[Anonymous]

Like the swallows to Capistrano, we always return to Sidwell-bashing at this time of year. In this topsy-turvy world of petty dictators destroying country from inside the government, it's nice to know there are some things you can always count on.

Thanks for the re-fresh, PP. Same time next year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Like the swallows to Capistrano, we always return to Sidwell-bashing at this time of year. In this topsy-turvy world of petty dictators destroying country from inside the government, it's nice to know there are some things you can always count on.

Thanks for the re-fresh, PP. Same time next year?

That would be a better analogy if the swallows returned at Christmas time instead of March.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like the swallows to Capistrano, we always return to Sidwell-bashing at this time of year. In this topsy-turvy world of petty dictators destroying country from inside the government, it's nice to know there are some things you can always count on.

Thanks for the re-fresh, PP. Same time next year?

That would be a better analogy if the swallows returned at Christmas time instead of March.

Picky picky picky. I'm more interested in the poetry of the phrase than the exact month. "Like the scent of mulled cider and warm sweaters ..."?

[Anonymous]

One of my kids graduated and one is still at Sidwell. It's not joyless. The parties are fun and the
Kids enjoy sports and ECs. The kids on the upper school may know who is rich and powerful but friendships cut across all sorts of lines. Kids make life long friends. Each of my kids found a few of their teachers wonderful and inspirational. My kid in college finds he is better prepared than most of his classmates. The amount of homework is an issue but the pressure for most kids comes from within. If your kid likes to be challenged and won't go bonkers with four hours of homework a night it's a good fit.

[Anonymous]

Our kids love going to school at Sidwell. They are playful, happy kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like the swallows to Capistrano, we always return to Sidwell-bashing at this time of year. In this topsy-turvy world of petty dictators destroying country from inside the government, it's nice to know there are some things you can always count on.

Thanks for the re-fresh, PP. Same time next year?

That would be a better analogy if the swallows returned at Christmas time instead of March.

Picky picky picky. I'm more interested in the poetry of the phrase than the exact month. "Like the scent of mulled cider and warm sweaters ..."?

I like the effort, but think you can do better this time next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like the swallows to Capistrano, we always return to Sidwell-bashing at this time of year. In this topsy-turvy world of petty dictators destroying country from inside the government, it's nice to know there are some things you can always count on.

Thanks for the re-fresh, PP. Same time next year?

That would be a better analogy if the swallows returned at Christmas time instead of March.

Picky picky picky. I'm more interested in the poetry of the phrase than the exact month. "Like the scent of mulled cider and warm sweaters ..."?

I like the effort, but think you can do better this time next year.

Probably so. I'll think on it for the next 12 months, and try to have something ready to go when the bashing starts again next December.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here -- I really just wanted to get some information from Sidwell parents on the overall feel of the school because we are an out-of-town family considering applying our children there for next year -- our children who, by the way, are neither dumb NOR too serious to have fun, but thanks for the accusations and assumptions. I hardly frequent this board, but given what has transpired from a seemingly innocuous question directed at a discrete group, it's really making me think public school might be for us. Is the open rudeness and name-calling typical among private school parents, is it the anonymous nature of this board that makes people feel comfortable enough to do so? Wow. Reading this whole exchange has been a real eye-opener for me. It's really quite sad.

You should go read a few threads on the public school board -- equally rude. It's the DMV -- welcome to the area!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

All you did was watch? Why didn't you speak up and say something to those kids? I don't care if every single one of them were participating willingly, no way I would have just watched. They all would have been given a lesson on civility, respect for others and self.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here -- I really just wanted to get some information from Sidwell parents on the overall feel of the school because we are an out-of-town family considering applying our children there for next year -- our children who, by the way, are neither dumb NOR too serious to have fun, but thanks for the accusations and assumptions. I hardly frequent this board, but given what has transpired from a seemingly innocuous question directed at a discrete group, it's really making me think public school might be for us. Is the open rudeness and name-calling typical among private school parents, is it the anonymous nature of this board that makes people feel comfortable enough to do so? Wow. Reading this whole exchange has been a real eye-opener for me. It's really quite sad.

Some publics are the same,if not worse, FYI.
Good luck.

[Anonymous]

respect