The All Boys School Conundrum

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is St Anselm's doing right? In other words, what is it about the school that has helped it avoid the Lord of the Flies or racist/misogynist fates of Landon, etc?

The administration and teachers are kind. Many have been there for a long time. The monks and abbey bring a very calm presence to the school. The expectations of the students is high, but the environment is non-competitive. The administration and teachers work hard to support the interests of the students.

As the parent of a graduate, I agree with the poster who said it is a gem.

Would highly encourage families to check it out!!

We have a baby boy, but I’ve enjoyed reading about SAAS from parents on this forum over the past two years. We are mixed faith family (Jewish & lapsed Catholic in WOTP DC). My wife grew up here and never heard of SAAS, but probably because it was outside her Jewish MoCo milieu.

It seems to me that the location of SAAS may have to do with its success. It’s in a traditionally black, middle class area. It’s not near the wealthy white suburbs of DC and MD. Therefore, the families who want to go to SAAS likely have to go out of their way each day to get their boys to/from campus. So now you’ve already got self-selection bias, as it pulls families from across the city who specifically want what SAAS is offering. Plus, it gets a lot more diversity from that part of NE DC and PG County.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When boys get together, it often turns toxic. Look at fraternities.

Not all boys are frat boys. Many will never aspire to be a part of that crowd.

But alas when away from their parents they act in ways their parents have never seen nor would ever believe.

Don’t be naive.

When away from their parents boys AND girls act in ways their parents haven’t seen...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is St Anselm's doing right? In other words, what is it about the school that has helped it avoid the Lord of the Flies or racist/misogynist fates of Landon, etc?

The administration and teachers are kind. Many have been there for a long time. The monks and abbey bring a very calm presence to the school. The expectations of the students is high, but the environment is non-competitive. The administration and teachers work hard to support the interests of the students.

As the parent of a graduate, I agree with the poster who said it is a gem.

Would highly encourage families to check it out!!

We have a baby boy, but I’ve enjoyed reading about SAAS from parents on this forum over the past two years. We are mixed faith family (Jewish & lapsed Catholic in WOTP DC). My wife grew up here and never heard of SAAS, but probably because it was outside her Jewish MoCo milieu.

It seems to me that the location of SAAS may have to do with its success. It’s in a traditionally black, middle class area. It’s not near the wealthy white suburbs of DC and MD. Therefore, the families who want to go to SAAS likely have to go out of their way each day to get their boys to/from campus. So now you’ve already got self-selection bias, as it pulls families from across the city who specifically want what SAAS is offering. Plus, it gets a lot more diversity from that part of NE DC and PG County.

My kid took the Metro from MOCO every day. Made him exceptionally comfortable with public transportation. He actually prefers public transportation and misses the Metro, now that he has graduated.

Highly encourage folks to take a look. It is a special place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When boys get together, it often turns toxic. Look at fraternities.

Not all boys are frat boys. Many will never aspire to be a part of that crowd.

But alas when away from their parents they act in ways their parents have never seen nor would ever believe.

Don’t be naive.

When away from their parents boys AND girls act in ways their parents haven’t seen...

Seriously. Did no one here go to college? Or was everyone here who did a total square? College is just parent-funded debauchery with a few classes thrown in to legitimize the enterprise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When boys get together, it often turns toxic. Look at fraternities.

Not all boys are frat boys. Many will never aspire to be a part of that crowd.

But alas when away from their parents they act in ways their parents have never seen nor would ever believe.

Don’t be naive.

When away from their parents boys AND girls act in ways their parents haven’t seen...

Seriously. Did no one here go to college? Or was everyone here who did a total square? College is just parent-funded debauchery with a few classes thrown in to legitimize the enterprise.

Yes everybody act differently away from parents. Not everybody is misogynistic and racist. Sadly going to mostly white all boys schools breed those 2 things.

[Anonymous]

Generalize much? I too can play. Not all parents of boys want their sons to be part of the hyper-competitive limousine liberal sexually permissive crowd at SFS or GDS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Generalize much? I too can play. Not all parents of boys want their sons to be part of the hyper-competitive limousine liberal sexually permissive crowd at SFS or GDS.

Then don’t send them there.

See admit each side has flaws ... liberals are hyper competitive limousine liberals snd their kids have sex.

All boys schools are racist and misogynistic.

Feel better!

