GDS High School Assemblies

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know how the GDS high school assemblies are programmed? Like literally who picks the speakers? Last I was aware the DEI office did.

Today’s assembly speaker mentioned the following according to my high schooler there

- saying we are about to enter an apocalypse because of trump

- and we need to stand w trans and native americans and gaza

- said gaza is colonization by israel

- demanding reparations for African Americans


To hold this assembly (especially this week) is the most tone def thing I’ve ever heard. To not have a speaker who at least counters that view is really shocking.

This school. 15 years as a parent here and it continues to surprise me how they own goal on things like this constantly.

Academics and teachers are great in high school. The administration is bad.

[Anonymous]

I don't know GDS, but I do know students exaggerate. Take it with a grain of salt.

[Anonymous]

Congrats on paying hundreds of thousands of dollars for your kids to be brainwashed that way.

Must be worth it I guess.

[Anonymous]

How do you make the shrugs emoji on DCUM? It's GDS and this is what you signed up for.

Both of my DC went to the HS and sometimes my eyes rolled pretty far back into my head. Overall, though, my kids had a great experience and I would still do it all over again.

[Anonymous]

Give it a few days. Maybe next week’s speaker will be Serena Joy or someone else you agree with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you make the shrugs emoji on DCUM? It's GDS and this is what you signed up for.

Both of my DC went to the HS and sometimes my eyes rolled pretty far back into my head. Overall, though, my kids had a great experience and I would still do it all over again.

🤷‍♀️

[Anonymous]

With my kids, I trust, but verify. Sometimes their takeaways from school events are ... a touch off-base.

Ask them the speaker's name/organization and look them up! If you're still concerned, you can inquire in a neutral/curious way how they were selected and to what end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know how the GDS high school assemblies are programmed? Like literally who picks the speakers? Last I was aware the DEI office did.

Today’s assembly speaker mentioned the following according to my high schooler there

- saying we are about to enter an apocalypse because of trump

- and we need to stand w trans and native americans and gaza

- said gaza is colonization by israel

- demanding reparations for African Americans


To hold this assembly (especially this week) is the most tone def thing I’ve ever heard. To not have a speaker who at least counters that view is really shocking.

This school. 15 years as a parent here and it continues to surprise me how they own goal on things like this constantly.

Academics and teachers are great in high school. The administration is bad.

Sign me up!

[Anonymous]

You signed up for it by sending your kid to GDS, a school whose reputation is well known.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know how the GDS high school assemblies are programmed? Like literally who picks the speakers? Last I was aware the DEI office did.

Today’s assembly speaker mentioned the following according to my high schooler there

- saying we are about to enter an apocalypse because of trump

- and we need to stand w trans and native americans and gaza

- said gaza is colonization by israel

- demanding reparations for African Americans


To hold this assembly (especially this week) is the most tone def thing I’ve ever heard. To not have a speaker who at least counters that view is really shocking.

This school. 15 years as a parent here and it continues to surprise me how they own goal on things like this constantly.

Academics and teachers are great in high school. The administration is bad.

Every time I start to think that things are going off the rails at Sidwell, I am reminded that at least it's not as bad as GDS. Thanks for this, OP.

[Anonymous]

Who was the speaker?

[Anonymous]

I"d assume with that list of topics that it was an assembly that allowed students to share their thoughts and anxieties of the week.

I can ask our DC when they get home. Was your student texting you? (Um - follow the cell phone policy much?) Because your post was during the school hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know how the GDS high school assemblies are programmed? Like literally who picks the speakers? Last I was aware the DEI office did.

Today’s assembly speaker mentioned the following according to my high schooler there

- saying we are about to enter an apocalypse because of trump

- and we need to stand w trans and native americans and gaza

- said gaza is colonization by israel

- demanding reparations for African Americans


To hold this assembly (especially this week) is the most tone def thing I’ve ever heard. To not have a speaker who at least counters that view is really shocking.

This school. 15 years as a parent here and it continues to surprise me how they own goal on things like this constantly.

Academics and teachers are great in high school. The administration is bad.

Every time I start to think that things are going off the rails at Sidwell, I am reminded that at least it's not as bad as GDS. Thanks for this, OP.

OP - yup our GDS kids have many sidwell HS friends. Honestly it seems much more sane over there at Sidwell. At least on this front.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I"d assume with that list of topics that it was an assembly that allowed students to share their thoughts and anxieties of the week.

I can ask our DC when they get home. Was your student texting you? (Um - follow the cell phone policy much?) Because your post was during the school hours.

Come on now. Very few of the kids follow the texting rules during assembly. Let’s not be holier than thou on this. You can do better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You signed up for it by sending your kid to GDS, a school whose reputation is well known.

OP here. Few comments have said this.

Actually no. I did not sign up for this. I signed up for a high school run by Kevin Barr, not this excuse for an administration. The school wasn’t like this even 5 years ago. Those who remember know.