Is GDS too woke?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All of the top independent schools (and most top universities) are “too woke” for the parents generation, because they are educating a new generation. If you were to ask my kids and their friends (regardless of where they go to school) the schools are not too woke.

I’d agree to a point.
There should still be a strong understanding that disagreement within a subgroup that feels strongly about social justice (that whole generation mostly, which is a great thing) is okay and should be encouraged. Discussion and critical thinking have really diminished in the era of cancel culture and I hope that things swing back toward middle in regards to open civil discussion being seen as the way towards progress, instead of all must think the same attitudes that are unfortunately more and more present as a fear based reaction in the Trump and post-Trump era. Is GDS too woke? I don’t know, but I think it is important to ask if a student would feel comfortable raising an alternative argument to reparations at that school, just one example, or if they would feel uneasy doing so in fear of being labeled “bad” rather than someone open to difficult and nuanced discussion.

Just pull up some school newspapers to see about that from students and teachers. It’s a bullying echo chamber. I assume most centered people don’t apply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All of the top independent schools (and most top universities) are “too woke” for the parents generation, because they are educating a new generation. If you were to ask my kids and their friends (regardless of where they go to school) the schools are not too woke.

My kids both think it’s too much. They agree with equity and social justice, but are tired of being made to feel like they are racist just because they are white.

Interesting... this is my worry.

All this kind of heavy-handed woke stuff is doing is to create the very kind of white racial identity they claim to be fighting. You can’t put people in an environment where they are criticized on racial grounds, not really allowed to respond, told that others must be advanced above them due to “equity,” and expect any other result. It’s crazy.

None of this happens at GDS.

[Anonymous]

Yes it does. It happens at GDS and the other independent schools. Parents are finally saying enough. There has to be a way to teach inclusion without being abusive to white students. I do not think any independent school is currently doing this well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Yeah! More open mic beat-down sessions in assumed white privileged ideology!

What an education! China and Russia will be proud of this curriculum for young American minds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The hypocrisy of schools such as GDS is astounding. GDS should allow anyone who wishes to attend to come on a first come, first serve basis. That would be equality and social justice!

The topic is what GDS is lecturing, teaching, reading, and exposing Pk-12 children to.
The topic is not your continued posts about private schools, socialism and SES.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The hypocrisy of schools such as GDS is astounding. GDS should allow anyone who wishes to attend to come on a first come, first serve basis. That would be equality and social justice!

The topic is what GDS is lecturing, teaching, reading, and exposing Pk-12 children to.
The topic is not your continued posts about private schools, socialism and SES.

Dp. All that absolutely ties into what they teach though. It’s all about equity. Socio-economics and socialist ideas are part and parcel to creating a more equitable society.

[Anonymous]

Check out its FB posts and see if that’s what you want 24/7, and it is nonstop 24/7.

We’re really curious what the mix of professions is 5-10 years after coming out if GDS. Do they all work at activist NGOs or performing arts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes it does. It happens at GDS and the other independent schools. Parents are finally saying enough. There has to be a way to teach inclusion without being abusive to white students. I do not think any independent school is currently doing this well.

I really hope the schools around here, both public and private, here this and moderate a bit. I have no interest in sending my kids to catholic schools, but it seems like they are the only ones in this area where it is not an issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The hypocrisy of schools such as GDS is astounding. GDS should allow anyone who wishes to attend to come on a first come, first serve basis. That would be equality and social justice!

The topic is what GDS is lecturing, teaching, reading, and exposing Pk-12 children to.
The topic is not your continued posts about private schools, socialism and SES.

Dp. All that absolutely ties into what they teach though. It’s all about equity. Socio-economics and socialist ideas are part and parcel to creating a more equitable society.

See- it’s derailed.

Woke people now want GdS to use class time to ridicule students about the clearly racists ways their parents made their money. What a school. What a future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All of the top independent schools (and most top universities) are “too woke” for the parents generation, because they are educating a new generation. If you were to ask my kids and their friends (regardless of where they go to school) the schools are not too woke.

My kids both think it’s too much. They agree with equity and social justice, but are tired of being made to feel like they are racist just because they are white.

Interesting... this is my worry.

All this kind of heavy-handed woke stuff is doing is to create the very kind of white racial identity they claim to be fighting. You can’t put people in an environment where they are criticized on racial grounds, not really allowed to respond, told that others must be advanced above them due to “equity,” and expect any other result. It’s crazy.

None of this happens at GDS.

+1

Not sure where you are getting this idea that kids are being criticized “on racial grounds” but it’s just false.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All of the top independent schools (and most top universities) are “too woke” for the parents generation, because they are educating a new generation. If you were to ask my kids and their friends (regardless of where they go to school) the schools are not too woke.

My kids both think it’s too much. They agree with equity and social justice, but are tired of being made to feel like they are racist just because they are white.

Interesting... this is my worry.

All this kind of heavy-handed woke stuff is doing is to create the very kind of white racial identity they claim to be fighting. You can’t put people in an environment where they are criticized on racial grounds, not really allowed to respond, told that others must be advanced above them due to “equity,” and expect any other result. It’s crazy.

None of this happens at GDS.

According to the Argur Bit or whatever it happens all the time and even in debate led classes people make a mockery of taking the other side. Even HS English teachers are quoted as “how hard it is to listen to or have actual conversation on the other view.” I’m sure lower school no other possible views are presented.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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 is a perfect description.

When my kid was in late elementary at our current K-8, GDS was the top of our list for HS. It was the place that accepted and embraced differences and individuality. Now it’s just the mirror image of the opposite side’s group think we wanted to avoid.

Didn’t apply this year for HS.

Agree with your definition and observation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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 is a perfect description.

When my kid was in late elementary at our current K-8, GDS was the top of our list for HS. It was the place that accepted and embraced differences and individuality. Now it’s just the mirror image of the opposite side’s group think we wanted to avoid.

Didn’t apply this year for HS.

Agree with your definition and observation.

agree, they claim to value diversity and debate yet have no thought diversity or actual debate at all. Jaut spend time criticizing things and people and drafting up their version of utopia (yet it has no end game).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Great! What about the other kids? Anyone want to talk about Grandpa’s money and where he made it?

It’s great to talk about all these issues but an expensive school like GDS (or NCS/STA or SFS or Maret or Potomac or ... ) never talks about how most families who can afford the tuition got that money. And they never talk about how they could change their own school to try to correct the imbalance. Eliminate legacies. Find ways to cut fat to lower tuition. Etc.