Bullis v. Landon v. St. Andrews

[Anonymous]

Look at the humanities course that every junior has to take. The reading and writing that is part of that course is equivalent to colllege level reading and writing. Some authors that read and analyze include Milton, Hobbs, Locke, rosseau, pope, Dante, Keats just to name a few. The writing and analysis expected in this course is for everyone not just top students.

[Anonymous]

It is about much more than what is offered. You can compare that by requesting the school's brochures. Most top schools offer very similar courses. i can tell you that Landon does have one of the most well regarded music programs available. It is a school we seriously considered for our son.

It is the quality if the faculty, the student-faculty ratio, the actual class sizes, the history and traditions of the institution, the quality of the other admitted students: test scores, IQs, grades from previous school, recommendations, etc...

Landon wins in each category.

[Anonymous]

I think if your son wants a coed education you should strongly consider that and send him to either Bullis or St. Andrews.
Yes, strong academics and connections are important, but so is happiness and if he would feel happier at a coed school then I think you should consider it.
We are in the same boat, but with a girl. Though Holton Arms would be a better academic fit, we'll stay at St. A because it is coed and she's happy there.

[Anonymous]

St. Andrew's is a much younger school than these others so of course it has s few alumni and less entrenched traditions. But by design it embraces children who show a lot of potential in both the same way that shools like Landon or Holton would, but also in a broader way enabling them to admit students that these other schools would not. So of course there are different levels of academc intensity in the school that fit different kids -- the fact that one school has a selection process that excludes groups of children does not make it "better" -- only different. One thing I love about St. Andrew's is its twin emphasis on all students striving to be the best they can be in competition with themselves, more than with other, and teaching all kids regardless of ability that . Not all juniors take the type of course mentioned above at Landon, but the standard english class sometimes requiring up to 50 pages per night kids work and think and the AP English course is of reading.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look at the humanities course that every junior has to take. The reading and writing that is part of that course is equivalent to colllege level reading and writing. Some authors that read and analyze include Milton, Hobbs, Locke, rosseau, pope, Dante, Keats just to name a few. The writing and analysis expected in this course is for everyone not just top students.

I am glad you are enthusiastic about your school and I agree Landon has an amazing education to offer. But Milton, Hobbs, Locke, Rosseau - that seems like a nightmare list for boys. Most boys will hate the class and I think there are more interesting ways to teach college level writing analysis. Are there creative writing assignments during the year? Is this a lecture class? Do they find creative ways to teach this besides the teacher pontificating for 45 minutes each class. I am not picking on you or Landon. My son is in another all boys school that goes through the 12 and we are looking for another school, I wonder how they pick these books. I still have nightmares of having to read Bronte. Was this class created 30 years ago? Do the kids love the class?

But if you want the classics - which many all boys school seem to stick to - great, Landon seems to have that. (Even though it is not listed on their website.)

One thing they do have is a sample bell schedule - which to me seems up to date. They have lots of free time, most days they never have more than 5 academic classes and many days there are only 4 academic classes. That seems geared toward how boys learn.

OP, Is you son a Milton, Locke and Rosseau type of student. Or is he more of a Huck Finn/Great Gatsby guy - which is what Bullis studies JR yr. They also learn to write through journalism classes. St. Andrews reads Am. Lit JR year but the web page was not specific.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at the humanities course that every junior has to take. The reading and writing that is part of that course is equivalent to colllege level reading and writing. Some authors that read and analyze include Milton, Hobbs, Locke, rosseau, pope, Dante, Keats just to name a few. The writing and analysis expected in this course is for everyone not just top students.

I am glad you are enthusiastic about your school and I agree Landon has an amazing education to offer. But Milton, Hobbs, Locke, Rosseau - that seems like a nightmare list for boys. Most boys will hate the class and I think there are more interesting ways to teach college level writing analysis. Are there creative writing assignments during the year? Is this a lecture class? Do they find creative ways to teach this besides the teacher pontificating for 45 minutes each class. I am not picking on you or Landon. My son is in another all boys school that goes through the 12 and we are looking for another school, I wonder how they pick these books. I still have nightmares of having to read Bronte. Was this class created 30 years ago? Do the kids love the class?

