Tell me why you chose Sidwell over any other area independent schools....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

This is so ironic. I'm a Sidwell grad from the late 90s. I can think of MAYBE 2-3 of my classmates who have high-powered, money-making, NYC-esque jobs. The rest work for nonprofits, art galleries, one is a public defender, another is a social worker - and these are not people from wealthy families. The school used to be about values - now it's about social status and networking for parents. It's a shame, actually.

Actually, with the exception of Chelsea Clinton (and I guess you could argue she runs a non-profit), the mix of the types of jobs you describe is still consistent with alumni younger than you. The place itself hasn't changed much, just the perception from those who are not part of the school community.

parent of recent alums here -- I have to disagree -- many recent alums are working in finance.

Chelsea Clinton works for a non-profit???? That is hilarious. I bet you're also a Clinton voter. You sound totally in the tank

[Anonymous]

Why do I get the feeling it is mostly parents of other private school students posting in here pretending to be Sidwell parents? The full story is that Sidwell has the whole package. Superior academics AND a national reputation. Who wouldn't want both if they can have both? I say this as a non Sidwell parent too by the way. I would have sent my kids if I could.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do I get the feeling it is mostly parents of other private school students posting in here pretending to be Sidwell parents? The full story is that Sidwell has the whole package. Superior academics AND a national reputation. Who wouldn't want both if they can have both? I say this as a non Sidwell parent too by the way. I would have sent my kids if I could.

Maybe because those of us who have children at Sidwell know it's not Eden?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do I get the feeling it is mostly parents of other private school students posting in here pretending to be Sidwell parents? The full story is that Sidwell has the whole package. Superior academics AND a national reputation. Who wouldn't want both if they can have both? I say this as a non Sidwell parent too by the way. I would have sent my kids if I could.

Maybe because those of us who have children at Sidwell know it's not Eden?

But as John Eldredge might say, not so far from Eden that you have pulled your kids from the school. Or are you the parent from another private, as the PP suggests, thereby making his or her point?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread explains why so many DID NOT choose Sidwell. . .

Yes, if you want things to be simple, do not choose Sidwell. If you prefer an environment that is not introspective and constantly questioning its purpose, values and perceptions, then Sidwell is not the place for you. For others, it is exactly why we chose it. To each his / her own.

Simple? Oh please. Every "why I did" response is simple minded. The name? The name of all things??? Yeah, that's real deep and introspective. My DC goes to a Big 3 that is NOT Sidwell and no one says it's because of the name. How ridiculous. But carry on with your so called introspection.

We also learn to read completely at Sidwell. Try starting at the beginning and see the long list of reasons stated by the many posters. Once the thread is highjacked by the usual haters it deteriorates into the usual blah blah blah about the Obamas and brand. You can't even believe what you are saying when you suggest that the only reason is the name. But, if it makes it easier for you to believe that the only reason people make a choice other than your own is because they are brand conscious, please keep basking in this rationalization.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread explains why so many DID NOT choose Sidwell. . .

Yes, if you want things to be simple, do not choose Sidwell. If you prefer an environment that is not introspective and constantly questioning its purpose, values and perceptions, then Sidwell is not the place for you. For others, it is exactly why we chose it. To each his / her own.

Simple? Oh please. Every "why I did" response is simple minded. The name? The name of all things??? Yeah, that's real deep and introspective. My DC goes to a Big 3 that is NOT Sidwell and no one says it's because of the name. How ridiculous. But carry on with your so called introspection.

We also learn to read completely at Sidwell. Try starting at the beginning and see the long list of reasons stated by the many posters. Once the thread is highjacked by the usual haters it deteriorates into the usual blah blah blah about the Obamas and brand. You can't even believe what you are saying when you suggest that the only reason is the name. But, if it makes it easier for you to believe that the only reason people make a choice other than your own is because they are brand conscious, please keep basking in this rationalization.

