Georgetown Prep vs. Sidwell

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
But the idea floated on here above that very high academic achievement is some sort of ticket to wealth and success is a faulty one. In Washington, DC there are lots of places where "credentials" are very important (Government, Law, Consulting, etc). But in the rest of the world, its performance that counts. It turns out that attributes like toughness and willingness to take risk and imagination and the ability to work with and through people are much more important. Very smart people are often put into jobs as experts (e/g. Insurance Actuary) while others not so gifted run the company.

You're suggesting that good students who end up in gov/law etc aren't hardworking, tough or willing to take risks?

I'll go beyond that.

It's a bunch of people making up rules and other people who help them to write these rules, who look for loopholes in these rules or defend those who violate the rules.

The whole exercise adds little to American wealth or economic well-being. And that's one of the reasons that both Government and Law professions are held in such low regard by the rest of the Nation. That's as opposed to people in manufacturing and engineering and architecture and construction and agriculture. You know, the people that actually do something.

At the end of the day, these jobs in the Government / Legal area have to be deeply dissatisfying.

I am a lawyer and am changing the world. In law, like most professions, there is a wide range of social utility depending on where and how you direct your skills and efforts. I see the direct results of my work every single day. It may be time to broaden your horizons a bit!

"Changing the world"? Now that's scary.

You mean like what the legal profession has done to the practice of medicine in this country?

Shakespeare had a point.

Nope, not in a medical-related legal field. You are a narrow minded fool. Your comment makes about as much sense as my implying entrepreneurs are bad for society because some of them make products or provide services if find unhelpful or repulsive. Simply makes no sense. If you wish to keep on with your unsupported narrow view if what people in other professions can usefully accomplish, have at it.

[Anonymous]

The bumper sticker/magnet comments about Catholic school parents are a joke. I live in NWDC and I can tell you that I see FAR more bumper sticker/magnets from Sidwell, STA, NCS, Beauvoir, GDS, and Maret (among others) than I see from Catholic schools. Sure Catholic school parents put bumper sticker/magnets from their children's school on their cars, but so do non-catholic school parents. This has nothing to do with a lack of aspiration to attend a top college, it is just a way to show school spirit and support for your children's schools. Children who graduate from all these schools (catholic or non-catholic) go on to excellent colleges and achieve plenty of success in their lives.

[Anonymous]

The anti-Catholics need to look in the mirror. If these gross generalizations where being made about the African American or Jewish populations (among others) then people would be up in arms (literally). People need to think about the things they say before they say them - treat others as you wish to be treated. No one population is all alike or the same - everyone is unique, even if we share some similarities like religion, race,culture, country of origin, etc. To make the statements that Catholics are a "mafia" of people who are less intelligent than others, lack the ability to attend top colleges, or ambition to move away from where they were raised and get a job on their own is completely ignorant, inaccurate, and offensive.

Hate, prejudice, and bigotry are wrong whether you are making gross generalizations about a population because of their religion, their race, or anything else. As I said in the beginning, the people on this board who have made gross generalization about the Catholic population need to look in the mirror. If Paris has taught us nothing else today, it is to love thy man, respect thy man, and appreciate everyone for who they are - even if that is different from you - for no one race or religion is better/superior than another. When people say negative things about others, it is simply showing their own insecurities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The anti-Catholics need to look in the mirror. If these gross generalizations where being made about the African American or Jewish populations (among others) then people would be up in arms (literally). People need to think about the things they say before they say them - treat others as you wish to be treated. No one population is all alike or the same - everyone is unique, even if we share some similarities like religion, race,culture, country of origin, etc. To make the statements that Catholics are a "mafia" of people who are less intelligent than others, lack the ability to attend top colleges, or ambition to move away from where they were raised and get a job on their own is completely ignorant, inaccurate, and offensive.

Hate, prejudice, and bigotry are wrong whether you are making gross generalizations about a population because of their religion, their race, or anything else. As I said in the beginning, the people on this board who have made gross generalization about the Catholic population need to look in the mirror. If Paris has taught us nothing else today, it is to love thy man, respect thy man, and appreciate everyone for who they are - even if that is different from you - for no one race or religion is better/superior than another. When people say negative things about others, it is simply showing their own insecurities.

The anti Catholic sentiment goes back for generations. The Catholic immigrants who came to this country over 100 years ago were considered second class citizens. There were even some efforts to eliminate Catholic schools in some states.

What makes the Catholic community so wonderful is the common bond. This sense of community does not exist in some other Religions (Protestant for example). The same thing is true for the Jewish community. They stick together, and people who do not understand have a problem with it.

Those of you who feel the need to back religions and ethnic groups that are not like yours are just insecure and and most likely jealous. You cannot stand the fact that these groups have gained power in numbers. The Catholics have built schools all over the country and now we are able to attend wonderful schools for a fraction of the price of other private schools. That is because we work together. And you bigots just can't stomach it.

[Anonymous]

Nice try, but jews don't have the same insulated racist and backwards attitudes that many catholics do. painful but true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nice try, but jews don't have the same insulated racist and backwards attitudes that many catholics do. painful but true.

If anyone is racist, it is this poster^^. Painful but true, PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The anti-Catholics need to look in the mirror. If these gross generalizations where being made about the African American or Jewish populations (among others) then people would be up in arms (literally). People need to think about the things they say before they say them - treat others as you wish to be treated. No one population is all alike or the same - everyone is unique, even if we share some similarities like religion, race,culture, country of origin, etc. To make the statements that Catholics are a "mafia" of people who are less intelligent than others, lack the ability to attend top colleges, or ambition to move away from where they were raised and get a job on their own is completely ignorant, inaccurate, and offensive.

