Are some schools really better for quirky kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s insulting when some people here try to rebrand the word quirky as a positive word, and then gaslight me by suggesting I don’t understand what it means. It takes an awful lot of work and twisting oneself into knots to explain how calling another person quirky is a compliment. It can be done, and some quirky people might be highly charismatic and interesting and admirable, but no, the word “quirky” is not generally positive.

New poster and I swear I am not gaslighting you. I have never thought of quirky as an insult. I have always imagined someone quirky as a non-conformist with an element of creativity, so yes a positive connotation in my mind. The dictionary link someone posted seems to agree with me. I could only imagine "quirky" as an insult if you say it to someone who is highly conformist and wants to be mainstream.

I had the same reaction. Big 3 and Burke parent

I think no child is born to be a conformist. It is all in the parents' head. The most import thing is not these superficial characteristics. It is a child learns how to think independently. It has 0 to do with if the play football or like baroque music.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nobody voluntarily “takes on” a “concept of quirkiness.” It’s a temperament just like introversion or extraversion.

OP said it had nothing to do with temperament: "when I say quirky, to me it means my DD has strong interests in some fairly narrow areas - for example, she loves history, her sport is a martial art, and she sews and reads for fun. She also plays video games, etc."

But I think most kids love some specific things. Even if they don't, it might just mean they haven't found what they are passionate about. Some blossom late.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I have kids at couple different schools you mentioned. I think quirky kids have an easier time fitting in at Sidwell, GDS, Burke, Field, St. Andrews. Quirky takes more self-confidence to fit in at Holton, NCS, Bullis, Potomac. Maret is probably somewhere in the middle. To be clear, there are quirky kids at all of these schools, but in terms of ease of fitting in, some really benefit from a more outgoing, confident personality. And if your friends who know your daughter are suggesting certain schools might be better for her, they may have a point worth considering.

A good school's goal is to foster learning. Why do they have to be only good for a confident kid? In what aspects of the curriculum does it only encourage kids who are already confident but not cultivate confidence? I found these additional association about American schools very strange. In other parts of the world, a school is to teach kids to how learn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a quirky 10 year old DD and exploring schools to apply to for either 5th or 6th.

I am going to open houses and also talking to friends with kids at target schools. My friends suggest that some schools have a reputation for being better for quirky girls. Is this really a thing? Like some school are better for athletic kids, or kids who are artistic, or whatever? Don’t most of these schools have a mix of kids?

I guess I am wondering if there really is a different (in terms of personality or interests) pool of kids who go to Sidwell vs. GDS vs. Holton? (Just examples)

FWIW, when I say quirky, to me it means my DD has strong interests in some fairly narrow areas - for example, she loves history, her sport is a martial art, and she sews and reads for fun. She also plays video games, etc., - are there really schools which are a better fit for “girls like her”?

When a car is buried in snow, one walks. One sidewalk is too icy, and one walks slowly. One can take the bus and the metro. One will make it to place to place during the day. Most of the DMV is NOT life-threatening. It all depends on the mentality. Do you want to go to work? Do you want to go to school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a quirky 10 year old DD and exploring schools to apply to for either 5th or 6th.

I am going to open houses and also talking to friends with kids at target schools. My friends suggest that some schools have a reputation for being better for quirky girls. Is this really a thing? Like some school are better for athletic kids, or kids who are artistic, or whatever? Don’t most of these schools have a mix of kids?

I guess I am wondering if there really is a different (in terms of personality or interests) pool of kids who go to Sidwell vs. GDS vs. Holton? (Just examples)

FWIW, when I say quirky, to me it means my DD has strong interests in some fairly narrow areas - for example, she loves history, her sport is a martial art, and she sews and reads for fun. She also plays video games, etc., - are there really schools which are a better fit for “girls like her”?

When a car is buried in snow, one walks. One sidewalk is too icy, and one walks slowly. One can take the bus and the metro. One will make it to place to place during the day. Most of the DMV is NOT life-threatening. It all depends on the mentality. Do you want to go to work? Do you want to go to school?

Is there a metaphor here that we are all missing, or did you just reply on the wrong post?