Are rich/connected kids given special treatment?

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]Wasn't it Cheneys grandson who got bumped from Sidwell into Georgetown or something like that?[/quote]

I thought his grandchildren went to school in VA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At my daughter's private school the wealthy parents on the board (seated on stage with the graduates) all saw fit to give their children hugs and kisses as they received their diplomas. One woman even marched from her seat up the stairs and on to the stage to personally congratulate her daughter. As one of my friends noted, "Now we understand who owns the school".

Do you really think that's inappropriate? I see nothing wrong with it - if you're on the stage, why not?

Really? Well, if no other parent was allowed to do it, I think it was inappropriate. Neither the parent nor the kid is any more special than all of the other graduates. So, if you are a board member on stage and you are going to get your fanny up to congratulate one kid (yours), you keep it up and congratulate them all (as a board memeber).

There is only one notable excpetion. At my DD's graduation, the Board president and the principal were handing out the diplomas. Well, when the vice principal's daughter came up, they let the vice principal who was reading the graduates' names present the diploma to her daughter (last of 5 kids who had come through the school).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At my daughter's private school the wealthy parents on the board (seated on stage with the graduates) all saw fit to give their children hugs and kisses as they received their diplomas. One woman even marched from her seat up the stairs and on to the stage to personally congratulate her daughter. As one of my friends noted, "Now we understand who owns the school".

Sounds like the NCS graduation ceremony.

[Anonymous]

My child is on the school's website. We are NOT rich.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I thought cute and racially/ethnically diverse were the keys to ending up on school web pages, LOL!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, I thought cute and racially/ethnically diverse were the keys to ending up on school web pages, LOL!

That never works for my kid...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At my daughter's private school the wealthy parents on the board (seated on stage with the graduates) all saw fit to give their children hugs and kisses as they received their diplomas. One woman even marched from her seat up the stairs and on to the stage to personally congratulate her daughter. As one of my friends noted, "Now we understand who owns the school".

Sounds like the NCS graduation ceremony.

Yes there was some of that at the NCS ceremony. I thought it was sweet that board members gave their children their diplomas. Didn't take anything away from anyone else. Now the endless, made up, silly awards on Flag day ...that was a little too much.

[Anonymous]

I have seen what 13:53 remarked upon.

[Anonymous]

It seems all independent high schools in the area allow current board members to present their graduating senior with their diploma. Interesting practice, but since the board issues the diplomas it makes sense. Also, Parent Association presidents who are ex-officio board members also present.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At my daughter's private school the wealthy parents on the board (seated on stage with the graduates) all saw fit to give their children hugs and kisses as they received their diplomas. One woman even marched from her seat up the stairs and on to the stage to personally congratulate her daughter. As one of my friends noted, "Now we understand who owns the school".

Sounds like the NCS graduation ceremony.

Yes there was some of that at the NCS ceremony. I thought it was sweet that board members gave their children their diplomas. Didn't take anything away from anyone else. Now the endless, made up, silly awards on Flag day ...that was a little too much.

Our year the board members gave hugs and kisses to their girls.

Yes, the silly made up awards on Flag Day are a bit much, really.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]It seems all independent high schools in the area allow current board members to present their graduating senior with their diploma. Interesting practice, but since the board issues the diplomas it makes sense. Also, Parent Association presidents who are ex-officio board members also present. [/quote]

True in my experience. And it's not seemed intrusive to me.

[Anonymous]

OP here... not worried about the hugs and pictures, but what really matters. I have a nagging fear that students from weathly families receive better college recommendations, especially to elite universities, over more deserving students from more modest backgrounds. Basically, colleges will only admit a certain number of students from each school and private schools in particular exert a lot of control over college counseling, placement, recommendations, etc. The other special treatments are irritatiing, but what really matters is whether or not special treatment is given unfairly in the college placement process.

[Anonymous]

The OP's concerns are exactly why I will not be ashamed if my kids end up having to rely on a legacy admit. The school can push others to other colleges if it wants to, but I have done a lot for my college for many, many years, and it absolutely does give a legacy preference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, they are the kids who are in all the photos on the school website, the teachers pets and the ones chosen to do special things in class. Not all the wealthy kids, but a select few, whose parents have the teachers and principal by the balls.

This is correct.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]OP here... not worried about the hugs and pictures, but what really matters. I have a nagging fear that students from weathly families receive better college recommendations, especially to elite universities, over more deserving students from more modest backgrounds. Basically, colleges will only admit a certain number of students from each school and private schools in particular exert a lot of control over college counseling, placement, recommendations, etc. The other special treatments are irritatiing, but what really matters is whether or not special treatment is given unfairly in the college placement process.[/quote]

FWIW, we saw this happen in a private feeder school when it came time to recommend kids to the next private school. The kids with the highest test scores and grades didn't always do as well as the kids with the moms who were at the school every day volunteering, or with the families who donated big bucks. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it. DC got into a big 3, so no sour grapes here, but DC's case was NOT the norm.