GDS vs. Maret - cultural and curricular differences?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What’s up with the literature and humanities reading lists at these schools? One has mainly classics, other has barely 1. What’s the agenda there?

It’s indicative of the culture of the school. One is narrow and tradition-bound. The other is broader but requires one take a certain view.

[Anonymous]

Both have limousine liberals. Maret is smaller.

[Anonymous]

GDS was the first top private school in the nation’s capital to be racially integrated and continues to set the bar for social justice learning.

[Anonymous]

Maybe the poster who revived this thread would tell us what grade(s) they are considering? The character of a grade can make a huge difference...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What’s up with the literature and humanities reading lists at these schools? One has mainly classics, other has barely 1. What’s the agenda there?

Good catch. Don’t expect to go beyond the social agenda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS and Maret are completely in different tiers. GDS is at the top or tied at the top of the first tier, aka the Big Three on DCUM. Maret is the next tier, along with peers like Potomac. Still very good schools.

Twice wrong. Much easier to get in to GDS than any of the other schools named.

Maret has less openings, and is therefore often the hardest to get an admit, yes. However, it's not in the same league academically as GDS, SFS or STA/NCS. There's nothing controversial about that statement; it's just the reality.

Also there are some grades--e.g. 7th--where GDS has fewer openings than Maret and admissions are more competitive.

7this easy at GDS from private at least.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GDS was the first top private school in the nation’s capital to be racially integrated and continues to set the bar for social justice learning.

It was years ago that GDS chose image over impact - its social justice curriculum is real, it primarily for show and without soul.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS was the first top private school in the nation’s capital to be racially integrated and continues to set the bar for social justice learning.

It was years ago that GDS chose image over impact - its social justice curriculum is real, it primarily for show and without soul.

Laughable statement.

[Anonymous]

Maret isn't in the same league as GDS. Maret has taken a beating in this last year in the press and in the DC community between the aftermath of its sex abuse problem and the Jelleff field issue which highlighted the failures of its administration and Board. The Jelleff deal in particular highlights Maret's lack of sufficient infrastructure for its student body, and its failure to exhibit community values and I understand that interest in open houses at Maret is down quite a bit this year.

GDS, meanwhile has been doing well with a number of National Merit Scholarship winners in the last few years and people are excited about the unification of the two campuses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which is less of a pressure cooker?

Maret, hands down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which is less of a pressure cooker?

Maret, hands down.

The pressure to succeed at GDS is largely self-directed by the students. The amazing faculty (and quite often, their parents example) inspire the kids to aim high, and they do. But it comes from the students. But the pressure comes from the students. They know that when it comes to changing the world, there’s no time like the present.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which is less of a pressure cooker?

Maret, hands down.

The pressure to succeed at GDS is largely self-directed by the students. The amazing faculty (and quite often, their parents example) inspire the kids to aim high, and they do. But it comes from the students. But the pressure comes from the students. They know that when it comes to changing the world, there’s no time like the present.

The pressure to perform comes from the parents. And the pressure to conform comes from the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which is less of a pressure cooker?

Maret, hands down.

The pressure to succeed at GDS is largely self-directed by the students. The amazing faculty (and quite often, their parents example) inspire the kids to aim high, and they do. But it comes from the students. But the pressure comes from the students. They know that when it comes to changing the world, there’s no time like the present.

These bolded statements are what make the GDS environment so cringeworthy. It is fine to embrace a social justice curriculum (like Sidwell) but these sort of statements belie the authenticity of your beliefs. It makes the parent body look desperate for validation of their "social awareness". Have some humility. It's good for your soul.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which is less of a pressure cooker?

Maret, hands down.

The pressure to succeed at GDS is largely self-directed by the students. The amazing faculty (and quite often, their parents example) inspire the kids to aim high, and they do. But it comes from the students. But the pressure comes from the students. They know that when it comes to changing the world, there’s no time like the present.[/quot

Striving is ingrained?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s up with the literature and humanities reading lists at these schools? One has mainly classics, other has barely 1. What’s the agenda there?

It’s indicative of the culture of the school. One is narrow and tradition-bound. The other is broader but requires one take a certain view.

One is broad and traditional, other is narrow and takes a view.