Social climate at Georgetown Day School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another student speaking. Fuck everything else that was said. If your kid isn't comfortable saying the word "fa*," they probably won't fit in.

When do your English classes start?

[Anonymous]

Yes, I am yet another current student from GDS. I am now in my junior year of high school, and came across this forum in my Google Alert for GDS. What the heck, I'll contribute a bit.

GDS is a unique place, and it's not for everyone. I would say that the biggest difference from other schools is the amount of responsibility that lies on a student's shoulders. It's all about choices. During a student's free period, he is free to do whatever he wants. He can spend it going to Safeway, playing a computer game on his laptop, or doing homework. During the lunch break, he can study for his upcoming quiz or he can visit Cat Club. Yes, there is a Cat Club. They go to the pet store during Wednesday breaks. What's wrong with that? It's a students choice to join or not to join, to judge what is right for them and what isn't. For a student to be successful at GDS, he must have a certain degree of self-control, focus, and decision-making skills.

About calling teachers by first names: I like it because it embraces a strong student-teacher relationship. For example, meeting with teachers to go over difficult concepts or review difficult tests is integral to success in GDS classes. First names embrace an informal class environment, which is not a bad thing. When I say "informal," I do not mean "ineffective." I simply mean that students do not constantly feel as if they are simply being lectured or told what to do. In math and science classes, group problem solving is a major component. In English and history classes, most of the ideas come from the students' mouths, not the teacher's.

And re that last comment: There are indeed quite a few students who are out as homosexual or bisexual at GDS, in both the high school and the middle school. In my opinion, however, a student who is uncomfortable with the LGBTQ is actually an excellent candidate to come to GDS. GDS embraces diversity because it tries to mimic the real world population. In the real world, your child will meet LGBTQs and should learn to feel comfortable around them. It's not something to be scared of or to be freaked out by; it's something to learn about.

Anyway, that's my two cents. -GDS Junior

[Anonymous]

GDS teens lurking on the mom board, I like you. Well spoken all around. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

The way Google is set up, if you type in your school name or have alerts to be notified when your school is mentioned online, this site comes up.

These kids/almost adults aren't lurking - they're tech savvy and connected. They also care enough about their school to spend time writing genuine comments and correct information about it.

Thank you 23:55 and other students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have been going to GDS for 7 years. Not once has a person been drinking a soda and eating popcorn in my class. Nor has anyone, especially in the lower school, drank coffee. The first name thing doesnt go home with me. I dont assume that when ever I meet someone I will call them by there first name, only when I'm told to call someone by their first name. I respect my teachers as much as any kid from any other school, and 3 of my siblings have graduated from ncs/sta. Im graduating this year and to listen to you insult gds and say its ok for kids to listen to music and smoke at gds is extremely disrespectful. You are basing this off rumors that you heard which are not true. Many kids from other schools assume that I go to gds that I'am gay, which I'm not nor is 99% of the school. All my friends who left gds came back, unless they were asked to leave because they werent smart enough (went to schools like Bullis, Burke, Field, Landon), the reason they came back was because at other schools when they ask to meet with a teacher that teacher would laugh, and another reason is because the teachers are so great at what they do and care about the child learning and encourages the students to ask for help. GDS doesnt make a child disrespectful, that would come from the parents and the child

I hope whomever wrote this will understand at some point that writing in text speak (no capitalization, typos, run-on sentences) is not conducive to convincing an audience. (I also doubt that any teachers at places like Bullis, Burke, Landon and Field "laugh[ed]" at students who ask to meet with them.) Commendable loyalty to GDS, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I am yet another current student from GDS. I am now in my junior year of high school, and came across this forum in my Google Alert for GDS. What the heck, I'll contribute a bit.

GDS is a unique place, and it's not for everyone. I would say that the biggest difference from other schools is the amount of responsibility that lies on a student's shoulders. It's all about choices. During a student's free period, he is free to do whatever he wants. He can spend it going to Safeway, playing a computer game on his laptop, or doing homework. During the lunch break, he can study for his upcoming quiz or he can visit Cat Club. Yes, there is a Cat Club. They go to the pet store during Wednesday breaks. What's wrong with that? It's a students choice to join or not to join, to judge what is right for them and what isn't. For a student to be successful at GDS, he must have a certain degree of self-control, focus, and decision-making skills.

About calling teachers by first names: I like it because it embraces a strong student-teacher relationship. For example, meeting with teachers to go over difficult concepts or review difficult tests is integral to success in GDS classes. First names embrace an informal class environment, which is not a bad thing. When I say "informal," I do not mean "ineffective." I simply mean that students do not constantly feel as if they are simply being lectured or told what to do. In math and science classes, group problem solving is a major component. In English and history classes, most of the ideas come from the students' mouths, not the teacher's.

