Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:all I asked her was ," if my child has to bring his own lunch for her visit day, are there any allergies to peanuts?"

We did not apply for our DC.

Too bad you didn't consider GDS for your DC. Given his/her gender identification issues, it would have been a really supportive environment.

Hahahahahhahaha....great catch! Lol. Love your humor.

pretty dull sense of humor, actually. It is called a typo. Nothing to say about how ridiculous it is to lecture someone who has not even applied to your school yet on what they "should be feeding" their child ?? I didn't think so.

Anonymous wrote:13:33, did you also post at 9:42?

No, I do not have any info about drug use at GDS or interest in that subject. My post was a response to the question as to whether GDS is a place with a heavy "PC" culture. It struck me that way and it was a turn off. I hate to burst your bubble but there might be actually more than one person with a negative impression of GDS. Opinions are as numerous as people and not liking GDS does not make you a lock step, right wing, racist republican. Though GDS Admin who I have met tend to put people in these convenient camps. That was a big turn off .

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:all I asked her was ," if my child has to bring his own lunch for her visit day, are there any allergies to peanuts?"

We did not apply for our DC.

Too bad you didn't consider GDS for your DC. Given his/her gender identification issues, it would have been a really supportive environment.

Hahahahahhahaha....great catch! Lol. Love your humor.

Anonymous wrote:all I asked her was ," if my child has to bring his own lunch for her visit day, are there any allergies to peanuts?"

We did not apply for our DC.

Too bad you didn't consider GDS for your DC. Given his/her gender identification issues, it would have been a really supportive environment.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it a very PC kind of place? Ultra liberal?

Yes, the AD lectured me on why I should switch my DC to "sun butter" instead of peanut butter when all I asked her was ," if my child has to bring his own lunch for her visit day, are there any allergies to peanuts?" as that is what I usually pack is PB&J. Her response to my question was to lecture me on the health benefits of soy butter. eye roll.

I didn't have the heart to tell her that soy butter is genetically modified, but had I spent 5 minutes on that we would have been "in" for sure. LOL

We did not apply for our DC.

Actually, sun butter is made from sunflower seeds (not soybeans) and it contains no GMOs.

I don't know any GDS HS'ers with empty afternoons! They may not be on a sports team (though a high percentage of the students are -- it's just that it's not mandatory), but they're working on debate or math team/Quiz bowl or theater or coursework or extracurricular sports or community service or an art project (or some combination of the above). Idleness doesn't seem to be a problem -- I worry more about overwork.

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. So you think the perception is rooted in a high school clique-style approach to dividing the world? i.e., you've got your jocks, your stoners, etc. You might be right. Kind of ironic though given the amount of drug/alcohol abuse among athletes. (Just not during practice, I guess.) But I do think that the kid in the blazer is seen as clean-cut and on the straight-and-narrow whereas the kid in the t-shirt and unkempt hair is most likely into drugs. It's just silly.

I do think a lot of it is perception -- I've seen my share of blazer-clad kids with serious substance abuse problems, and people make some unfounded assumptions in the other direction. I do think there might be a bit more to it, though, in the sense that "empty" afternoons might provide more opportunities to get into trouble, and that includes indulging in some afternoon recreational drug use. There's a reason a lot of the boarding schools have mandatory sports and/or Saturday classes--the old "devil makes work for idle hands" philosophy (of course, the boarding school kids still seem to find plenty of opportunities to savor forbidden fruits if they are so inclined!).

13:33, did you also post at 9:42?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I took the suggestion of searching GDS as well. i am surprised that so many people dislike the school. i thought it was top-tier until i read the negative comments.

The people who hate the school seem to know very little about it. They're categorically opposed to some aspect (e.g. calling teachers by their first names), opt out (fair enough -- it's clearly not a match), and then spew all sorts of garbage about the school. Believe what you want to believe. Sometimes I think that the visceral reaction comes from the fact that GDS threatens a certain sort of world-view -- one that sees excellence as a product of hierarchy and constraint. And that's even before we get to the issue of whether a commitment to diversity raises or lowers academic standards.

