New landon family

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's a tip for you relative to Landon and some of the other IAC schools

Don't assume the world started when your son and you showed up on Wilson Lane.

Landon just isn't very popular among the other IAC schools.

There's a long history between these schools and its kept alive by teachers and coaches and alumni and parents who have had multiple boys at the schools. Most of this has revolves around athletics but some of it has to do with out of school interactions and episodes.

You won't be able to fix the problem. There's been far too much water under the bridge.

Just understand that this well of hard feeling exists and tread carefully.

Not sure I am following. Examples?

[Anonymous]

Prepare to purchase and drive a Landon-acceptable car, wear Landon-acceptable clothes, and devote much of one parent's free-time to Landon-approved rich-people's activities, like garden parties. Encourage your DC to be tough, real tough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's a tip for you relative to Landon and some of the other IAC schools

Don't assume the world started when your son and you showed up on Wilson Lane.

Landon just isn't very popular among the other IAC schools.

There's a long history between these schools and its kept alive by teachers and coaches and alumni and parents who have had multiple boys at the schools. Most of this has revolves around athletics but some of it has to do with out of school interactions and episodes.

You won't be able to fix the problem. There's been far too much water under the bridge.

Just understand that this well of hard feeling exists and tread carefully.

Not sure I am following. Examples?

Some of these schools (staffs, coaches, alumni) really don't like anything about some of other schools. Some schools they are neutral about.

Landon, for whatever reason, seems to be a particularly disliked. These feelings even spill over to the parents. That powers a lot of the anti-Landon posts on here. Some will use just about anything to throw mud at a school with which they have an axe to grind.

As a Landon parent, you may brush up against it. Your son will figure it out pretty quickly in high school.

Someone on here a while ago characterized the Landon - Georgetown Prep relationship as the upscale version of the Crips and the Bloods.

[Anonymous]

Maybe it's because Landon kids act like the toughest suburban thugs in the DMV. The way they act and dress is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe it's because Landon kids act like the toughest suburban thugs in the DMV. The way they act and dress is ridiculous.

Well, there's something to that.

Landon wants badly to compete and to win in all sports. Other schools do too, but maybe not to the same degree.

To support that, there's a lot of strength training / weight lifting that occurs. Again, they aren't alone.

The desire on the part of the Bears to try these new muscles out on weekends is apparently irresistible

Now, of course, that's not all or even most Landon boys. But there's been enough of them over the years to convince many non-Landon people that the place is full of well-heeled and well-mannered thugs. They weren't that way when they started and the attitude recedes after a few years in college. But while they are there...

I can't "prove" any of this. But for it to be so widely believed here in DC suggests the opinion is rooted in experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe it's because Landon kids act like the toughest suburban thugs in the DMV. The way they act and dress is ridiculous.

Well, there's something to that.

Landon wants badly to compete and to win in all sports. Other schools do too, but maybe not to the same degree.

To support that, there's a lot of strength training / weight lifting that occurs. Again, they aren't alone.

The desire on the part of the Bears to try these new muscles out on weekends is apparently irresistible

Now, of course, that's not all or even most Landon boys. But there's been enough of them over the years to convince many non-Landon people that the place is full of well-heeled and well-mannered thugs. They weren't that way when they started and the attitude recedes after a few years in college. But while they are there...

I can't "prove" any of this. But for it to be so widely believed here in DC suggests the opinion is rooted in experience.

It's undeniable.

[Anonymous]

I have never heard of a school that get such a beating on a website for stuff that has happened in span of 15 years. The school according to its website jut finished a $55M capital campaign. Love it or hate it, but when folks continue to bash a school (repeatedly) one has to thing there are folks who are jealous of the school.

If you don't like the school, I have a simple solution for you, don't send your son there or attend the open house. The school will be around for a very long time so get used to the so called "thugs" it produces.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have never heard of a school that get such a beating on a website for stuff that has happened in span of 15 years. The school according to its website jut finished a $55M capital campaign. Love it or hate it, but when folks continue to bash a school (repeatedly) one has to thing there are folks who are jealous of the school.

If you don't like the school, I have a simple solution for you, don't send your son there or attend the open house. The school will be around for a very long time so get used to the so called "thugs" it produces.

Oh, we are quite used to the thugs. Some years are better than others. It's certainly true that we no longer see the Landon Army that was responsible for hospitalizing some students from "rival" schools.

But this thread started off as a new Landon parent looking for information. It's not unreasonable for others to fill them in on the view of the school and its students that many locals have. That way they can understand some of the looks and coded comments they might get from others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You will not be alone. There are lots of families in similar economic strata as you. My advice would be to involve yourself in volunteer activities at school and help your son to build a social network by issuing invitations to fellow classmates and hosting "playdates." The culture is different than public schools but with a little effort your boy should be fine.

Your child will be fine but I do second the idea of making an effort and hosting playdates. Ask your son's teacher who your child seem to gravitate toward or plays well with for ideas of whom to invite and go for there. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

This thread is too much. We are considering Landon for Upper School and although the school's reputation concerns us we have had nothing but positive experiences with alumni, teachers, and students. In terms of All-boys, Landon is probably not as strong as STA but I don't think any of the other all-boys or co-ed schools (Except for Sidwell) are at the same level.

[Anonymous]

We are a former Landon family. If you can find other options, including MoCo or NW DC public, strongly consider them.

[Anonymous]

we have two new boys this year at Landon. One in the middle and one in the lower, they both love the school, the teachers and the sports.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have never heard of a school that get such a beating on a website for stuff that has happened in span of 15 years. The school according to its website jut finished a $55M capital campaign. Love it or hate it, but when folks continue to bash a school (repeatedly) one has to thing there are folks who are jealous of the school.

If you don't like the school, I have a simple solution for you, don't send your son there or attend the open house. The school will be around for a very long time so get used to the so called "thugs" it produces.

People are not jealous of Landon. People are disgusted by the entitlement and thuggishness of its students. Every year.

[Anonymous]

Another middle schooler parent...we love it. Our son does too!

[Anonymous]

15:42 please elaborate. What were the circumstances surrounding your departure?