But if you want the classics - which many all boys school seem to stick to - great, Landon seems to have that. (Even though it is not listed on their website.)

One thing they do have is a sample bell schedule - which to me seems up to date. They have lots of free time, most days they never have more than 5 academic classes and many days there are only 4 academic classes. That seems geared toward how boys learn.

OP, Is you son a Milton, Locke and Rosseau type of student. Or is he more of a Huck Finn/Great Gatsby guy - which is what Bullis studies JR yr. They also learn to write through journalism classes. St. Andrews reads Am. Lit JR year but the web page was not specific.

The Humanities class is a double period class. Includes both a history teacher and a english teacher. The class is set up with no more than 12-13 boys. there is both analysis and creative writing assignments. The class is specifically designed to invited discussion. It is far from a lecture and spit out class. You really have to think.

Kids will complain about the level and amount of work but when they get to college realize what a great preparation it is.


http://www.landon.net/page.cfm?p=3800 The description of the course is in the curriculum guide on Page 19.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at the humanities course that every junior has to take. The reading and writing that is part of that course is equivalent to colllege level reading and writing. Some authors that read and analyze include Milton, Hobbs, Locke, rosseau, pope, Dante, Keats just to name a few. The writing and analysis expected in this course is for everyone not just top students.

I am glad you are enthusiastic about your school and I agree Landon has an amazing education to offer. But Milton, Hobbs, Locke, Rosseau - that seems like a nightmare list for boys. Most boys will hate the class and I think there are more interesting ways to teach college level writing analysis. Are there creative writing assignments during the year? Is this a lecture class? Do they find creative ways to teach this besides the teacher pontificating for 45 minutes each class. I am not picking on you or Landon. My son is in another all boys school that goes through the 12 and we are looking for another school, I wonder how they pick these books. I still have nightmares of having to read Bronte. Was this class created 30 years ago? Do the kids love the class?

But if you want the classics - which many all boys school seem to stick to - great, Landon seems to have that. (Even though it is not listed on their website.)

One thing they do have is a sample bell schedule - which to me seems up to date. They have lots of free time, most days they never have more than 5 academic classes and many days there are only 4 academic classes. That seems geared toward how boys learn.

OP, Is you son a Milton, Locke and Rosseau type of student. Or is he more of a Huck Finn/Great Gatsby guy - which is what Bullis studies JR yr. They also learn to write through journalism classes. St. Andrews reads Am. Lit JR year but the web page was not specific.

The boys at Landon really don't have a lot of free time. In addition to the 5 academic classes, there also is an arts requirement for Freshman and sophomores. In junior year, you don't have to take an art but many of the science courses have a lab component which makes for a double period. there is also a 3 season sports requirement. You may get one or two free periods every couple of days but most boys use that time to do homework.

Some boys may have more time because they take a science with no lab. Most boys in junior and senior year do.

[Anonymous]

:06 here again: Apologies for confusing earlier post -- I shouldn't attempt to post after midnight. The coed environment for our children has been a positive at St. Andrew’s and not a distraction in any negative way, as they each have friends of both genders. I am sure that probably depends very much on the individual kid. There are a lot of tuned in teachers/ staff to watch for social stuff at St. Andrew’s. .

