What is GLADESCH?

[Parlabane]

<p>Because it’s interesting, Pulsar. Don’t be such a putz.</p>

[CateParent]

<p>Here’s the real story… There was a lady named Gladesch, also known as the “Empress of Soul”. She and her band, Gladesch Knight and the Pips, were part of the highly influential 1960’s Motown R&B music scene. Gladesch’s hit song “I Heard it Through the Grapevine” became WILDLY popular among the New England boarding school community. A small group of those boarding schools, the ones where her most ardent fans studied, became the collective hub of the Gladesch Fan Club in her honor. Consequently, that group of schools became known as simply GLADESCH. She was creeped out so she legally changed her name to Gladys. Even though her named was changed, she will still and forever be the Empress of Soul.</p>

[pulsar15]

<p>Parlabane, How is it more interesting than HADES or GLADCHEMMS or any other lists that are floating around?</p>

[Parlabane]

<p>Baltzell was an enormously influential American sociologist, a close observer of the different upper-crust social segments in Philadelphia and Boston, their behaviors, their views, their opinions. [E</a>. Digby Baltzell - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._Digby_Baltzell]E”>E. Digby Baltzell - Wikipedia) It’s interesting to hear his view. It doesn’t mean anything; it’s just interesting.</p>

[pulsar15]

<p>Wiki entry on Baltzell:

Far more important to him than his personal preference for English clothes and for the ethos and manners of the gentleman was his conviction that aristocracy was necessary for the provision of leadership, both nationally and internationally. He felt that social stratification was inevitable, but that if the highest socio-economic levels were not accessible on the basis of merit (regardless of ethnic or racial background) society would degenerate into harmful caste-dictated divisions.

</p>

<p>Interesting mini-lesson in history, but do you think the info is dated?</p>

[leanid]

<p>ROFL, CateParent!</p>

<p>pulsar15,</p>

<p>What’s is so outdated about his view regarding the need for an aristocracy of sorts? Do you honestly suppose that it will ever be otherwise? – Not until Brave New World comes to fruition!</p>

<p>If you think that the opinions and (gasp) tastes of every man in the street is more worthy of emulation than those of people raised in and awakened to man’s higher qualities, then go ahead, follow your big, egalitarian heart – and best of luck!</p>

<p>Furthermore, I posted the list, if you must know, to inform those who think that boarding schools just appeared in the last ten years and only the usual ones are worth attending. Those 16, and a good number of others, have been on the scene for many, many years, thank you very much, and don’t need the pretentious condescension about their supposed lack of quality or (ugh ) “status” from people who have never been aware of their existence until now.</p>

[ExieMITAlum]

<p>

A small group of those boarding schools, the ones where her most ardent fans studied, became the collective hub of the Gladesch Fan Club in her honor. Consequently, that group of schools became known as simply GLADESCH. She was creeped out so she legally changed her name to Gladys. Even though her named was changed, she will still and forever be the Empress of Soul.

</p>

<p>@CateParent </p>

<p>Thanks, that was a perfect start to the morning. Awesome!</p>

[ssacdfamily]

<p>on a more serious note, brought on by the sad story of poor Gladesch (but kudos to all for giving us all a much needed laugh!)</p>

<p>Parlabane’s note on another post, highlighting the difference between people who say “what can I do for you” and people who say “what can you do for me”, might be useful as a way to figure out a school’s DNA. </p>

<p>might also say that aristocrats are as aristocrats do :-)</p>