And re that last comment: There are indeed quite a few students who are out as homosexual or bisexual at GDS, in both the high school and the middle school. In my opinion, however, a student who is uncomfortable with the LGBTQ is actually an excellent candidate to come to GDS. GDS embraces diversity because it tries to mimic the real world population. In the real world, your child will meet LGBTQs and should learn to feel comfortable around them. It's not something to be scared of or to be freaked out by; it's something to learn about.

Anyway, that's my two cents. -GDS Junior

Very well-written and well-argued. And love the detail about "Cat Club" -- there is a sweet quirkiness about that kind of thing.

[Anonymous]

Just learned there's a baking club as well, LOL!

Who knew?

[Anonymous]

11:37: Why yes, there is! It's one of the most popular clubs. Another thing that students at GDS must learn to do is to control their eating habits and not eat baked goods every day .

11:29: With regard to the "text-speak," I assure you, whichever senior wrote that message knows very well how to argue. The entire first semester of Junior year English is devoted to argument. We look at controversial issues like capital punishment, pornography, and PGD, and analyze important documents in U.S. History such as the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, MLK's Letter from Birmingham Jail, and Civil Disobedience by Thoreau. Perhaps he didn't use the best grammar, but he argued his point quite well. What's are you trying to say? This is the DCUM forum, not an English assignment! With regard to the teachers at other schools, perhaps the poster is exaggerating; however, his argument is rooted in truth. Maybe the teachers didn't laugh, but they were certainly taken aback. Meeting with teachers is not a norm at other schools, whereas NOT meeting with teachers is frowned upon at GDS. GDS teachers care, and want to engage their students. Anyway, not sure what you're getting at here.

P.S. Did you notice how I just questioned someone that is probably twice my age? We're taught to do that at GDS too

-23:55

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have been going to GDS for 7 years. Not once has a person been drinking a soda and eating popcorn in my class. Nor has anyone, especially in the lower school, drank coffee. The first name thing doesnt go home with me. I dont assume that when ever I meet someone I will call them by there first name, only when I'm told to call someone by their first name. I respect my teachers as much as any kid from any other school, and 3 of my siblings have graduated from ncs/sta. Im graduating this year and to listen to you insult gds and say its ok for kids to listen to music and smoke at gds is extremely disrespectful. You are basing this off rumors that you heard which are not true. Many kids from other schools assume that I go to gds that I'am gay, which I'm not nor is 99% of the school. All my friends who left gds came back, unless they were asked to leave because they werent smart enough (went to schools like Bullis, Burke, Field, Landon), the reason they came back was because at other schools when they ask to meet with a teacher that teacher would laugh, and another reason is because the teachers are so great at what they do and care about the child learning and encourages the students to ask for help. GDS doesnt make a child disrespectful, that would come from the parents and the child

I hope whomever wrote this will understand at some point that writing in text speak (no capitalization, typos, run-on sentences) is not conducive to convincing an audience. (I also doubt that any teachers at places like Bullis, Burke, Landon and Field "laugh[ed]" at students who ask to meet with them.) Commendable loyalty to GDS, though.

I actually think the kid writing comments was helpful, and I admire that neither he/she nor anyone else has commented on your seeming confusion about the use of the word "whomever" instead of "whoever." Sorry, I couldn't resist after your jumping on a kid's use of text speak.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Think I'll stick with public school after all...

dont think they would haveyou anyway! competition....

[Anonymous]

"But it gives me the creeps a little to have young kids who hardly know me call me by my first name."

I don't care.

[Anonymous]

I would be all over the Cat Club!

Students - check out other threads on this board. Read about skanky moms and dads. Ugh.

[Anonymous]

I'd like to see this thread if not the entire board occupied by GDS students for a week. I think if you heard students commentary on this board, it might very well shut down.

[Anonymous]

I have been told by both parents and students that the social climate is much tougher in the lower school if you are not Jewish. Is that true of the MS and US? Additionally, I have heard allegations that the students who do "get away with" bullying are the students with parents on the board, again from LS parents.

[Anonymous]

We're not Jewish and DC has been at GDS from PreK-8. Never experienced social difficulties because we're not Jewish -- in either LS or MS. In 7th grade there are lots of bar/bat mitzvahs. Everybody's invited. And I haven't heard of kids who somehow feel left out if they aren't throwing a big party when they turn 13. Mine certainly didn't. And, of course, nothing stops you from having a whole class party at 13 if that's what you or your DC wants.