Conservative families at GDS

[Anonymous]

Our rising 8th grade DS is bright (math and science are his strengths) and, while he swims competitively, athletics are not important to him. My observations are that he's generally liked by most kids but keeps to his small group of friends in his clubs (chess,robotics).

GDS has been mentioned to us numerous times but DH just cannot get over the casual way in which the students address their teachers and the general, progressive nature of the school. We encourage our children to think for themselves and own their viewpoints, however, DH feels that so much of what DS will learn at GDS is skewed liberal that we'll constantly have arguments. His exact words were, "it would be like sending DS to lectures everyday by President Obama and Fidel Castro. And, at the end of the lecture, the students give high fives and say, "Thanks Barak. Cool stuff".

Can some GDS families weigh in on this?

[Anonymous]

Is this real? It would be one thing to ask how is GDS for conservative families. Its another to throw in such ridiculous provocative lines. Think about how insulting this is to GDS families (and I'm not one).

[Anonymous]

I don't think DS meant to insult the school but the reality is that the curriculum is taught from a liberal, social justice point of view and the students address teachers informally. It's a tough pill to swallow even for some liberal families (who perhaps are looking for diversity of thought in their school).

[Anonymous]

Meant DH.

[Anonymous]

I don't think it's the right school for you. Especially with that attitude. There are plenty of other places to look.

[Anonymous]

The GDS experience would raise your husband's hackles all the time. Anybody who is comparing President Obama to the longtime dictator of Cuba is spoiling for a fight. Save yourself and your child the heartburn of having a parent loathe a school the kid may like, and look elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Fair enough- thank you for your honesty.

[Anonymous]

Are you the one who thinks Potomac is too liberal based on the Mercedes with McAuliffe bumper stickers in the parking lot? If so I'd say GDS is not a fit for you. So what school is too liberal for you next week? Lots to choose from.

[Anonymous]

Have you thought about St. Anselm's (a true political mix) or The Heights?

[Anonymous]

Agree^^ but think this is a troll.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps a troll but the school is also a disorganized dump. Yucky.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The GDS experience would raise your husband's hackles all the time. Anybody who is comparing President Obama to the longtime dictator of Cuba is spoiling for a fight. Save yourself and your child the heartburn of having a parent loathe a school the kid may like, and look elsewhere.

I agree. Castro has demonstrated he knows how to run national healthcare and he doesn't repeat his lies as forcefully as O.

[Anonymous]

Are we to believe that there is an actual conservative in this area? You have to travel east to the Eastern Shore, north to Pennsylvania, west to Frederick and south to Fredericksburg. This area is the third largest liberal zone in the country behind the Greenwich Village and San Francisco and the schools here reflect a strong strain of Liberalism. The only school that is even close to being balanced are STA and NCS.

[Anonymous]

Who knows if this is or is not a troll, but in the HS, the kids are strongly encouraged to think for themselves, and on every issue there are lively debates, most kids respect other kids who have different views and can actually articulate them. Yes, politically most families and kids are at least socially liberal, but there is a range of views on most topics (other than racial and identity intolerance, given the history of the school and the basic values of tolerance in the schools mission). Really your DS needs to go visit a few times and make his own decision, he is not going to be "brainwashed" at the school.
And then the PP who keeps calling GDS a disorganized mess is just completely off, at least the HS is extremely functional, organized and since the renovation physically a great facility as well. We have experience at several of the "big 5" with our kids/stepkids/extended family, and GDS HS was the most organized, administratively sound and communicative compared to the other HS's.

[Anonymous]

I'd call the admissions office and ask to be given names of students from the republican club (or whatever appropriately "conservative" club there is), and then talk to the students and parents. People do that all the time, e.g., how good is the math? Send them to the math families .... etc. School is definitely liberal, and this is in the classrooms. But my liberal son is great friends with kids who identify themselves as republican and conservative.