GDS high school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Missed the meeting this morning - did they address any of these issues?

Yes, but only surface level. Tripled down on the DCC.

Could anyone expand on the "tripling down on the DCC'? This is one of the most awful things the current GDS HS administration, especially the HS principal, has really enforced. This terrible disciplinary process reinforces anonymous reporting, kids who go in front of the DCC for any type of offense small or big have to go in front of a student panel and then the student panel suggests the disciplinary action that is approved by administration. The process is horrible, no transparency and often goes on for weeks leaving the kid in question in limbo.

The problem with the current administration is they aren't open to listening? This disciplinary process is flawed but the don't want to hear it.

Recent article about the DCC in the school paper can be found here: https://theaugurbit.com/2023/11/13/inside-the-dcc-the-committee-that-makes-disciplinary-recommendations/

I think that GDS is hearing it from parents, but they ultimately seem to side with "research" that reinforces their choices. Many questions were answered with, "well the research suggests" variants. That's fine, but it shuts down the conversation and makes families feel powerless over decisions that significantly impact their children. It was also suggested that the HS students are on board with the DCC and find it successful, but it wasn't clear to me how they captured that data. This specific DCC issues won't impact many families, of course, but I think it speaks to broader administrative communication concerns that families are worried about.

Different poster. The tripling down emphasized that this was always confidential - in the 6 years that the DCC has been in place that there have been zero incidents of the members of the DCC sharing information outside of the committee. That this was all research-based and best practices that consequences not be a one-time punitive measure but that when delivered by peers really gives the perp the opportunity to consider how their actions represent themselves and affect their community. It got confusing b/c Yom kept using academic integrity, i.e. cheating, but then Khalid emphasized that in the handbook that the first instance of cheating is handled between student and teacher wouldn't go to DCC. The only other example given was using the word "shut up". It all sounds like the biggest waste of time to me, frankly. The article linked said that all of this was over a shove. I think that while shoving isn't the answer that between teenage boys it happens and perhaps after multiple shoves that perhaps it should be addressed, one shove does not a disciplinary action make.

Wait so saying "shut up" is a DCC level infraction at GDS?

Fact that HS Principal doesn't know that cheating and academic integrity expressly does NOT go to DCC is not a great sign that she understands what the actual F she's doing. She's not new to the school.

They have used DCC for super tiny things this year that I would have never imagined would merit going to the committee. And every question we have asked has been pushed down, avoided etc.

Someone in an earlier post wrote about the two major issues w/ the process:

1) No transparency to the student that an interview they are sitting for is "on the record", being transcribed and will be used against them verbatim when they go to DCC. Hard enough for kids to understand this in our justice system let alone at a school

2) No transparency as to what the specific charges and evidence is against a student when the case does go to DCC. What's the infraction? What do the witnesses say? That is not told to the student.

If there is evidence around those practices, she and Khalid need to show it. There is no evidence. It's all capricious. Principal doesnt even know what the committee is for apparently. But she has evidence and research.

[Anonymous]

GDS community your skirt is showing.

[Anonymous]

GDS has an award-winning student newspaper with the journalistic freedom to report and publish details that don’t always paint the school in the best light. What other places would allow that to happen?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GDS has an award-winning student newspaper with the journalistic freedom to report and publish details that don’t always paint the school in the best light. What other places would allow that to happen?

True but unrelated.

Yes agreed - the school paper at GDS is great - great students run it year on year and they have an exceptional faculty advisor who protects them.

But that doesn't mean the school is not without fault on how discipline is run, how viewpoint diversity is suppressed, the outsized and mis-targeted role of the DEI office, the bad decisions on AP courses and testing, and an opaque administration who doesnt like questions asked of it etc.

In fact, just read the op-eds and you will see the things some families are not happy about

[Anonymous]

Are you accusing Russell of having told lies about viewpoint diversity at the State of the School meeting?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GDS has an award-winning student newspaper with the journalistic freedom to report and publish details that don’t always paint the school in the best light. What other places would allow that to happen?

Have they done an expose on he DCC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS has an award-winning student newspaper with the journalistic freedom to report and publish details that don’t always paint the school in the best light. What other places would allow that to happen?

