Is GDS too woke?

[Anonymous]

Gds is fantastic... in upper grades.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:So cool how so many on this board are experts in early childhood development, curriculum development, and diversity, equity and inclusion.

We’re experts in our own children and, as parents, have the right and responsibility to determine how snd what our kids are taught on these issues. Which is why I wouldn’t send my kids to GDS if they paid me to do so

Then why do you care about the curriculum and messaging at GDS? I certainly don't take any interest in what they're teaching at Mater Dei.

I don't, really. I just assumed that everyone would be interested in my opinion.

Well you are not even a gds parent, and you don’t know what you are talking about, so please there’s the exit.

New poster. Wow, you're nasty.

[Anonymous]

Yes it is too woke with the constant ramming down the throat and repetitive reminders of BLM, racism pronouns, etc. Can we please start talking and addressing other issues in the world other than these? Sick of it already and it’s becoming a big turn off that I’m not paying attention to it anymore.

[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.

Agree 100%. The wokeness has go too far. And is abusive to white students and Latino students...basically anyone who isn’t black. Enough already.

[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?

Any one of the other private schools, public school or homeschool. If you’re sending your kid to GDS you have money. If you’re too dumb or lazy to find an alternative why should anyone have any sympathy for you? If you care that much about this why aren’t you doing the research?

Your bizarre focus on me is making you miss the point. The vast majority of the schools are somewhere along the Woke continuum. I have done the research and I am asking because it is very difficult to find a school that is primarily focused on academic excellence. I’m just wondering if anyone else has come up with better alternatives or knows about a school I may have missed.

Whittle

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem is not whether GDS is “woke”, the problem is that GDS is smug/annoying. I have no problem with the ideology that they promote. The attitude of superiority on the other hand is tiresome.

This

+1 (step parent of a recent GDS grad)

[Anonymous]

Sounds suffocating.

So not only are they pushing a woke and identity politics agenda, the students act superior about that very bias?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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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?

Any one of the other private schools, public school or homeschool. If you’re sending your kid to GDS you have money. If you’re too dumb or lazy to find an alternative why should anyone have any sympathy for you? If you care that much about this why aren’t you doing the research?

Your bizarre focus on me is making you miss the point. The vast majority of the schools are somewhere along the Woke continuum. I have done the research and I am asking because it is very difficult to find a school that is primarily focused on academic excellence. I’m just wondering if anyone else has come up with better alternatives or knows about a school I may have missed.

Whittle

Catholic schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds suffocating.

So not only are they pushing a woke and identity politics agenda, the students act superior about that very bias?

That is at least half the point of the whole thing....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds suffocating.

So not only are they pushing a woke and identity politics agenda, the students act superior about that very bias?

That is at least half the point of the whole thing....

Like the South Park episode where the adults get so smug about buying hybrid cars that their smugness itself becomes an environmental hazard.

[Anonymous]

Hi all, I'm a reporter for WAMU & DCist and I'm popping in to ask for your help. I'm working on a story about school curriculums and activities that focus on anti-racism and/or critical race theory, and I'd love to talk with some of you since there are clearly a lot of thoughts on this. Are you in favor of more anti-racism, social justice, and law enforcement discussions in DC-area schools? Or, perhaps you're hesitant or opposed to the addition of more discussions around race? I would like to get multiple perspectives for this story. Please reach out at [e-mail] if you have a story or perspective to share. Also happy to connect on WhatsApp/Signal for a secured line. I understand that this is sensitive, so I am open to discussing anonymity with you and an editor. Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi all, I'm a reporter for WAMU & DCist and I'm popping in to ask for your help. I'm working on a story about school curriculums and activities that focus on anti-racism and/or critical race theory, and I'd love to talk with some of you since there are clearly a lot of thoughts on this. Are you in favor of more anti-racism, social justice, and law enforcement discussions in DC-area schools? Or, perhaps you're hesitant or opposed to the addition of more discussions around race? I would like to get multiple perspectives for this story. Please reach out at [e-mail] if you have a story or perspective to share. Also happy to connect on WhatsApp/Signal for a secured line. I understand that this is sensitive, so I am open to discussing anonymity with you and an editor. Thanks in advance!

@Eliot, glad to hear you are writing on this. I think what you're going to come up against here is fear. Not many parents would risk being outed as being anti-anti-racist, even on a secure line. The "in" thing among D.C. private school parents is to be publicly supportive of any and all DEI efforts, no matter how absurd, and to then complain among themselves or on DCUM, while making sure that the Black Lives Matter sign is prominently visible in the front yard of their Edgemoor mansion. If this sounds ironic it isn't. I hope there are some brave souls out there.

[Anonymous]

Get ahold of the handouts and materials Elliot and let the readers decide for themselves what is really going on here. Go to the source- the books, the handouts, the teacher trainings, the homework, the actual discussion topics at each grade. Find out what was added in 2019, 2020, 2021.
But get the course documents not some lame headline from an administrator. People need to know.

[Anonymous]

Have a student show you the powerpoints and handouts. Don’t let the school water down what they give you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Agree 100%. The wokeness has go too far. And is abusive to white students and Latino students...basically anyone who isn’t black. Enough already.

+1