Is GDS too woke?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I’d wrap it up differently. I think the school is mindblind to how much it is alienating current families and students with how constant and extreme they have gotten the last few years.

They don’t know- nor ever solicit anonymous or honest feedback- how many people are holding their noses at it all hoping the real academics come though and their kids don’t get screwed up.

We picked it due to location and academic reputation. Now we question the latter and have concerns on mission obsession.

and yet you still pay the money to send your kid there . . . how weak-minded are you?

It’s a great school and kids love it. Wokeness only bothers the parents, it seems.

It bothers the parents because on one level they know their kids are being brainwashed. It'll serve them well in any SLAC, of course, where it'll be more of the same.

if that's what they think and they keep their kids in the school, then they only have themselves to blame.

What is their alternative?

If they sincerely believe that their kids are being brainwashed they should absolutely and it would be an imperative that they change schools.

Right. Which schools?

Honestly, Sidwell. It's liberal too in a lot of ways, of course, but it has a strong Quaker ethos that "all voices are heard." Believe it or not, this also means the more-than-a-few conservative voices that are there.

Not true. Conservative voices are quashed and/or mocked at Sidwell too

I'm sure they are, too often. Maybe my DC has just gotten lucky. DC has a great group of friends who are definitely on the more conservative side and are not afraid to speak out. Point is that they can pull the "Quaker values" card if necessary.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:The problem with GDS is not that it is too woke, it's that its existence is in conflict with its values.

This. How do schools like GDS reconcile their supposed values with the fact that their existence in their present form - exclusive, expensive - is based on and depends on the institutional racism that creates legacy status and generates intergenerational wealth? Do they ever discuss with their students where their tuition money comes from and why their families can afford it?

My kids' answer would be: Because my parents chose to work their asses off to pay for my education. And I'm grateful to them for that.

And therefore they get to go there and segregate themselves with the other children of the 1%.


Anyone how really buys into the woke message would not be sending their kid to a school like GDS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like that this thread has tackled all of the important topics, like Chik Fil A, "Brown" identity and now trans indoctrination. It is honestly sort of funny.

The school does not hid what it is. Don't like it then don't go there. However, it seems that there are several multiples of more people that want to attend than they have space for. So a lot of people like what they are cooking over there.

There are tons of different schools to satisfy everyone's political orientation. Go find one that fits yours.

Why are you mocking my post on brown identity? If we are going to classify people by race we might as well know what we are talking about. People throw around the word brown in their woke conversations but have no idea what they are talking about. Imposing the “brown” identity on people who don’t identify by race is a classic form of western imperialism.

+1 (mixed race here)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
TO ANSWER THE OP:

IF YOU MADE IT TO THE END OF READING THIS EXASPERATING THREAD YOUR KID (AND FAMILY) WILL BE FINE AT GDS...IF NOT...
Signed,
Parent of more than one child at the school.

But seriously. GDS is woke. Like really woke. Your kids will correct you if you use non-pc or dated language. We find the place exasperating at times. But our kids LOVE it and have great friends, good relationships with teachers and are learning a lot.
So we deal and keep them there. But sometimes it is truly challenging. We discuss the importance of different points of view and respectful dialogue. We tell ourselves over and over that our kids are happy- even in these difficult times so that is a big plus.

We find it exacerbating and a suffocating echo chamber of mass agreement. But we have many more years if we stay. Perhaps 5-8 more years of this isn’t worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP "woke"

It's not too "woke" but it is too intelligent for your family.

Stop with the Conservative vocab words that makes you sound dumb.

Put your kid in an ultra religious conservative school. Let them be part of the uneducated you seem to be. Great parenting.

Here’s a good example of respectful open dialogue and understanding. Not shutting down the conversation, not name calling. Very solutions oriented.

[Anonymous]

Look at the 11th grade required reading, and you will get your answer.

[Anonymous]

What's wrong with the 11th grade required reading?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem with GDS is not that it is too woke, it's that its existence is in conflict with its values.

[phone]

Former reluctant tuition payer when my ex wife insisted we send our kids there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was a bit turned off at the Open House when so much of the emphasis was on explaining their equity/woke positions. I have no problem with those positions per se, but it was a weird pitch to focus on that and never mention the math curriculum. I know that the school teaches math, but it was not a correctly calibrate pitch for what many parents want to hear about in an Open House. We ended up at a different school and are happy. I have friends happy at GDS. I think it’s more of a messaging problem than an actual problem with what the kids are learning.

