GDS High School Assemblies

[Anonymous]

So now the intolerance has come for you, it’s not ok anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So now the intolerance has come for you, it’s not ok anymore.

What does this even mean? I think PP was trying to share their experience as a Jewish family for those who are considering GDS for HS. We looked briefly at GDS and determined it wasn't a good fit for a lot of reasons, a bit part being the over-correction on DEI topics. 100% of assemblies dedicated to these subjects is a good example of that.

[Anonymous]

Well, that's your issue. You signed up for a person (Kevin Barr) and not for the actual mission of the school. The School is pretty clear about who it is and what it stands for. What did you miss when they spoke about it during your admissions process? Who were the assembly speakers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Well, that's your issue. You signed up for a person (Kevin Barr) and not for the actual mission of the school. The School is pretty clear about who it is and what it stands for. What did you miss when they spoke about it during your admissions process? Who were the assembly speakers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Huge problem right now at GDS that boils down to antisemitism. Majority of Jewish families there are 100% against the current Israel administration but still hope there is an Israel. There is not space for this view at GDS. You are either a genocider colonizer supportern or for hamas. I know it is admissions season so buyer beware. We are almost done but I am sending this to anyone considering what they are signing up for. It is no wonder the election ended up like it did.

Pervasive now.

Nuance and open-minded conversation, where have you gone?

[Anonymous]

My GDS HS student said that this month is National Indigenous Peoples month and the speakers were Native Americans who own a certain store in New York (he doesn't remember which one). He said that their comments were much more nuanced that reported here. The comment about Trump bringing an apocalypse was to him clearly a joke. They did speak about the need for everyone to support marginalized groups like Native Americans, African Americans and trans people. They did suggest reparations for Native Americans and African Americans. He said they did compare the colonization of the US to Israel colonizing Gaza. They also answered student questions about cultural appropriation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My GDS HS student said that this month is National Indigenous Peoples month and the speakers were Native Americans who own a certain store in New York (he doesn't remember which one). He said that their comments were much more nuanced that reported here. The comment about Trump bringing an apocalypse was to him clearly a joke. They did speak about the need for everyone to support marginalized groups like Native Americans, African Americans and trans people. They did suggest reparations for Native Americans and African Americans. He said they did compare the colonization of the US to Israel colonizing Gaza. They also answered student questions about cultural appropriation.

Your student gave a good summary. Seems like an interesting and thought provoking assembly. I’m not seeing any issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It was an outside speaker. GDS platforming that view and not the opposite is literally a contributing reason to the mess we are all in. I’m not catasrophizing.

Ask your high schooler at GDS how many of the boys in high school are Trump supporters. It’s well over 50 percent of my kid’s HS friends (the boys). Well done GDS.

funny you mention this. My US son at Sidwell said that, if they were old enough to vote, he guarantees that 75-80 percent of the boys would have voted for Trump.

My college student says the same is true at his college (T20 east coast) - most males would vote for Trump. This is a generational thing. It's not a GDS turns them sour thing. Our GDS male would vote Kamala and our college student male did vote for Kamala (not a GDS alum)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Huge problem right now at GDS that boils down to antisemitism. Majority of Jewish families there are 100% against the current Israel administration but still hope there is an Israel. There is not space for this view at GDS. You are either a genocider colonizer supportern or for hamas. I know it is admissions season so buyer beware. We are almost done but I am sending this to anyone considering what they are signing up for. It is no wonder the election ended up like it did.

This is BS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It was an outside speaker. GDS platforming that view and not the opposite is literally a contributing reason to the mess we are all in. I’m not catasrophizing.

Ask your high schooler at GDS how many of the boys in high school are Trump supporters. It’s well over 50 percent of my kid’s HS friends (the boys). Well done GDS.

To blame this on the school is to poke your head in the sand. Have you read anything about what is happening with boys nationwide?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It was an outside speaker. GDS platforming that view and not the opposite is literally a contributing reason to the mess we are all in. I’m not catasrophizing.

Ask your high schooler at GDS how many of the boys in high school are Trump supporters. It’s well over 50 percent of my kid’s HS friends (the boys). Well done GDS.

funny you mention this. My US son at Sidwell said that, if they were old enough to vote, he guarantees that 75-80 percent of the boys would have voted for Trump.

Disgusting. I thought private schools were supposed to be good at educating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Native DC resident. GDS has alwaya had the reputation for its liberal politics. I remember when the school started hosting the white privilege conference and conservatives pitching a fit about it. It sounds like you didn't do your due diligence when researching the school and had a very narrow understanding of is identity. You might want to find another school because I'm sure they'll do something else that will make you mad.

Liberal - yes of course.

Batshit crazy antisemitism - that was not in the program 15 years ago when our first kid started there. It all began in 2020.

The white privilige thing was not that long ago if I’m thinking of the same event.

Why are you exaggerating? Criticism of Israel’s actions is not antisemitism. Do you even have a clue as to how many Palestinians have been killed by Israel? GDS is not the problem here

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It was an outside speaker. GDS platforming that view and not the opposite is literally a contributing reason to the mess we are all in. I’m not catasrophizing.

Ask your high schooler at GDS how many of the boys in high school are Trump supporters. It’s well over 50 percent of my kid’s HS friends (the boys). Well done GDS.

To blame this on the school is to poke your head in the sand. Have you read anything about what is happening with boys nationwide?

GDS is leading that nationwide trend. Be better.

[Anonymous]

Can your kid skip assemblies? Is the content shared in advance? If I felt they were centered around something I didn’t want the kids to be exposed to I’d tell them not to go, or be sick that afternoon. There are so many great things about the school, I’m sure there must be a way to get around this if it rubs you the wrong way without giving everything else up?

[Anonymous]

Y’all need to read the recent NYTimes article on DEI at Michigan. It sounds like GDS is similar. But the number of boys supporting Trump does shock me.