Honestly, it is the 21st century. Most, if not all, schools have an international focus. Furthermore, this is Washington and the vast majority of applicant families at any DC private whether it be GDS, Beauvoir, or Sidwell are WB,IMF, diplomats, or just highly educated people many of whom are part of a bi-racial couple. If ANYONE in DC is "still invested in old views of the world" it is GDS. The world has moved on, GDS is still looking at everything in black and white. It poorly serves the students, imho. We did not apply..

DD attends a Cathedral school where she has had a teacher who was a minority every year of her last five years. Three of those five were multi-racial. It is a non-issue to my DC who was born in the 21st century.

Anonymous wrote:Is it a very PC kind of place? Ultra liberal?

Yes, the AD lectured me on why I should switch my DC to "sun butter" instead of peanut butter when all I asked her was ," if my child has to bring his own lunch for her visit day, are there any allergies to peanuts?" as that is what I usually pack is PB&J. Her response to my question was to lecture me on the health benefits of soy butter. eye roll.

I didn't have the heart to tell her that soy butter is genetically modified, but had I spent 5 minutes on that we would have been "in" for sure. LOL

We did not apply for our DC.

Nobody uses any drugs or alcohol at Cathedral schools. EVER. How fortunate!

My children are in lower school @ GDS and my daughter FINALLY kicker her heroin habit (2nd grade) while my fifth grade son is a rehab success story and hasn't had a drop to drink since 3rd grade.

My husband and I talk all the time how if we had just taken that acceptance into Beauvoir or our oldest we would have shielded them both from all these dangers. Hopefully their experiences in lower school @ GDS will prepare them for the horrors of the accessible liquor stores down the street of high school.

Methinks our friendly neighborhood NCS posters are engaging in the power of magical thinking. Your precious daughter is engaging in the same behavior as every other high schooler - but guess what? She will ultimately just move back to the same neighborhood you live in now and be JUST LIKE YOU! And make the same BS comments as you on this message board years from now.

So you have that going for you - which is nice.

Anonymous wrote:11:43, I think 9:54's point is that if PP's NCS DD is partying with GDSers then perhaps she is also imbibing in drugs and illegally procured alcohol.

Or it could mean that GDSers level of drug and alcohol useage is above the norm and is noticeable enough that it's being commented on by other kids who are at the same party or dance.

Anonymous wrote:OP, Congratulations! Sidwell parent here who thinks the world of GDS as well. Great school. Kids learn about actions and their consequences; learning by doing; good creative vibe.

I'm also a Sidwell parent who admires GDS. My kids have many friends who are GDS students and alums -- friendly, well-spoken, creative kids. BTW, boys cross-country is very strong and has a good, friendly rivalry with Sidwell.

As for the comments re kids sitting on the floor, that's pretty common in elementary and even middle schools. I recently visited an MS class at a local private where the kids wear uniforms and the kids sat on the floor while I did a presentation. They were focused, polite and asked great questions, so not a problem at all. One other thing -- re the comment about short skirs and Uggs -- that's what all the girls at this school were wearing -- short uniform skirts and Uggs.

Interesting. So you think the perception is rooted in a high school clique-style approach to dividing the world? i.e., you've got your jocks, your stoners, etc. You might be right. Kind of ironic though given the amount of drug/alcohol abuse among athletes. (Just not during practice, I guess.) But I do think that the kid in the blazer is seen as clean-cut and on the straight-and-narrow whereas the kid in the t-shirt and unkempt hair is most likely into drugs. It's just silly.

Because GDS does not have a sports requirement, as some of the other schools do, there is a perception that there may be more of a recreational "weekday afternoon" drug culture there than at some other schools. But certainly drugs are a presence at all public/private schools these days, so I don't know that singling out GDS is necessarily accurate.