Have they done an expose on he DCC?

An article was written in the fall... https://theaugurbit.com/2023/11/13/inside-the-dcc-the-committee-that-makes-disciplinary-recommendations/

I just reread the article and Killy is quoted saying "... the idea for a disciplinary student council was originally proposed six or seven years ago by a student who researched it for their senior quest."

So much for GDS administration using a research-backed disciplinary approach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just reread the article and Killy is quoted saying "... the idea for a disciplinary student council was originally proposed six or seven years ago by a student who researched it for their senior quest."

So much for GDS administration using a research-backed disciplinary approach.

I'm hardly pro-DCC, but your logic doesn't follow. Sure, it clearly started as a student idea, but how does that lead to a conclusion that its continued existence or current incarnation isn't at all "research-backed"?

[Anonymous]

GDS does not need to change a damn thing because they have so many people applying.
Maybe it is time for Russel to move on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just reread the article and Killy is quoted saying "... the idea for a disciplinary student council was originally proposed six or seven years ago by a student who researched it for their senior quest."

So much for GDS administration using a research-backed disciplinary approach.

I'm hardly pro-DCC, but your logic doesn't follow. Sure, it clearly started as a student idea, but how does that lead to a conclusion that its continued existence or current incarnation isn't at all "research-backed"?

It doesn’t. But surely someone has asked to see this impressive research that led to the formation of the DCC? Truly, it would be hilarious if all they can point to is a student research paper- but maybe not. Perhaps there is volumes of peer reviewed studies available on this subject.

[Anonymous]

the outsized and mis-targeted role of the DEI office

If you see someone complaining about DEI, assume they are a troll or unhinged. Either way, don't entertain the racist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: the outsized and mis-targeted role of the DEI office

If you see someone complaining about DEI, assume they are a troll or unhinged. Either way, don't entertain the racist.

You are hilarious. DEI at GDS has run amok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just reread the article and Killy is quoted saying "... the idea for a disciplinary student council was originally proposed six or seven years ago by a student who researched it for their senior quest."

So much for GDS administration using a research-backed disciplinary approach.

I'm hardly pro-DCC, but your logic doesn't follow. Sure, it clearly started as a student idea, but how does that lead to a conclusion that its continued existence or current incarnation isn't at all "research-backed"?

It doesn’t. But surely someone has asked to see this impressive research that led to the formation of the DCC? Truly, it would be hilarious if all they can point to is a student research paper- but maybe not. Perhaps there is volumes of peer reviewed studies available on this subject.

I have push backed with the grade deans who administer the process about the lack of transparency and clarity and have asked does the process or policy consider impact on the child that has to go through the process. Based on the article, my own high schooler, and comments on this board that that many times its one-time or small offenses that shouldn't warrant the involved insane process. The answer I've gotten from grade deans is literally "I'm just the messenger" or a non answer. I know this DCC thing hopefully only impacts a small group of students but this is how the high school generally operates. No one takes accountability, lack of transparency and they don't want to deal with parents or consider programs are a mess.

[Anonymous]

To the PP's asking about why we stay. I am a parent of a senior who also has had other kids at the school. Here's the thing- my kids generally love the place. They also did incredibly well on their college admissions- ED top 15 plus schools plus lots of other offers.. That does not negate anything previous parents have said about the deeply flawed administration and DEI cancel culture.

As mentioned in a previous post, we asking for an exit interview with Russell. We will ask that he read and take in this thread. Even though this is anonymous - their are clearly different voices saying the same thing cogently over and over. I hope he takes this to heart. Maybe he will listen to us since our kids has "great outcomes" in terms of college. However we say explicitly that we will never give them another dime and feel alienated from the school we once loved.



I hope for parents of younger classes the ship can be turned around.
It's a hard mission to get the school to change when it's the hardest school to be admitted to in the DMV and this year's college admits are top notch. I have a feeling that will be thrown in our faces as evidence there is "no problem," but as parents that have spent years, tears and significant amounts of money on GDS we'd like to see deep and thoughtful changes.

[Anonymous]

My kids don't attend GDS, but we are there frequently for weekend sports. What is the deal with the trans/lgbtq/blm flags every where you look? What's the point?