need to decide GDS or Maret for 9th

[Anonymous]

GDS is a gem. My HS kid loves it. Not doing 4 hours of homework at night. GDS’s bigger size is more appealing to many who like more friend group options. You have two great options. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Gds parent here. Love the school. Lots of homework. If your kid loves the work - which can be creative and with passionate teachers - then come. It is free spirited and thinking with an emphasis on questioning authority. I love it. But not for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gds parent here. Love the school. Lots of homework. If your kid loves the work - which can be creative and with passionate teachers - then come. It is free spirited and thinking with an emphasis on questioning authority. I love it. But not for everyone.

Indeed. Not for everyone. Kids should be taught to question ideas and methods of thinking. “Questioning authority” is just such a silly cliche.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gds parent here. Love the school. Lots of homework. If your kid loves the work - which can be creative and with passionate teachers - then come. It is free spirited and thinking with an emphasis on questioning authority. I love it. But not for everyone.

Questioning authority yet required to do a ton of homework- ie busy work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gds parent here. Love the school. Lots of homework. If your kid loves the work - which can be creative and with passionate teachers - then come. It is free spirited and thinking with an emphasis on questioning authority. I love it. But not for everyone.

Questioning authority yet required to do a ton of homework- ie busy work?

Why is a lot of homework the same as busy work? My GDS 9th grader doesn't have anywhere close to 4 hours a night, but his work is substantive. He's researching and writing a research paper in history, reading novels in English and writing analytical papers after each book, learning vocabulary and grammar in world language, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS head is leaving after next year. Faculty at Maret are wishing the head was leaving this year. They are still both great schools.

Are you saying the Maret faculty want the new Maret HOS to leave?

Seems to be exactly what they are saying?

Is that true? From posts on other threads, it sounded like he was a good HOS and that he connected with students and that he is being maligned because of the Whittle fiasco -- but that his Maret tenure is thus far OK. It seems that Maret is going through some growing pains as it transitions away from the previous head who had been synonymous with the school's culture.

It’s true

Very true. Faculty worry about his lack of communication skills and lack of responsiveness. Parents may feel different but faculty concern continues to grow and they feel the board could care less about faculty experience with him.

[Anonymous]

It's appalling that GDS doesn't serve lunch in high school. That is all.

[Anonymous]

The lunch thing is annoying but really not a
big deal in the scheme of things. It’s an incredible education with amazing, passionate, and caring teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's appalling that GDS doesn't serve lunch in high school. That is all.

This! Every other school can figure it out but GDS can’t? For that price point? No thank you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The lunch thing is annoying but really not a
big deal in the scheme of things. It’s an incredible education with amazing, passionate, and caring teachers.

But no lunch!

[Anonymous]

OP, what did you decide?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS head is leaving after next year. Faculty at Maret are wishing the head was leaving this year. They are still both great schools.

Are you saying the Maret faculty want the new Maret HOS to leave?

Seems to be exactly what they are saying?

Is that true? From posts on other threads, it sounded like he was a good HOS and that he connected with students and that he is being maligned because of the Whittle fiasco -- but that his Maret tenure is thus far OK. It seems that Maret is going through some growing pains as it transitions away from the previous head who had been synonymous with the school's culture.

It’s true

Very true. Faculty worry about his lack of communication skills and lack of responsiveness. Parents may feel different but faculty concern continues to grow and they feel the board could care less about faculty experience with him.

Not the PP. Can confirm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's appalling that GDS doesn't serve lunch in high school. That is all.

This! Every other school can figure it out but GDS can’t? For that price point? No thank you

We are incoming and I do agree with this. Why not include plans for an US cafeteria when the lower school was built? Wouldnt it be more equitable to provide food to all. The school would be even more in demand with a cafeteria.

[Anonymous]

Didn’t accept GDS and the lunch is not the reason why, but I do wonder about “equity” and not providing lunch or laptops. Seems like it means that there could be a lot of haves and have nots with regards to going out for lunch and expensive laptops

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Didn’t accept GDS and the lunch is not the reason why, but I do wonder about “equity” and not providing lunch or laptops. Seems like it means that there could be a lot of haves and have nots with regards to going out for lunch and expensive laptops

We felt the same (and chose Maret)