[Anonymous]

Is DeMatha racist? Oh wait, you have no clue, do you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is DeMatha racist? Oh wait, you have no clue, do you?

Is Damatha predominantly white?

It is misogynistic though.

[Anonymous]

I went to a top tier all-boys school. Would not send my sons to one. The major benefit imho is that boys are more focused on school when not distracted by girls. The major drawback imho is that teenage boys are at best idiots and at worst assholes, and the absence of girls removes any social pressure to better themselves. Also, lots of boys develop misogynistic tendencies when they cannot see girls operating as equals. I think boys become respectful despite the environment rather than because of it. YMMV

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is St Anselm's doing right? In other words, what is it about the school that has helped it avoid the Lord of the Flies or racist/misogynist fates of Landon, etc?

The administration and teachers are kind. Many have been there for a long time. The monks and abbey bring a very calm presence to the school. The expectations of the students is high, but the environment is non-competitive. The administration and teachers work hard to support the interests of the students.

As the parent of a graduate, I agree with the poster who said it is a gem.

Would highly encourage families to check it out!!

We have a baby boy, but I’ve enjoyed reading about SAAS from parents on this forum over the past two years. We are mixed faith family (Jewish & lapsed Catholic in WOTP DC). My wife grew up here and never heard of SAAS, but probably because it was outside her Jewish MoCo milieu.

It seems to me that the location of SAAS may have to do with its success. It’s in a traditionally black, middle class area. It’s not near the wealthy white suburbs of DC and MD. Therefore, the families who want to go to SAAS likely have to go out of their way each day to get their boys to/from campus. So now you’ve already got self-selection bias, as it pulls families from across the city who specifically want what SAAS is offering. Plus, it gets a lot more diversity from that part of NE DC and PG County.

We chose a Big 3 school that happens to be single sex, but more for the academics and mandatory sports ( means there is no class time wasted on PE, recess- just dedicated time after school for sports training ). Contrary to what many people think or try to pin on the school, it is far from the isolated male culture- many of our son's HS classes, especially the honors ones, are combined with the affiliated girl's school next door

As is the theater program, crew and T&F programs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is St Anselm's doing right? In other words, what is it about the school that has helped it avoid the Lord of the Flies or racist/misogynist fates of Landon, etc?

The administration and teachers are kind. Many have been there for a long time. The monks and abbey bring a very calm presence to the school. The expectations of the students is high, but the environment is non-competitive. The administration and teachers work hard to support the interests of the students.

As the parent of a graduate, I agree with the poster who said it is a gem.

Would highly encourage families to check it out!!

We have a baby boy, but I’ve enjoyed reading about SAAS from parents on this forum over the past two years. We are mixed faith family (Jewish & lapsed Catholic in WOTP DC). My wife grew up here and never heard of SAAS, but probably because it was outside her Jewish MoCo milieu.

It seems to me that the location of SAAS may have to do with its success. It’s in a traditionally black, middle class area. It’s not near the wealthy white suburbs of DC and MD. Therefore, the families who want to go to SAAS likely have to go out of their way each day to get their boys to/from campus. So now you’ve already got self-selection bias, as it pulls families from across the city who specifically want what SAAS is offering. Plus, it gets a lot more diversity from that part of NE DC and PG County.

We chose a Big 3 school that happens to be single sex, but more for the academics and mandatory sports ( means there is no class time wasted on PE, recess- just dedicated time after school for sports training ). Contrary to what many people think or try to pin on the school, it is far from the isolated male culture- many of our son's HS classes, especially the honors ones, are combined with the affiliated girl's school next door

As is the theater program, crew and T&F programs

You could have just said sta. everyone knows what school you’re talking about

[Anonymous]

Yes that’s a great offering at STA that the other boys’ schools don’t seem to have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to a top tier all-boys school. Would not send my sons to one. The major benefit imho is that boys are more focused on school when not distracted by girls. The major drawback imho is that teenage boys are at best idiots and at worst assholes, and the absence of girls removes any social pressure to better themselves. Also, lots of boys develop misogynistic tendencies when they cannot see girls operating as equals. I think boys become respectful despite the environment rather than because of it. YMMV

Our mileage does differ.

[Anonymous]

If you want boys to be respectful towards girls and not misogynistic make that a focused effort at home. Don't rely on schools to foster this. Any school. IMO my friends from all-boys score higher than many elite athletes from any school, including PS. Don't fool yourself into thinking this stems merely from all boy schools.