+1
Sidwell has been the go-to for Presidential families since Theo Roosevelt; not sure why people act like they have changed the culture or image of the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe they just love being judged by anonymous strangers?

Seriously - I have to say something. I'm a Sidwell alum with kids too young to attend. But WHAT IS WITH the defensiveness? I know Sidwell can be controversial but every time it's mentioned, even if nothing negative is said, people jump in assuming they will need to defend themselves or something. It's total madness and VERY obvious.

Why so judgy?

Well played.

Not

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do I get the feeling it is mostly parents of other private school students posting in here pretending to be Sidwell parents? The full story is that Sidwell has the whole package. Superior academics AND a national reputation. Who wouldn't want both if they can have both? I say this as a non Sidwell parent too by the way. I would have sent my kids if I could.

National? I never knew that

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is so ironic. I'm a Sidwell grad from the late 90s. I can think of MAYBE 2-3 of my classmates who have high-powered, money-making, NYC-esque jobs. The rest work for nonprofits, art galleries, one is a public defender, another is a social worker - and these are not people from wealthy families. The school used to be about values - now it's about social status and networking for parents. It's a shame, actually.

Yeah, and all the really good music stopped in the late 1990s too. Now it's all garbage.

Strane response

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am highly educated and never heard of Sidwell until I came to work in DC. No one in my excellent college attended the school and no one bothered to ask anyone where they went to high school. It is just a DC phenom and a reflection of the shallow brand-name obsession in the city.

I went to Harvard in the '80s and had heard of Sidwell, so some level of name recognition outside DC is not a new phenomenon. We also knew where people had gone to college because it was one of the few facts listed under each name and photo in the original red facebook. I'm guessing they no longer print that.

[Anonymous]

(High school, not college.)

[Anonymous]

My son is a freshman at an ivy Leasgie school and two of his professors have told him that they have taught many Sidwell students and that they are good writers and thinkers. What I notice is that he already knows his teachers and seeks them out to interact, so he is really getting a lot out of his studies. He learned this at Sidwell. Its not perfect, but it turns out great students. My personal belief is that it is the best school in this region for smart, verbal kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do I get the feeling it is mostly parents of other private school students posting in here pretending to be Sidwell parents? The full story is that Sidwell has the whole package. Superior academics AND a national reputation. Who wouldn't want both if they can have both? I say this as a non Sidwell parent too by the way. I would have sent my kids if I could.

Maybe because those of us who have children at Sidwell know it's not Eden?

But as John Eldredge might say, not so far from Eden that you have pulled your kids from the school. Or are you the parent from another private, as the PP suggests, thereby making his or her point?

I wouldn't "pull" my kids because I know that no school is Eden. I always go with the devil I know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do I get the feeling it is mostly parents of other private school students posting in here pretending to be Sidwell parents? The full story is that Sidwell has the whole package. Superior academics AND a national reputation. Who wouldn't want both if they can have both? I say this as a non Sidwell parent too by the way. I would have sent my kids if I could.

Maybe because those of us who have children at Sidwell know it's not Eden?

But as John Eldredge might say, not so far from Eden that you have pulled your kids from the school. Or are you the parent from another private, as the PP suggests, thereby making his or her point?

I wouldn't "pull" my kids because I know that no school is Eden. I always go with the devil I know.

What a miserable way to live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do I get the feeling it is mostly parents of other private school students posting in here pretending to be Sidwell parents? The full story is that Sidwell has the whole package. Superior academics AND a national reputation. Who wouldn't want both if they can have both? I say this as a non Sidwell parent too by the way. I would have sent my kids if I could.

Maybe because those of us who have children at Sidwell know it's not Eden?

But as John Eldredge might say, not so far from Eden that you have pulled your kids from the school. Or are you the parent from another private, as the PP suggests, thereby making his or her point?

I wouldn't "pull" my kids because I know that no school is Eden. I always go with the devil I know.

What a miserable way to live.

On the contrary, it simply means we recognize that no school is perfect, and we are well-prepared to deal with the flaws.