To answer a PP's question, my child at St. Andrew's in junior year English is also reading Twain, Fitzgerald, Wharton, Invisible Man (the one about race, not the horror story), poetry, and a number of other books I can't name off the top of my head with a lot of writing/literary analysis, My child is in the AP class, but I hear good things about the regular class as well, the primary difference being that the AP class covers more in part because those kids simply read faster/retain more or are willing to put in the extra time needed. St. Andrew’s juniors all take US history which includes a unique oral history project in which all students are trained and conduct original interviews with a witness to history, context research papers about that period of time, and prepare analysis papers after the interviews, etc., as well as cover all the usual history content (this oral history project is a requirement of both the regular and the AP US history classes). The project got our child using one of the local college libraries for research which itself was a great experience, and all the kids experience needing to contact prospective interviewees, explain the project, obtain consent forms, and a lot of valuable practical research experience. . They can pick up parts of some of authors noted in the Landon Humanities class in various other history, philosophy/religion, English or civics classes, but no single class is focuses on the classics per se. Most St. Andrew Students – as is true at most independent schools – take 5 academic subjects per year, but they are also all required to take one trimester of religion/philosophy (which counts as a 6th academic subject) each year as well as the usual electives in visual or performing arts/music. Senior year, students at all three schools can take one advanced course through a consortium including other privates in the area as well.

When you factor in that St. Andrew’s by design is a smaller school than Landon and that it is appealing to kids on a wider part of the academic spectrum, and that Landon has almost certainly more athletic recruits, I don’t think the college comparisons support the conclusion that Landon is stronger academically. Landon is a fine traditional boys school, no doubt, and has an important place in the private community. St. Andrew’s is focused on continuing to innovate the most effective teaching approaches in the classroom in ways that are getting a lot of positive feedback from peer independent schools. All these schools probably can no doubt provide a good education, but I don’t see the evidence to support the idea that Landon has some clear advantage in the classroom.

[Anonymous]

"The boys at Landon really don't have a lot of free time."

Bad choice of words. "Free time" - what I probably meant was there was time for arts, sports, there is a study hall and advisory. Also, I think they have over an hour for lunch. This I say as positive things. I think people need to recharge through the day to put their all into the academic time.

I like that schools have advisory periods. Bullis has this too, I suspect St. Andrews may also.

Both Bullis and St. Andrews have education centers, does Landon? For example, if you have a writing assignment that you need help on there is a writing Lab at Bullis. The education center is open every afternoon from 3-6 and in the morning from 6-7 to provide support to students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at the humanities course that every junior has to take. The reading and writing that is part of that course is equivalent to colllege level reading and writing. Some authors that read and analyze include Milton, Hobbs, Locke, rosseau, pope, Dante, Keats just to name a few. The writing and analysis expected in this course is for everyone not just top students.

I am glad you are enthusiastic about your school and I agree Landon has an amazing education to offer. But Milton, Hobbs, Locke, Rosseau - that seems like a nightmare list for boys. Most boys will hate the class and I think there are more interesting ways to teach college level writing analysis. Are there creative writing assignments during the year? Is this a lecture class? Do they find creative ways to teach this besides the teacher pontificating for 45 minutes each class. I am not picking on you or Landon. My son is in another all boys school that goes through the 12 and we are looking for another school, I wonder how they pick these books. I still have nightmares of having to read Bronte. Was this class created 30 years ago? Do the kids love the class?

But if you want the classics - which many all boys school seem to stick to - great, Landon seems to have that. (Even though it is not listed on their website.)

One thing they do have is a sample bell schedule - which to me seems up to date. They have lots of free time, most days they never have more than 5 academic classes and many days there are only 4 academic classes. That seems geared toward how boys learn.

OP, Is you son a Milton, Locke and Rosseau type of student. Or is he more of a Huck Finn/Great Gatsby guy - which is what Bullis studies JR yr. They also learn to write through journalism classes. St. Andrews reads Am. Lit JR year but the web page was not specific.

The Humanities class is a double period class. Includes both a history teacher and a english teacher. The class is set up with no more than 12-13 boys. there is both analysis and creative writing assignments. The class is specifically designed to invited discussion. It is far from a lecture and spit out class. You really have to think.

Kids will complain about the level and amount of work but when they get to college realize what a great preparation it is.


http://www.landon.net/page.cfm?p=3800 The description of the course is in the curriculum guide on Page 19.

I like when they link the liturature to history. We do that at our school now. Thanks for the link - it looks like Landon also has more modern offerings like Psychology, Forensic Science and Journalism.

