GDS vs. Maret - cultural and curricular differences?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s up with the literature and humanities reading lists at these schools? One has mainly classics, other has barely 1. What’s the agenda there?

It’s indicative of the culture of the school. One is narrow and tradition-bound. The other is broader but requires one take a certain view.

One is broad and traditional, other is narrow and takes a view.

Despite the marketing, neither has a positive impact on the community outside their own walls.

Maret certainly does have a positive impact on their community -- many neighbors use their playground every weekend.

Not sure if GDS' is equally open, as we've never been there.

GDS proposed to invest millions to revitalize somewhat decrepit Tenleytown, which would have been a win-win with socially beneficial mixed-use development. But a group of loud NIMBYs, who don’t understand that younger generations want vibrancy and change, thwarted these plans. It seems that the aging NIMBYs of Tenleytown would rather keep their mattress stores than have an exciting mixture of residences (including some affordable), with upmarket dining and retail. All proceeds to GDS would have gone to financial aid to further the school’s diversity and inclusion commitments.

This is one of several posts in this thread that are no doubt written by GDS supporters thinking they are speaking positively about the school when instead their reflections feed the fire of justified disrespect for GDS. Each statement is indicative of the condescension that is entirely too prominent in the GDS community. The well intentioned “good deeds” are genuinely considered such by community members but they have no impact in the community and are entirely self serving. Our DC attended a well regarded progressive independent K-8 - one that sent a disproportionate number of their 8th graders to GDS for HS. When it came time for our child to apply we met with our HOS for a heart to heart about what we were looking for and it was clear our HOS was not proud of the reputation of being a GDS feeder. The HOS talked about encouraging families to be open to other schools and to look critically at GDS for all the concerns of authenticity referenced in this and other threads. The HOS has recently moved on and it is yet to be seen whether the new HOS will feel similarly. But the K-8 draws significantly from UNWDC and that is the insular world that prefers GDS. Patterns are unlikely to change any time soon. The self motivated power structure that propels GDS is one that feeds on itself and propels GDS down a defined path. Buyers beware...or at least be honest with yourself.

I fail to see how this is different than Maret or Sidwell or any other private in the area.

+1 I have read this same comment many times on this board. I think it's the same poster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s up with the literature and humanities reading lists at these schools? One has mainly classics, other has barely 1. What’s the agenda there?

It’s indicative of the culture of the school. One is narrow and tradition-bound. The other is broader but requires one take a certain view.

One is broad and traditional, other is narrow and takes a view.

Despite the marketing, neither has a positive impact on the community outside their own walls.

Maret certainly does have a positive impact on their community -- many neighbors use their playground every weekend.

Not sure if GDS' is equally open, as we've never been there.

GDS proposed to invest millions to revitalize somewhat decrepit Tenleytown, which would have been a win-win with socially beneficial mixed-use development. But a group of loud NIMBYs, who don’t understand that younger generations want vibrancy and change, thwarted these plans. It seems that the aging NIMBYs of Tenleytown would rather keep their mattress stores than have an exciting mixture of residences (including some affordable), with upmarket dining and retail. All proceeds to GDS would have gone to financial aid to further the school’s diversity and inclusion commitments.

This is one of several posts in this thread that are no doubt written by GDS supporters thinking they are speaking positively about the school when instead their reflections feed the fire of justified disrespect for GDS. Each statement is indicative of the condescension that is entirely too prominent in the GDS community. The well intentioned “good deeds” are genuinely considered such by community members but they have no impact in the community and are entirely self serving. Our DC attended a well regarded progressive independent K-8 - one that sent a disproportionate number of their 8th graders to GDS for HS. When it came time for our child to apply we met with our HOS for a heart to heart about what we were looking for and it was clear our HOS was not proud of the reputation of being a GDS feeder. The HOS talked about encouraging families to be open to other schools and to look critically at GDS for all the concerns of authenticity referenced in this and other threads. The HOS has recently moved on and it is yet to be seen whether the new HOS will feel similarly. But the K-8 draws significantly from UNWDC and that is the insular world that prefers GDS. Patterns are unlikely to change any time soon. The self motivated power structure that propels GDS is one that feeds on itself and propels GDS down a defined path. Buyers beware...or at least be honest with yourself.

You used a lot of words, but I don't understand your point exactly. The former HoS of Sheridan didn't like gds and gds and sheridan draw primarily from upper NW. And?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reviving this thread as we are applying our kids to these two schools. Any current parents who can provide insight into the schools’ culture and academics, as well as the overall happiness/stress of the kids? We are looking for a school where kids are challenged but happy, and where kids feel supported by the school and by each other.

Reasonable question but, unfortunately, as you've no doubt since noticed, these types of questions elicit responses from a small number of people, most of whom have a bone to pick with one or both schools. You will be better served by reaching out to parents at each school, perhaps starting with representatives of the parent-teacher organization and/or friends or friends-of-friends with children at either school.

[Anonymous]

Be sure to know what you want out of a school.
Talking to other parents, be sure to know what they want out of a school and how that matched up.
Overlap with your values and wants is what matters.

And don’t take foundational education as a given. Sadly, some schools and teachers get swept up in other things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s up with the literature and humanities reading lists at these schools? One has mainly classics, other has barely 1. What’s the agenda there?

It’s indicative of the culture of the school. One is narrow and tradition-bound. The other is broader but requires one take a certain view.

One is broad and traditional, other is narrow and takes a view.

Despite the marketing, neither has a positive impact on the community outside their own walls.

Maret certainly does have a positive impact on their community -- many neighbors use their playground every weekend.

Not sure if GDS' is equally open, as we've never been there.

GDS proposed to invest millions to revitalize somewhat decrepit Tenleytown, which would have been a win-win with socially beneficial mixed-use development. But a group of loud NIMBYs, who don’t understand that younger generations want vibrancy and change, thwarted these plans. It seems that the aging NIMBYs of Tenleytown would rather keep their mattress stores than have an exciting mixture of residences (including some affordable), with upmarket dining and retail. All proceeds to GDS would have gone to financial aid to further the school’s diversity and inclusion commitments.

Wow.

Some parent/ staffer at GDS is quite deranged, and quite unaware of it.

[Anonymous]

But at least they are putting the quarter million BA they earned in English to good use.