Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think CTY is worth it for kids like this (I went and was an RA during college). Not for college admissions purposes, but for social, academic and life purposes. The kids will range from "regular" very bright on up, but there is definitely a peer group of extremely gifted kids that would be difficult to find anywhere else.

CTY's summer camps were so helpful to my son in the late middle school/early high school years. To be honest, I will admit that the vastly improved social experience made returning to his school in the fall painful. It was a stretch for us financially, but absolutely worthwhile.

I will echo this sentiment from a late elementary point of view. Being with kids who had similar interests, understood what he was talking about, laughed at his jokes, etc. was a life changer. It made going back to school a bummer, but he went back understanding himself better, because his own self was reflected back to him in a much more positive social mirror. On rough days after school, he would call his CTY friends and commiserate. I wish we had thought of it sooner and am so grateful to the teacher who recommended it to us.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS parent that concurs with 8:44 poster. The non parent has no idea what she is talking about. GDS is not tolerant of differences in viewpoint.

GDS parent that completely disagrees with you. Not sure what viewpoint you want to express that's not being tolerated, but GDS is about as open of a forum as a high school can be. No high school can be a completely open-mike place (like this anonymous forum is), but GDS is very open. And saying that only "verbal, aggressive" kids do well, while "introverted" kids are unhappy is silly---and I say that as a parent of a quiet kid who finds the school (both students and faculty) very supportive. Not every high school age child is a happy child--and if there is something the school should be doing better with your child, then meet with his or her teachers--but it's not accurate to universalize your experience to the school, or even to only the quieter students.

And by the way, the OP's original question, as I'm actually reading it now, is obnoxious. OP isn't looking for a progressive school, but is looking for advice on raising a genius who is being held back by lesser lights among the child's progressive school classmates. I'm hoping it's a troll post.

Didn't you just do that? Certainly you dismissed other kids' experiences and other parents' perceptions because they differ from yours.

Anonymous wrote:GDS parent that concurs with 8:44 poster. The non parent has no idea what she is talking about. GDS is not tolerant of differences in viewpoint.

GDS parent that completely disagrees with you. Not sure what viewpoint you want to express that's not being tolerated, but GDS is about as open of a forum as a high school can be. No high school can be a completely open-mike place (like this anonymous forum is), but GDS is very open. And saying that only "verbal, aggressive" kids do well, while "introverted" kids are unhappy is silly---and I say that as a parent of a quiet kid who finds the school (both students and faculty) very supportive. Not every high school age child is a happy child--and if there is something the school should be doing better with your child, then meet with his or her teachers--but it's not accurate to universalize your experience to the school, or even to only the quieter students.

And by the way, the OP's original question, as I'm actually reading it now, is obnoxious. OP isn't looking for a progressive school, but is looking for advice on raising a genius who is being held back by lesser lights among the child's progressive school classmates. I'm hoping it's a troll post.

GDS parent that concurs with 8:44 poster. The non parent has no idea what she is talking about. GDS is not tolerant of differences in viewpoint.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS

It's a mess right now. Not clear how or when or whether it'll get back on track.

are you actually a parent at the school?

Was for many years -- just left.

Her daughter just graduated. She is one of the Queen resident NIMBYs who has been waiting for this time to blast the school publicly on its redevelopment plans.

Please name her---or at least more hints to unmask the troll.

+1,000 Do tell.

And is she the same one too who keeps saying that only "aggressive" kids should go to GDS? My DD goes elsewhere, but we have a lot of GDS-going neighborhood kids, and "aggressive" is pretty much the last word I would use to describe any of them. The anti-GDS (as well as anti-several other schools troll makes this forum less helpful to people seeking real information. But if you're entertained by seeing trolls trying to settle some scores against high schools, it's the place to be.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS

It's a mess right now. Not clear how or when or whether it'll get back on track.

are you actually a parent at the school?

Was for many years -- just left.

Her daughter just graduated. She is one of the Queen resident NIMBYs who has been waiting for this time to blast the school publicly on its redevelopment plans.

Oh please! Stop! Can the crazed neighbors opposing GDS's construction plans just get all their vitriol out in one big ass post on DCUM, rather than troll every chain, waiting for someone to mention GDS so they can say something nasty?

My kids don't go there, but GDS, of course, is an amazingly great school for parents to consider if looking for a school with excellent academics and that applies the progressive model----and PP should be able to provide GDS as the answer to the OP's question without triggering the predictable troll reaction. No school is perfect (and Lord knows there are pages and pages of posts on every foible of GDS, NCS, Sidwell, Holton, and one or two others that have their own dedicated trolls out to get them), but it's beyond silly to not answer GDS to the OP's question.

No, it's a difference of opinion. Rooted in experience and observation, as well as a recognition that there's a difference between PG kids (who are rare) and high SES type-A kids who are gifted but not exceptionally so. The latter category is well-represented at GDS and the most verbal, aggressive, and self-confident of them are often very happy at the school. But if you're a PG kid, especially one who is introverted or whose perceptions, experiences, values or goals don't sync with the school's, it can be a very frustrating, sometimes infuriating, and somewhat lonely place. There are some great teachers and that matters. But the school culture, under the current administration, has become increasingly smug, self-promoting, and intolerant of dissent. Not a great intellectual atmosphere for kids who are deep thinkers and who tend to be self-critical.