Exactly why we rescinded our application over a decade ago

Nothing has changed - still stridently self righteous on demographic politics and weak on STEM

[Anonymous]

I would only be comfy sending my child to a super woke school if I would also be comfy sending them to a heavily religious/doctrinaire school. Lots of Kool-aid!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was a bit turned off at the Open House when so much of the emphasis was on explaining their equity/woke positions. I have no problem with those positions per se, but it was a weird pitch to focus on that and never mention the math curriculum. I know that the school teaches math, but it was not a correctly calibrate pitch for what many parents want to hear about in an Open House. We ended up at a different school and are happy. I have friends happy at GDS. I think it’s more of a messaging problem than an actual problem with what the kids are learning.

Exactly why we rescinded our application over a decade ago

Nothing has changed - still stridently self righteous on demographic politics and weak on STEM

Which is what these schools don’t want you to see—the political focus isn’t just a focus, it’s also helpful in covering weaknesses elsewhere.

And it is like choosing a religious school. You either want your kids steeped in the teachings or not—either is defensible—but you are committing to that just like any religious-type teaching. Most folks who choose gds are choosing “social justice education for elites.” That’s fine if that’s what you want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was a bit turned off at the Open House when so much of the emphasis was on explaining their equity/woke positions. I have no problem with those positions per se, but it was a weird pitch to focus on that and never mention the math curriculum. I know that the school teaches math, but it was not a correctly calibrate pitch for what many parents want to hear about in an Open House. We ended up at a different school and are happy. I have friends happy at GDS. I think it’s more of a messaging problem than an actual problem with what the kids are learning.

Exactly why we rescinded our application over a decade ago

Nothing has changed - still stridently self righteous on demographic politics and weak on STEM

Which is what these schools don’t want you to see—the political focus isn’t just a focus, it’s also helpful in covering weaknesses elsewhere.

And it is like choosing a religious school. You either want your kids steeped in the teachings or not—either is defensible—but you are committing to that just like any religious-type teaching. Most folks who choose gds are choosing “social justice education for elites.” That’s fine if that’s what you want.

I don't believe they are covering weaknesses elsewhere. The school is strong and I am certain their math curriculum is very good.

But I do think they have let their diversity efforts take over the curriculum, rather than inform the curriculum so that it is well rounded and inclusive. It's a strong school but the messaging is a bit over the top.

Our child chose to apply and was accepted, but chose to go Sidwell (for none of the reasons discussed in this thread). We still think highly of the school, as does DC.

[Anonymous]

Looks like the waitlisted families have shown up, looking to pounce on your spot. Don't listen to them - sending our kid to GDS was the smartest thing we ever did. It's no more "woke" than Sidwell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looks like the waitlisted families have shown up, looking to pounce on your spot. Don't listen to them - sending our kid to GDS was the smartest thing we ever did. It's no more "woke" than Sidwell.

Not a waitlist family. Sidwell and gds are both super woke schools, and what that often means is sj focus above other things or deeply interwoven with other things. We should know, we sent a kid to each based on other fit things. But we chose that with eyes open. Others might want something different and that’s fine. If you don’t want religion or wine infusion, sfs, gds, or very religious schools aren’t for you and that’s ok. Just know it going in is all I’m saying. After all, many many families want woke forward schools. Few are sending kids in spite of that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks like the waitlisted families have shown up, looking to pounce on your spot. Don't listen to them - sending our kid to GDS was the smartest thing we ever did. It's no more "woke" than Sidwell.

Not a waitlist family. Sidwell and gds are both super woke schools, and what that often means is sj focus above other things or deeply interwoven with other things. We should know, we sent a kid to each based on other fit things. But we chose that with eyes open. Others might want something different and that’s fine. If you don’t want religion or wine infusion, sfs, gds, or very religious schools aren’t for you and that’s ok. Just know it going in is all I’m saying. After all, many many families want woke forward schools. Few are sending kids in spite of that.

*woke infusion.

I wouldn’t mind wine infusion after this year, but that’s a different topic