Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here -- I really just wanted to get some information from Sidwell parents on the overall feel of the school because we are an out-of-town family considering applying our children there for next year -- our children who, by the way, are neither dumb NOR too serious to have fun, but thanks for the accusations and assumptions. I hardly frequent this board, but given what has transpired from a seemingly innocuous question directed at a discrete group, it's really making me think public school might be for us. Is the open rudeness and name-calling typical among private school parents, is it the anonymous nature of this board that makes people feel comfortable enough to do so? Wow. Reading this whole exchange has been a real eye-opener for me. It's really quite sad.

You need to visit the schools you want to visit. An anonymous board is a horrible way to evaluate any school in any city.

OP posted that 6 years ago. Her kids are probably graduating college soon. I hope she's moved on.

OP here -- I really just wanted to get some information from Sidwell parents on the overall feel of the school because we are an out-of-town family considering applying our children there for next year -- our children who, by the way, are neither dumb NOR too serious to have fun, but thanks for the accusations and assumptions. I hardly frequent this board, but given what has transpired from a seemingly innocuous question directed at a discrete group, it's really making me think public school might be for us. Is the open rudeness and name-calling typical among private school parents, is it the anonymous nature of this board that makes people feel comfortable enough to do so? Wow. Reading this whole exchange has been a real eye-opener for me. It's really quite sad.

You need to visit the schools you want to visit. An anonymous board is a horrible way to evaluate any school in any city.

I used to live in McLean Gardens across the street from the school. The students used to come over during the day to smoke pot in their cars. They seemed pretty joyful to me.

...only when tuition bills come out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here -- I really just wanted to get some information from Sidwell parents on the overall feel of the school because we are an out-of-town family considering applying our children there for next year -- our children who, by the way, are neither dumb NOR too serious to have fun, but thanks for the accusations and assumptions. I hardly frequent this board, but given what has transpired from a seemingly innocuous question directed at a discrete group, it's really making me think public school might be for us. Is the open rudeness and name-calling typical among private school parents, is it the anonymous nature of this board that makes people feel comfortable enough to do so? Wow. Reading this whole exchange has been a real eye-opener for me. It's really quite sad.

Some publics are the same,if not worse, FYI.
Good luck.

"Public are worse!" is th go-to answer whenever somebody makes a negative comment about a private. Usually from posters who have zero, zilch experience with public schools. Why is that? It doesn't reflect well on us private school parents. (We've done both public and private, and public is NOT joyless.)

In denial