Maureen Dowd column on Landon

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is easy to pile on one incident -- and especially one reported largely anecdotally -- and to draw broad and specious conclusions about the associated institution. With regard to Landon -- having lived decades in the Washington area, with children and friends' children in a dozen plus different area high schools, Landon is a stand out in the quality of students (the ones that don't make the news -- whether good or bad news), the academic rigor of the school, and the quality of the teachers. I could not have asked for a better education or experience for my boys, none of which played varsity sports.

I am sure the vast majority of Landon boys are wonderful--a dear friend's son goes there and he is such a great kid. There does appear to be a 'jocks running wild' minority that is dragging the school down though. For example, have been told by boys that a lot of bad behavior is tied to a Landon fraternity type organization--maybe called 'the Bear Club'? Can't remember. The school may need to try to deal with issues like that to move forward.

[Anonymous]

High ranking MoCo officials ds involved, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:High ranking MoCo officials ds involved, too.

Is the MoCo official in the legal line of work, and did he pull his kid from Sidwell bc wanted better sports?

[Anonymous]

A lot has been written about how Landon is a sports school. Since the vast majority of kids are admitted at age 8 (only ten or so come in as high schoolers, not all athletes I know as my son and several of his friends entered then) one can only wonder at the prescience of the admissions officer who could just tell which of those 8-year-olds were going to shape up to be little athletes. That said, the parents are the ones that ought to be interviewed for the LS. Make sure THEY have good character. All the kid should have to do is pass a basic IQ test. All will be well.

[Anonymous]

I know three families who are starting at Landon in the fall. I know they began the application process well before the latest scandal, but I still kind of wonder why in the world anyone would start their son there right now. Not leaving, I can understand, but beginning? I don't know them well enough to ask, oh well!

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Landon is a great school. Kids who deserve punishment at landon get it. Those who achieve greatness get praise at landon. The media has found a few cases and decide to bash on landon because it is such a great school and a lot of people there are wealthy. However, landon has the strongest honor code system in the metropolitan area. George Hugely did not even presently go to landon! His case had nothing to do with landon at all. All in all, people find a few mistakes that students make at Landon, blow the situations up ten-fold, but no one ever notices the really great things that landon achieves. No one notices the countless rhodes scolars or concert violinists or expert painters or community service organizers for trips to Africa. Leave landon alone and get a life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot has been written about how Landon is a sports school. Since the vast majority of kids are admitted at age 8 (only ten or so come in as high schoolers, not all athletes I know as my son and several of his friends entered then) one can only wonder at the prescience of the admissions officer who could just tell which of those 8-year-olds were going to shape up to be little athletes. That said, the parents are the ones that ought to be interviewed for the LS. Make sure THEY have good character. All the kid should have to do is pass a basic IQ test. All will be well.

good theory, but cheating, raping, and an occasional murder, doesnt get it done.

recall, at Duke, they were aqutted of raping--the courts ruled she consented

My kids go to fancy schools. I am disgusted

Its not about new or old money, catholic or wasp.

This is about what we value
If Landon doesnt take this down, they are done. out of businesss.

[Anonymous]

The head of the school at Landon makes well more than $300K per year (public info from Form 990) -- more like $400K if you factor in a healthy expense allowance and deferred comp. The Middle School head seems to teach and coach soccer in addition to whatever he does (or does not) do as MS head, according to the website. He doesn't make nearly as much money, but still a good wage in 6 figures. Enough to be accountable for what goes on at the school, one would suppose.

[Anonymous]

The MS head does not know the MS boys and he does not engage in what goes on around him. He does not act when
events occur. He needs to be fired. This 'latest' Landon
problem falls on his hapless lap. He did not get involved with these troublemakers even after numerous complaints and specific incidents were brought to his attention.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is easy to pile on one incident -- and especially one reported largely anecdotally -- and to draw broad and specious conclusions about the associated institution. With regard to Landon -- having lived decades in the Washington area, with children and friends' children in a dozen plus different area high schools, Landon is a stand out in the quality of students (the ones that don't make the news -- whether good or bad news), the academic rigor of the school, and the quality of the teachers. I could not have asked for a better education or experience for my boys, none of which played varsity sports.

I am sure the vast majority of Landon boys are wonderful--a dear friend's son goes there and he is such a great kid. There does appear to be a 'jocks running wild' minority that is dragging the school down though. For example, have been told by boys that a lot of bad behavior is tied to a Landon fraternity type organization--maybe called 'the Bear Club'? Can't remember. The school may need to try to deal with issues like that to move forward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The head of the school at Landon makes well more than $300K per year (public info from Form 990) -- more like $400K if you factor in a healthy expense allowance and deferred comp. The Middle School head seems to teach and coach soccer in addition to whatever he does (or does not) do as MS head, according to the website. He doesn't make nearly as much money, but still a good wage in 6 figures. Enough to be accountable for what goes on at the school, one would suppose.

[Anonymous]

sick stuff

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:11:14 again. I'd also suggest checking out Washington Episcopal School for K-8. A friend whose DC is in HS at GDS raves about how considerate, insightful, and self-aware the boys who came from WES are.

OMG. Some good some bad news. But WES is not a place where it would be hard to find a decent kid to be friends with. ...

Care to elucidae, 12:04? Are you saying that WES is a mixed-bag and that the group my friend knows (WES boys that went to GDS for HS) are the exception (but a recurrent exception) rather than the rule?

12:04 here. Just like any other school there can be an individual[s] who is not a decent person.

[Anonymous]

``The boys were caught before the first party took place, according to several sources. Asked about the incident, a school official said Wednesday that three rising freshmen received in-school suspensions at the beginning of the school year.''

from the Washington Post.

So stop lying Landon parents. Those kids got wrist slaps and ruffled hair as punishment.

[Anonymous]

This might have been tough punishment by Landon standards. Fire the administration, now please.

[Anonymous]

Of all of the thousands of high schools in America -- why does Landon keep having these incidents?

How did the NYT break the story before the WP?