Tell me what you love about your son's all boys school

[Anonymous]

I am considering sending my son to an all boys school. When I tell people this, they say things like "I can't believe there are any more of them around" or "Boys need to learn how to get along with girls" etc etc. I think my son would thrive at an all boys school. I am not so sure he would in a public coed school though. He really is "all boy" and the few friends I have w/ similar type boys haven't been treated very well in our local school system. They have been labeled hyperactive, in need of meds, etc. Anyway, if you chose an all boys school for your son, tell me what you love about it. I plan on talking to some current parents at the schools I am interested in but I'd love as many opinion (good or bad) as I can gather. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

My nephews both graduated from Landon after having previously attended co-ed schools. They both loved it for the academics, sports and being able to hang with all boys. It is a close-knit community and their best friends are still from the school.

Studies show that children learn more easily and gain greater self-confidence in single-sex environments. I think many of the teachers in co-ed schools try to impose the same "sit and pay attention" to both boys and girls and then label boys as "hyper" when the sexes are truly different. Most of these teachers, as we know, are women and you really have to be a man to understand your own sex and what works best for them.

I would have loved to have sent my son to Landon if it weren't for the hellacious drive...

[Anonymous]

PP here. Forgot to mention that Landon has reciprocal classes and social events with Holton Arms so boys have co-ed time as much as they want. It really is an ideal arrangement.

[Anonymous]

OP, how old is your son? I think the major benefits of single-sex school begin in middle school, when puberty starts hitting kids and boy-girl attractions become distractions.

The only boys' school I can think of that starts earlier than middle school is Mater Dei. That school might be a good choice if you have a very active son and your worldview is compatible with the school's.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the thoughts. I don't live in DC so there are a handful of boys schools around this area to choose from that begin in K. I indeed have an active son and I am searching for a school that will embrace it, not think his energy is some kind of disorder. I am also looking for schools that understand the developmental differences between boys and girls since our local public school is fond of holding boys back in K and first grades b/c the boys just can't "keep up" with the girls. I want a school w/ PE more than once a week and recess more than 15 mins a day. I also want a lower school where my son is actually doing something as opposed to sitting still for 7 hrs listening to teachers talk. I know that a child's first few yrs of school are important to their overall feelings of school in general and their own self-confidence. All of the boys that I know who have been through (or are currently in) our public school either hate it or tolerate it until they can go home.

[Anonymous]

OP, I agree with you about seeking a school environment that provides an active child the opportunity to learn by moving and participating and generally being active rather than passive for most of the school day. I caution you that not every All Boys school will necessarily approach schooling in this way. Some will actually be even more restrictive on boys because they believe that this approach is needed even more than in a coed classroom. In addition to exploring single sex education, you might also want to look into schools that use progressive educational approaches ... such as lots of outdoor time for both recess/PE AND teaching time, collaborative group work, mixed age classrooms, hands on learning, etc. which all make the school day much more active rather than having children passively listen to a teacher and be rewarded for sitting quietly in one's seat rather than participating!

[Anonymous]

In theory, the progressive school approach sounds good but my son went to one and his first teacher wanted to put him on meds, along with most of the other boys. There were lots of female teachers there and even the kids would tell you that there were several who "hated boys."

Progressive doesn't necessarily mean they understand boys or will have classes that are more active. And the sports program there was co-ed and filled with games instead of building skills.

We left in MS because my son was bored listening to the teachers talk and not giving him enough hands-on work. He is thrilled to be at a school that has its own MS, offers single-sex classes and daily focused sports practice. Approximately half the teachers are men.

So don't go by labels. Go to the schools and ask questions. I believe that boys learn best in an environment suited for them (and the same for girls). You can go to washingtonian.com and download the entire list of DC area private schools and go through it for boys schools and then review their website as a first step.

[Anonymous]

Our son went to a co-ed DCPS elementary school, but we chose an all-boys school for middle school, and it was a great choice. He is a rather shy boy who likes sports, and he is really enjoying the small class sizes, sports every afternoon, lots of hands-on learning, and the freedom to just be a boy. I particularly like the fact that the boys are sent outside to run around and burn off steam every two periods, which I think really helps them focus. The arts and music programs are also very strong. We've discussed whether he might want to transfer to a co-ed school for high school, but as of right now, he's happy where he is. (And I'd just note that the upper school boys don't seem to have any trouble meeting girls!). Plus, I like the fact that the boys at his school (and other boys' schools we looked at) shake your hand, look you in the eye, hold the door open, and generally seem to be polite young men. I'm not at all conservative, but I like polite!

[Anonymous]

I have to agree with 15:42. Several relatives have graduated from all-boy schools here and when I go to visit, I am always so impressed. The schools seem to know what to do to keep them at their best between exercise, academics, sports and community activities. I love the jackets and ties and the impressive manners and ability to easily socialize.

Two cousins, both opposites, went to one school and both loved it. One, a quiet academic and his brother a social football player. Both excelled and went to Harvard and Duke respectively. Both still have a number of friends from high school which says volumes about the friends you make.

[Anonymous]

OP, I am right there with you. I have a son very much like yours and think that he would thrive in this type of environment. As it is now (having just started kindergarten), he comes home bouncing off of the walls. When I ask him why, he says it's because he can't run very much at school and has to sit a lot.

[Anonymous]

Landon's motto is "We know boys." And it really appears that they do. It may not be for every boy, but it's a great school (as is St. Albans) for active learners.