I am not OP but somebody asked me recently why Landon was not on our list of schools to visit. I had the feeling they were more traditional and lots of lecture type classes. Thanks for the information.

[Anonymous]

St Andrew's does have an advisory period and each student is assigned an advisor at the beginning of the year at least in middle and upper school (I don't know below that how it works). Each upper school class is also assigned an academic advisor to specifically help with long term planning in high school (that is in addition to the college counseling advisor assignment made early junior year).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"The boys at Landon really don't have a lot of free time."

Bad choice of words. "Free time" - what I probably meant was there was time for arts, sports, there is a study hall and advisory. Also, I think they have over an hour for lunch. This I say as positive things. I think people need to recharge through the day to put their all into the academic time.

I like that schools have advisory periods. Bullis has this too, I suspect St. Andrews may also.

Both Bullis and St. Andrews have education centers, does Landon? For example, if you have a writing assignment that you need help on there is a writing Lab at Bullis. The education center is open every afternoon from 3-6 and in the morning from 6-7 to provide support to students.

Yes Landon does have an education center.It is the Center for Teaching and Learning resources. It has been in existence since 2005.

http://www.landon.net/cf_news/view.cfm?newsid=718

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"The boys at Landon really don't have a lot of free time."

Bad choice of words. "Free time" - what I probably meant was there was time for arts, sports, there is a study hall and advisory. Also, I think they have over an hour for lunch. This I say as positive things. I think people need to recharge through the day to put their all into the academic time.

I like that schools have advisory periods. Bullis has this too, I suspect St. Andrews may also.

Both Bullis and St. Andrews have education centers, does Landon? For example, if you have a writing assignment that you need help on there is a writing Lab at Bullis. The education center is open every afternoon from 3-6 and in the morning from 6-7 to provide support to students.

Thanks for the link. It is really nice to see at so many schools have learning centers. (not always the first thing they advertise) So many kids can handle the course work with this type of support.

Great facilities, great academics, nurturing environments - lots of great choices. May come down to where your son just feels at home.



Yes Landon does have an education center.It is the Center for Teaching and Learning resources. It has been in existence since 2005.

http://www.landon.net/cf_news/view.cfm?newsid=718

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"The boys at Landon really don't have a lot of free time."

Bad choice of words. "Free time" - what I probably meant was there was time for arts, sports, there is a study hall and advisory. Also, I think they have over an hour for lunch. This I say as positive things. I think people need to recharge through the day to put their all into the academic time.

I like that schools have advisory periods. Bullis has this too, I suspect St. Andrews may also.

Both Bullis and St. Andrews have education centers, does Landon? For example, if you have a writing assignment that you need help on there is a writing Lab at Bullis. The education center is open every afternoon from 3-6 and in the morning from 6-7 to provide support to students.

Thanks for the link. It is really nice to see at so many schools have learning centers. (not always the first thing they advertise) So many kids can handle the course work with this type of support.

Great facilities, great academics, nurturing environments - lots of great choices. May come down to where your son just feels at home.



Yes Landon does have an education center.It is the Center for Teaching and Learning resources. It has been in existence since 2005.

http://www.landon.net/cf_news/view.cfm?newsid=718

Whoops - comments are in bold. Dang iPad.

[Anonymous]

My understanding is that all three schools (St. Andrews, Bullis, Landon) have signature academic research opportunities in the Junior year. St. Andrews has the awesome oral history project that a PP referenced. The quality of the research is outstanding, and the students share their work and then the interview is archived in the largest student-created oral history archive in the country. All Bullis Juniors participate in National History Day, where they conduct original research and create websites, documentaries, performances, or exhibits. The last several years, students have competed at States and there have been several finalists at Nationals. Landon has the aforementioned humanities double block in the Junior year--the most "traditional" offering, but certainly of value. Knowing all three schools well, I truly believe that your child can find intellectual rigor and excellent teachers across the board. I think your decision comes down to "feel"--size, coed vs. single sex, sense of community. BTW, since contracts were due last Friday, what did you decide?