Maret or GDS (US)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GDS parent here. We chose GDS over Maret, mainly because of the curriculum (emphasis on social justice).

I'm always struck by the irony of elite private schools embracing social justice curricula, private education being among the most significant drivers of inequity in this country.

[Anonymous]

At GDS, there is now a farmers fridge in the school plus the bagel food truck in front.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS parent here. We chose GDS over Maret, mainly because of the curriculum (emphasis on social justice).

I'm always struck by the irony of elite private schools embracing social justice curricula, private education being among the most significant drivers of inequity in this country.

THIS 1000000x!

[Anonymous]

If Sidwell and Maret can offer food and a cafeteria for all grades in their tuition, GDS can figure it out too. It was an easy no for us. Not paying for food or having my kid pack a lunch at that price point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think if you’re really worried about the lunch situation and class social dynamics, Maret is the right place for you. The food is abysmal and everyone is eating it together in the cafeteria so then kids can bond over a shared discussed of the food (or at least until junior spring when they start leaving for lunch every day so they can eat something that’s not gross)

I have a picky kid and I have a kid that would eat just about anything and they both say that the food is terrible

The kids coming from public schools say the food is pretty good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent of a kid considering applying to these schools it blows my mind that a school claiming to be focused on equality and social justice has multiple families talking about eating out and door dashing daily. Our full -pay family could not afford that and I would think that type of behavior creates disparity among students. Rich kids door dashing or going to Whole Foods and the other half unpacking their turkey sandwiches from home? That is pretty tone deaf at best.

+1 They should institute a dress code that requires everyone to wear the same clothes and shoes too. Kids rolling up to school in their limited edition $500 Nikes while the middle class full pay families have to rough it with their off the shelf tennis shoes is also tone deaf.

Kids should also be required to be dropped off at least 3 blocks away from school on a staggered schedule lest classmates see others with fancier and more expensive cars. Would it be too much to require Uber for all to make pick up and drop off more equitable?

This is a false comparison. Lunch effects the time these students spend together, where they go, who they are with, and what they are doing.

This. Parents and children will always use material goods to position themselves socially just like social clubs and vacation destinations will create in groups/out groups. That said, if you can’t interact with certain peers at lunch because they are eating elsewhere or off buying food that will limit your ability to bond with and get close to those people. It creates a more fractured environment at lunch and I imagine it’s particularly challenging for kids who are not in the mix as much socially, who may just find it easier to eat lunch alone than to try to find people to eat lunch with.

So GDS prohibits kids who bring their lunch to school from going off-campus with their friends and eating their bagged lunch wherever their friends decide to buy theirs? That's crazy

Gds does not prohibit anything.

If you are having some social trouble, there is no forced proximity at the lunch table, the way it would happen if the school had a cafeteria, and yes, you might struggle finding someone to have lunch with.

[Anonymous]

GDS provides delicious lunches for PK-8. I agree it would be nice to provide them for high school, but seems silly to choose a school based on whether or not they provide a lunch. The tuition is also less than other highly regarded schools in the area, which I’d prefer over having lunch included.

[Anonymous]

We haven't found bringing lunch in HS to be a problem at GDS. I thought it would be a hassle but it just hasn't turned out to be an issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We haven't found bringing lunch in HS to be a problem at GDS. I thought it would be a hassle but it just hasn't turned out to be an issue.

PS on above - it helps that there are microwaves available for HS GDS lunch. It turns out that brining lunch to camp jobs over the summer has been a much greater hassle (or DC just doesn't eat much when working camps) because our DC prefers dinner leftovers that can be reheated for lunch - doesn't like more typical lunchbox food. It will all depend on the person I guess.

[Anonymous]

The food in Maret cafeteria is so bad that I wouldn’t see a problem if it’s like in GDS without cafeteria. If you have a cafeteria there should be a minimum quality control.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We haven't found bringing lunch in HS to be a problem at GDS. I thought it would be a hassle but it just hasn't turned out to be an issue.

What about the social stigma that others have mentioned in this thread? Does your DC mind that they’re bringing lunch when others can go off and buy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GDS provides delicious lunches for PK-8. I agree it would be nice to provide them for high school, but seems silly to choose a school based on whether or not they provide a lunch. The tuition is also less than other highly regarded schools in the area, which I’d prefer over having lunch included.

The tuition may be less but it's still a significant amount of money to pay to not lunch. My kid attends. I love the school. I just wish lunch was an option. For some of us it does matter. In my view, GDS would become the undisputed No. 1 school with the addition of lunch and the continued ramping up of its sports programs. The work hard/play hard vibe of the school sets it apart from the others.

[Anonymous]

Any idea why Meg Goldner Rabinowitz’ left GDS? Out of nowhere she gets a job at Maret for, what I believe was, a newly created position—one that was not advertised.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS provides delicious lunches for PK-8. I agree it would be nice to provide them for high school, but seems silly to choose a school based on whether or not they provide a lunch. The tuition is also less than other highly regarded schools in the area, which I’d prefer over having lunch included.

The tuition may be less but it's still a significant amount of money to pay to not lunch. My kid attends. I love the school. I just wish lunch was an option. For some of us it does matter. In my view, GDS would become the undisputed No. 1 school with the addition of lunch and the continued ramping up of its sports programs. The work hard/play hard vibe of the school sets it apart from the others.

Really you think GDS is the only school with a work hard/play hard vibe?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We haven't found bringing lunch in HS to be a problem at GDS. I thought it would be a hassle but it just hasn't turned out to be an issue.

Love the school but the only niggle is the lunch for US. I know that it has been a factor for some when choosing a school. It's such an easy fix.