Is GDS too woke?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with GDS is not that it is too woke, it's that its existence is in conflict with its values.

This is a perfect description.

When my kid was in late elementary at our current K-8, GDS was the top of our list for HS. It was the place that accepted and embraced differences and individuality. Now it’s just the mirror image of the opposite side’s group think we wanted to avoid.

Didn’t apply this year for HS.

Agree with your definition and observation.

Very good way of putting it. Group think to the max.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder what international families or any of the 30% immigration population feels about this indoctrination.

Immigrant family here. We applied to GDS and we are really hoping DD gets accepted!

Why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with GDS is not that it is too woke, it's that its existence is in conflict with its values.

This is a perfect description.

When my kid was in late elementary at our current K-8, GDS was the top of our list for HS. It was the place that accepted and embraced differences and individuality. Now it’s just the mirror image of the opposite side’s group think we wanted to avoid.

Didn’t apply this year for HS.

Agree with your definition and observation.

Very good way of putting it. Group think to the max.

Plus mob rule snuffing everything else out.

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately the hidden curriculum in many liberal independent schools ends up being that liberal values go hand in hand with having a trust fund.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Check out its FB posts and see if that’s what you want 24/7, and it is nonstop 24/7.

We’re really curious what the mix of professions is 5-10 years after coming out if GDS. Do they all work at activist NGOs or performing arts?

Like most liberal arts students, they wind up as investment bankers or corporate lawyers.

[Anonymous]

The problem with GDS is not that it is too woke, it's that its existence is in conflict with its values.

Wow. We should pin this at the top of this section of DCUM. it's that true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with GDS is not that it is too woke, it's that its existence is in conflict with its values.

This is a perfect description.

When my kid was in late elementary at our current K-8, GDS was the top of our list for HS. It was the place that accepted and embraced differences and individuality. Now it’s just the mirror image of the opposite side’s group think we wanted to avoid.

Didn’t apply this year for HS.

Agree with your definition and observation.

Very good way of putting it. Group think to the max.

Plus mob rule snuffing everything else out.

And that keaves no room for serious thoughtful nuanced discussion where people might actually disagree on things sometimes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was a bit turned off at the Open House when so much of the emphasis was on explaining their equity/woke positions. I have no problem with those positions per se, but it was a weird pitch to focus on that and never mention the math curriculum. I know that the school teaches math, but it was not a correctly calibrate pitch for what many parents want to hear about in an Open House. We ended up at a different school and are happy. I have friends happy at GDS. I think it’s more of a messaging problem than an actual problem with what the kids are learning.

I felt the same, and we are already at a very progressive and liberal leaning school. I’d agree it might be a messaging problem, in that most parents want to know about the academic curriculum and approach just as much. Sometimes schools like this feel they have lost the vision and start to see themselves as a social justice non-profit, ministerial in nature.

Same. Our entire interview this year was about this stuff. We are super liberal and teach our kids this at home. The school asked only two questions about our kid. Guess we aren't a good fit despite all the great things we hear.

You’re kidding. The student or parent application interviews are mainly centered on social justice and political ideology?

Interesting. Our interview (almost 2 hours) didn't mention this stuff at all. We actually came prepared to speak on it and all that was talked about was our kid, our family, the curriculum and a variety of random topics (baking, scrabble, etc).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Check out its FB posts and see if that’s what you want 24/7, and it is nonstop 24/7.

We’re really curious what the mix of professions is 5-10 years after coming out if GDS. Do they all work at activist NGOs or performing arts?

Like most liberal arts students, they wind up as investment bankers or corporate lawyers.

More like unemployed, anti Capitalists or non profit people, no trust funds there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem with GDS is not that it is too woke, it's that its existence is in conflict with its values.

Wow. We should pin this at the top of this section of DCUM. it's that true.

It’s a cool quote because like most quotes and concepts, it is interpreted differently.

The left think everything should be *free* so GDS private schools or anything w a price tag is oxymoronic.

The center thinks there is group think and biasedness in class work and discussions, so GDS is hypocritical.

The right thinks politics, ideology, gender fluidity, 1619 project should not be taught in k-12 schools but at home, thus GDS is trying to conform students to its political ideal, not foster individuality or free speech/thought.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with GDS is not that it is too woke, it's that its existence is in conflict with its values.

This. How do schools like GDS reconcile their supposed values with the fact that their existence in their present form - exclusive, expensive - is based on and depends on the institutional racism that creates legacy status and generates intergenerational wealth? Do they ever discuss with their students where their tuition money comes from and why their families can afford it?

My kids' answer would be: Because my parents chose to work their asses off to pay for my education. And I'm grateful to them for that.

Great! What about the other kids? Anyone want to talk about Grandpa’s money and where he made it?

It’s great to talk about all these issues but an expensive school like GDS (or NCS/STA or SFS or Maret or Potomac or ... ) never talks about how most families who can afford the tuition got that money. And they never talk about how they could change their own school to try to correct the imbalance. Eliminate legacies. Find ways to cut fat to lower tuition. Etc.

If Grandpa worked his ass off to benefit his grandchildren and their education, what business is that of yours? Why don't you get to work and help your own kids?

If he worked his ass off developing property in a red-lined neighborhood? If he received benefits from the GI bill which were denied to Black vets? Why isn’t this at least acknowledged? Why make tuition so high that students whose families were denied these benefits have shot at these schools? Why allow legacy admits? Why participate in the amenities/facilities arms race rather than control tuition?

[Anonymous]

Oh please. The whole world didn’t grow up in a Jim Crow state.

[Anonymous]

Gosh wonder how anyone accomplishes anything until heir life when they can get all depressed about it a hardship anytime 0-2000 years back in their family history.

Does Obama or Colin Powell or Shaquille o Neal or Robert Smith or Oprah have any advice on how to get out of this terrible slump??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with GDS is not that it is too woke, it's that its existence is in conflict with its values.

This. How do schools like GDS reconcile their supposed values with the fact that their existence in their present form - exclusive, expensive - is based on and depends on the institutional racism that creates legacy status and generates intergenerational wealth? Do they ever discuss with their students where their tuition money comes from and why their families can afford it?

Yup!!! See also private colleges that do not offer significant financial aid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was a bit turned off at the Open House when so much of the emphasis was on explaining their equity/woke positions. I have no problem with those positions per se, but it was a weird pitch to focus on that and never mention the math curriculum. I know that the school teaches math, but it was not a correctly calibrate pitch for what many parents want to hear about in an Open House. We ended up at a different school and are happy. I have friends happy at GDS. I think it’s more of a messaging problem than an actual problem with what the kids are learning.

I felt the same, and we are already at a very progressive and liberal leaning school. I’d agree it might be a messaging problem, in that most parents want to know about the academic curriculum and approach just as much. Sometimes schools like this feel they have lost the vision and start to see themselves as a social justice non-profit, ministerial in nature.

Same. Our entire interview this year was about this stuff. We are super liberal and teach our kids this at home. The school asked only two questions about our kid. Guess we aren't a good fit despite all the great things we hear.

You’re kidding. The student or parent application interviews are mainly centered on social justice and political ideology?

Interesting. Our interview (almost 2 hours) didn't mention this stuff at all. We actually came prepared to speak on it and all that was talked about was our kid, our family, the curriculum and a variety of random topics (baking, scrabble, etc).

Another applicant here and this never came up in our interview. Our interview was actually lovely. The best of the three schools we applied to...