Sidwell and Mark Penn - Disgusting

[Anonymous]

Several years ago, parents say, when Clinton’s pollster Mark Penn learned that his child had been rejected from Sidwell, he enlisted the former president himself to lobby—successfully—for reconsideration. (Penn: “No comment.”)

- from the article posted on the obama thread


Even if it happens everywhere, memo to Michelle - go GDS.

[Anonymous]

Happens everywhere, including GDS. That's the downside of all private schools. If Obama wants to avoid that world, he should send the girls to public school.

[Anonymous]

The Mark Penn story is not that unusual -- money and power count in this city, even at GDS.

A few years ago, two 6th grade girls were applying from our private elementary school and they both decided to apply to NCS, Holton, and GDS. Both were racially diverse. One of the girls (Girl #1) had top grades, top SSAT scores, and was considered a real gem in the school. Her parents were smart and well-educated, but they worked in non-profits and struggled to pay tuition. The other girl (Girl #2) was cartainly very nice, but she had significantly lower scores and grades. It so happened, however, that one of her parents was a prominent and wealthy media personality.

Well...guess who got in?? Girl #2 got into all three schools and Girl#1 was wait-listed at all three. Our head of school and teachers were just amazed. Fortunately, everyone rallied to Girl #1 and they were able to get her into a fine school -- not top 3 -- but still a great school. She graduated from that school and went to MIT. It all worked out in the end, but that made a real impression on me.

I hope the Obama girls do not come to our school. I'm sure they are great kids, but the hangers-on will follow and get in because of their connections. I send my kids to to our school to get a great education, not to rub elbows with the rich and famous. I think that is the downside of private school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Several years ago, parents say, when Clinton’s pollster Mark Penn learned that his child had been rejected from Sidwell, he enlisted the former president himself to lobby—successfully—for reconsideration. (Penn: “No comment.”)

- from the article posted on the obama thread


Even if it happens everywhere, memo to Michelle - go GDS.

Or find a low-key school...