Hate, prejudice, and bigotry are wrong whether you are making gross generalizations about a population because of their religion, their race, or anything else. As I said in the beginning, the people on this board who have made gross generalization about the Catholic population need to look in the mirror. If Paris has taught us nothing else today, it is to love thy man, respect thy man, and appreciate everyone for who they are - even if that is different from you - for no one race or religion is better/superior than another. When people say negative things about others, it is simply showing their own insecurities.

The anti Catholic sentiment goes back for generations. The Catholic immigrants who came to this country over 100 years ago were considered second class citizens. There were even some efforts to eliminate Catholic schools in some states.

What makes the Catholic community so wonderful is the common bond. This sense of community does not exist in some other Religions (Protestant for example). The same thing is true for the Jewish community. They stick together, and people who do not understand have a problem with it.

Those of you who feel the need to back religions and ethnic groups that are not like yours are just insecure and and most likely jealous. You cannot stand the fact that these groups have gained power in numbers. The Catholics have built schools all over the country and now we are able to attend wonderful schools for a fraction of the price of other private schools. That is because we work together. And you bigots just can't stomach it.

Nice post clearly articulating things from our viewpoint.

But those on the outside will never get it because they don't want to get it. Or they are hoping for the Utopia described in the psot you responded to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nice try, but jews don't have the same insulated racist and backwards attitudes that many catholics do. painful but true.

This is not a conversation you want to get into on a anonymous message board where you just might hear what people actually think.

[Anonymous]

To 12:10 and 14:01, I am the PP (9:35). It sounds like you are expressing negativity and disproval over what I said and making the assumption that I am not Catholic? Well, you know what they say about assumptions. I am actually Catholic and have children in Catholic school (taking advantage of the good education for lower tuition). I am sorry if my post encouraging people not to express bigotry towards Catholics and my utopic viewpoint (expressing some of the core Catholic values) rubbed you the wrong way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To 12:10 and 14:01, I am the PP (9:35). It sounds like you are expressing negativity and disproval over what I said and making the assumption that I am not Catholic? Well, you know what they say about assumptions. I am actually Catholic and have children in Catholic school (taking advantage of the good education for lower tuition). I am sorry if my post encouraging people not to express bigotry towards Catholics and my utopic viewpoint (expressing some of the core Catholic values) rubbed you the wrong way.

I am 12:10. I was not expressing negativity! I re read my post. The word "back" Should have read "bash". I never assumed you were or were not Catholic. Sorry for the confusion.

[Anonymous]

Cry all you want. Your behaviors and dog whistles don't fool anybody, especially when it comes to people of color, gays and women. Stay in your bubble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cry all you want. Your behaviors and dog whistles don't fool anybody, especially when it comes to people of color, gays and women. Stay in your bubble.

Thank you for your permission to do so. We are quite happy to oblige.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To 12:10 and 14:01, I am the PP (9:35). It sounds like you are expressing negativity and disproval over what I said and making the assumption that I am not Catholic? Well, you know what they say about assumptions. I am actually Catholic and have children in Catholic school (taking advantage of the good education for lower tuition). I am sorry if my post encouraging people not to express bigotry towards Catholics and my utopic viewpoint (expressing some of the core Catholic values) rubbed you the wrong way.

So cost vs. value relationship, "good education for lower tuition", is the only reason you, as a Catholic selected Catholic schools for your children?

You gave no weight to concepts like common values, building the Catholic community or reinforcement of the Catholic faith? If it were just about cost-value relationship wouldn't the public schools be the obvious answer?

Most Catholics who send their kids to Catholic schools are doing so because it is homogeneous environment in which their values are reinforced, not continually challenged. And this includes the teachings of the Church. Additionally, they want to have their kids be part of the local Catholic community and to build friendships with the people with whom they will be life-long friends. Many want to continue family traditions.

But you made this decision because it's a good deal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To 12:10 and 14:01, I am the PP (9:35). It sounds like you are expressing negativity and disproval over what I said and making the assumption that I am not Catholic? Well, you know what they say about assumptions. I am actually Catholic and have children in Catholic school (taking advantage of the good education for lower tuition). I am sorry if my post encouraging people not to express bigotry towards Catholics and my utopic viewpoint (expressing some of the core Catholic values) rubbed you the wrong way.

So cost vs. value relationship, "good education for lower tuition", is the only reason you, as a Catholic selected Catholic schools for your children?

You gave no weight to concepts like common values, building the Catholic community or reinforcement of the Catholic faith? If it were just about cost-value relationship wouldn't the public schools be the obvious answer?

Most Catholics who send their kids to Catholic schools are doing so because it is homogeneous environment in which their values are reinforced, not continually challenged. And this includes the teachings of the Church. Additionally, they want to have their kids be part of the local Catholic community and to build friendships with the people with whom they will be life-long friends. Many want to continue family traditions.

But you made this decision because it's a good deal?

I am sure PP did not mean that it was just about the cost, although that is a nice perk. We send our child to private Catholic high school. When we looked at schools, we did not even consider any non-Catholic choices. If we are going to spend money on education, we want the religion and values built into the curriculum. To spend 30K+ on an education absent these things would be throwing money away as we live in a very strong pubic school district.

[Anonymous]

Thank you 14:23. Obviously, 11:09 doesn't understand that my words in parentheses are just a reference to a previous post - not to mention the basis of my post about good values and being against bigotry. No one would pay $10,000 a year for tuition if it was just about the cost. It's about the education, the small class sizes, the extras (art, music, PE, foreign language, etc), the values, the community, safe environment, - oh, and yes, it is a great value at 75% less than other privates. That is a nice bonus, but not the end all be all. Obviously, if we didn't like the school we wouldn't send our children and waste $10,000. So sorry to everyone else on this board that I had to go into such a long explanation for the PP - but I guess some people just need more time.