Conservative families at GDS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are we to believe that there is an actual conservative in this area? You have to travel east to the Eastern Shore, north to Pennsylvania, west to Frederick and south to Fredericksburg. This area is the third largest liberal zone in the country behind the Greenwich Village and San Francisco and the schools here reflect a strong strain of Liberalism. The only school that is even close to being balanced are STA and NCS.

I know at least 2. My husband and myself. believe it or not, there are some conservatives in this area.

[Anonymous]

I'm the OP and this is a legitimate post.

The thing is- DS isn't really into politics so setting him up with Republican club kids doesn't make sense. He's a very socially aware kid (through charity that we do as a family with our synagogue). He is very pro US military and traditional (hat off at a baseball game when singing the national anthem).

From speaking with lots of young teens, I think that many are Libertarian and I'd put him in this category. Kids want to think for themselves and have ownership over their minds and bodies. So, it's not the kids that worry us (or the parents). It's the faculty and curriculum.

We'll just have to check it out for ourselves. DH has promised to keep an open mind because ultimately this is about DS and the best fit for him. If we are truly raising him to make his own conclusions, we can trust that he will question his teachers when he hears something contrary to what he knows or will be confident enough to present another opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are we to believe that there is an actual conservative in this area? You have to travel east to the Eastern Shore, north to Pennsylvania, west to Frederick and south to Fredericksburg. This area is the third largest liberal zone in the country behind the Greenwich Village and San Francisco and the schools here reflect a strong strain of Liberalism. The only school that is even close to being balanced are STA and NCS.

I know at least 2. My husband and myself. believe it or not, there are some conservatives in this area.

Nice to know. My wife and I are as well but we feel very lonley here in MoCo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the OP and this is a legitimate post.

The thing is- DS isn't really into politics so setting him up with Republican club kids doesn't make sense. He's a very socially aware kid (through charity that we do as a family with our synagogue). He is very pro US military and traditional (hat off at a baseball game when singing the national anthem).

From speaking with lots of young teens, I think that many are Libertarian and I'd put him in this category. Kids want to think for themselves and have ownership over their minds and bodies. So, it's not the kids that worry us (or the parents). It's the faculty and curriculum.

We'll just have to check it out for ourselves. DH has promised to keep an open mind because ultimately this is about DS and the best fit for him. If we are truly raising him to make his own conclusions, we can trust that he will question his teachers when he hears something contrary to what he knows or will be confident enough to present another opinion.

Hat off at a baseball game during the national anthem makes one pro military? At our liberal Bethesda public school the official PA announcement says "gentlemen remove your hats" before the anthem is played at every game. And everyone does it despite the fact that most are liberal. Have you looked at your public school as an alternative? Ours is great and is big enough that there are plenty of every type of kid. I even know Republican Jews so your DS would have company.

[Anonymous]

I am on the left wing end of liberal and I ALWAYS take my hat off during the national anthem. I don't need to be told and I will do it even if I'm in a crowd in which most aren't. I think OP and her DH have a lot of stereotypes that could stand to be challenged.

[Anonymous]

I have a very conservative friend with two sons who graduated from GDS. He did like to say that GDS prides itself on its diversity, but the only place they aren't diverse is politically. He kept his beliefs pretty much to himself. He thought the education was great, his kids got in to great schools. GDS is very liberal, so I think you'd have to be okay with that in order to be happy with the school.

[Anonymous]

I didn't say that taking a hat off at a game makes us pro military. I said we are traditional and that's an example. I said we are also pro military.

Again, thank you for the comments. We'll check it out and see for ourselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am on the left wing end of liberal and I ALWAYS take my hat off during the national anthem. I don't need to be told and I will do it even if I'm in a crowd in which most aren't. I think OP and her DH have a lot of stereotypes that could stand to be challenged.

I'm happy to see that you take your hat off for the national anthem. Been to a baseball game lately? Most people don't take their hats off. I said that this makes us "traditional. I didn't equate it with a political or social belief.

