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[quote=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[/quote]

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