Is GDS really progressive

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where are the brilliant kids enrolled?

Odds are, most aren't in private schools. And they're the outliers rather than the norm at any school. (Which, FWIW, is how I interpreted the PP's comment that kids probably had to be above average (but not necessarily brilliant) to thrive at GDS. She wasn't saying there are no brilliant kids at GDS -- just that brilliance wasn't required to thrive in that environment.)

[Anonymous]

Imagine a card-carrying member of the ACLU.

Anonymous wrote:What is meant by" lefty"?.

[Anonymous]

There are a few brilliant kids at GDS, and some thrive, in part because of the support of extra-curriculars such as Quizbowl, Debate, and Math team. The current crop in all these areas is extraordinary. However, it is true that the wider cohort of really extremely smart kids are in the public schools - especially TJ and Blair.

[Anonymous]

I don't think they thrive because of extracurriculars -- I think that those particular extracurriculars put the talents of certain kids on display in a way that composite test score data might not. Nor are the kids on these teams lonely at the top at GDS. It's an intellectually stimulating environment with lots of kids who are up to the challenges it offers.

Brilliance always seem to me an attribute of individuals rather than something produced by certain environments. But some environments certainly encourage it, others don't know what to do with it, still others find it threatening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would describe GDS as a progressive school for bright kids. Above average (not necessarily brilliant) kids who have differing learning styles will absolutely thrive there, but average to below average kids are likely to struggle, particularly in Middle and Upper School. The style of education is progressive, the attention to kids from very diverse backgrounds is progressive, but that doesn't mean that every kid, no matter what, will be a good match, nor does it mean that the school will alter the curriculum for a kid who has trouble keeping up.

Where are the brilliant kids enrolled?

The brilliant kids are enrolled mostly at the Big 3. My child has scored 99.9 percentile on all testing and is at one of the Cathedral schools. I am not saying all of the students there have these scores but most score in the 95% or higher range. I think it is the same for Sidwell and probably GDS as well.

[Anonymous]

I would qualify that statement. Most of the brilliant kids whose parents can afford to send them to private school (and whose parents prefer private school) probably attend Big 3 schools. I agree that there are many exceptionally bright children at the Big 3 schools. And there are some exceptionally bright students whose parents either prefer public school or simply cannot afford private school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would describe GDS as a progressive school for bright kids. Above average (not necessarily brilliant) kids who have differing learning styles will absolutely thrive there, but average to below average kids are likely to struggle, particularly in Middle and Upper School. The style of education is progressive, the attention to kids from very diverse backgrounds is progressive, but that doesn't mean that every kid, no matter what, will be a good match, nor does it mean that the school will alter the curriculum for a kid who has trouble keeping up.

Where are the brilliant kids enrolled?

The brilliant kids are enrolled mostly at the Big 3. My child has scored 99.9 percentile on all testing and is at one of the Cathedral schools. I am not saying all of the students there have these scores but most score in the 95% or higher range. I think it is the same for Sidwell and probably GDS as well.

[Anonymous]

Hey, don't forget all the exceptionally bright kids whose families chose other private schools!

[Anonymous]

Consider this---- A child may start out brilliant in pre-k, then become average by third grade. Hmmmmm. I guess the student body is comprised of students from various academic levels.

[Anonymous]

This thread is hilarious. All these brilliant children are only at private schools? Yeah......right.
Tell that to all the kids out at TJ, or kids at the top public schools in the area.

FYI, I know a girl starting at one of the "Big 3" next year after coming out of two DC charter schools. She was bright before she entered the Big 3. Privates don't have the monopoly on "brilliant" children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:progressive and liberal.

Interesting. I am conservative and Republican and have a child at GDS. I feel extremely welcome there and quite like the school. To each it's own. Differences are certainly respected, but like in any environment, be prepared to have your opinions questioned if you are extremely outspoken regarding your political / lifestyle opinions.

I would like to hear more about this. We are a fairly conservative family, too, and in Catholic school now, but I think we would like the educational approach at GDS. Are different political/religious viewpoints tolerated/encouraged, including by the faculty?

[Anonymous]

Quite a few kids enter GDS in high school from Catholic schools or come from families that are more conservative/Republican than in the Lower and Middle School, and seem to have no difficulty fitting in and either finding kids to hang out with who share their background/values, and/or 'agree to disagree" with their classmates and teachers. IN our experience any well-reasoned opinion is well-received, however bigotry is not. The school is open regarding sexual orientation of teachers and students, and if a student is not comfortable with that aspect of life swirling around them, it could take some time to adjust.

The "forum" is an incredible vehicle for meeting and interacting with kids with different ideas and backgrounds. My daughter tells me how she has a score of friends/acquaintances that she just got to know sitting around the forum studying or in free periods/after school, that she never would have met in the regular run of classes/activities (and never spoke to for instance in middle school, and does not participate in any activities with). These conversations have resulted in her trying out and sticking with some totally new activities (Math team, Quiz bowl, frisbee, powder puff football) and having real close friendships with upperclassmen as a freshman. It is a very rich and non-judgemental environment, and quite different from the Cathedral Schools and Sidwell, where we have also had family members enrolled.

[Anonymous]

Re the GDS faculty -- from what I've seen, they will always push kids to think self-critically and to look at issues from perspectives other than their own. Basically, it's an environment where respect for and challenges to different belief systems go hand in hand.

[Anonymous]

Is this one of those posters that wandered over here from the WTOP website? Really - Muslims and Sikhs are "exotic" in this area? So, GDS is liberal, yet somehow not tolerant. I guess this notion is similar to FOX News claiming to be "fair and balanced", i.e. fair and balanced if you are conservative and Republican. Seems to me that this poster has an issue with liberals. It's probably best for us to leave politics out of school...just as we're supposed to do at work. Did you know that GDS is one letter away from GODS?

Anonymous wrote:People with conservative values, unless they are conservative in some exotic way (like Muslims wearing the Hijab or Sikhs wearing turbans), are unlikely to feel welcome here. GDS is very tolerant, if you're very liberal. Nothing wrong with that, but not to be confused with actual tolerance (which recognizes different values).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought progressive was just a euphemism for liberal these days. Does it have some other meaning?

In the way you're using it, it sounds like you're asking if GDS recognizes when it has a mediocre kid on its hands and lowers its expectations accordingly.

her q was genuine and then you offer this useless, rude junk. who also knows nothing about progressive ed.

[Anonymous]

So, GDS is liberal, yet somehow not tolerant

I have no real direct knowledge of GDS but I can comment that absolutely Yes. There are organizations and entire cities that are "liberal, yet somehow not tolerant."

I am a flaming proud political liberal. And even I was appalled when I lived in Berkeley and later Seattle when I saw how dissenting, conservative opinion was mocked and quickly squelched. So yes, I believe it's entirely conceivable that there could be a school where any viewpoint is valid unless it's politically conservative.