Just trying to give people an accurate description of our family. We are charitable, accepting and free thinkers. I especially appreciate the pp's comments about GDS being tolerant of everything but Conservative politics. We value diversity in all things in our house including diversity of thought.

[Anonymous]

GDS parent here. School is pretty liberal (totally cool by me) and there were only a couple of romney / ryan stickers in 12 during morning drop at the lower / middle school. but despite all of the hooey on these threads about the liberals and the first names and the supposedly "Jewish" nature of the school, the academics are traditional and extremely rigorous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am on the left wing end of liberal and I ALWAYS take my hat off during the national anthem. I don't need to be told and I will do it even if I'm in a crowd in which most aren't. I think OP and her DH have a lot of stereotypes that could stand to be challenged.

I'm happy to see that you take your hat off for the national anthem. Been to a baseball game lately? Most people don't take their hats off. I said that this makes us "traditional. I didn't equate it with a political or social belief.

Just trying to give people an accurate description of our family. We are charitable, accepting and free thinkers. I especially appreciate the pp's comments about GDS being tolerant of everything but Conservative politics. We value diversity in all things in our house including diversity of thought.

I haven't been to a baseball game since September but at Nationals games, yes, men do remove their hats.

Most people are supportive of the military, which might be different then being supportive of militaristic solutions to strife outside our country. How does your DS feel about US involvement in Syria for example? Would be an interesting topic to explore when he does his GDS shadow day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GDS parent here. School is pretty liberal (totally cool by me) and there were only a couple of romney / ryan stickers in 12 during morning drop at the lower / middle school. but despite all of the hooey on these threads about the liberals and the first names and the supposedly "Jewish" nature of the school, the academics are traditional and extremely rigorous.

OP here. Thank you- really appreciate your response!

[Anonymous]

Syria is an interesting one and I don't think there is a clear belief among any political group.

In this case I expect that DS would go with his dad's opinion, which is to leave Syria alone and target the real issue in the region (Iran).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this real? It would be one thing to ask how is GDS for conservative families. Its another to throw in such ridiculous provocative lines. Think about how insulting this is to GDS families (and I'm not one).

I agree. I think OP has an ulterior motive or she would not have found it necessary to include those provocative lines as you suggested. Serious people go straight for the facts without innuendo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the OP and this is a legitimate post.

The thing is- DS isn't really into politics so setting him up with Republican club kids doesn't make sense. He's a very socially aware kid (through charity that we do as a family with our synagogue). He is very pro US military and traditional (hat off at a baseball game when singing the national anthem).

From speaking with lots of young teens, I think that many are Libertarian and I'd put him in this category. Kids want to think for themselves and have ownership over their minds and bodies. So, it's not the kids that worry us (or the parents). It's the faculty and curriculum.

We'll just have to check it out for ourselves. DH has promised to keep an open mind because ultimately this is about DS and the best fit for him. If we are truly raising him to make his own conclusions, we can trust that he will question his teachers when he hears something contrary to what he knows or will be confident enough to present another opinion.

I always wonder why people like yourselves with relocate/live in an area fully knowing its political climate and then complain and insult the political affiliations here that don't agree with your personal ideology. There are many schools in Virginia that should meet your criteria and political leanings.

If it bothers you that much then please seek out areas, residential and academically, that will accommodate your academic preferences. To come here and insult the schools AND the people who attend them (yes, you did whether you like it or not) just shows that you are not as truly interested in the curriculum as in letting everyone know your political stance.

If your son is very pro US military (and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that -- your family is NOT the only one that supports our country's military), there are numerous military schools in this region within driving distances that will most definitely meet your needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this real? It would be one thing to ask how is GDS for conservative families. Its another to throw in such ridiculous provocative lines. Think about how insulting this is to GDS families (and I'm not one).

I agree. I think OP has an ulterior motive or she would not have found it necessary to include those provocative lines as you suggested. Serious people go straight for the facts without innuendo.

Agree. Gratuitous slaps make me skeptical.