Maureen Dowd column on Landon

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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!

PP here again. I know! I would never never never associate my name with this school and I would take my kid outta there, lickety split.

[Anonymous]

This is not a one-off incident. Has anyone read the book I recommended on these fora several weeks ago, Michael Kimmel, _Guyland_?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I wish so much I knew how to ensure that my son grows up to be a bookish, uncoordinated geek who doesn't even get the invite to these types of parties, then comes into his own in college -- just like Mom and Dad. I'm always on the lookout for a school that might help in that regard if anyone has any suggestions!

GDS, LOL! It's working for my DC and her (more often than not male) friends. (Well, ok, she discovered a sport outside of school, so she may end up reasonably athletic as well as bookish....) At any rate, it's been a school where institutional norms reinforce our values (which sound pretty similar to yours) and where DC has found great friends who are on the same wave-length. Not saying that's everyone -- or even the majority of the kids/families -- but more than enough to feel socially connected without feeling pressured to conform.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I wish so much I knew how to ensure that my son grows up to be a bookish, uncoordinated geek who doesn't even get the invite to these types of parties, then comes into his own in college -- just like Mom and Dad. I'm always on the lookout for a school that might help in that regard if anyone has any suggestions!

GDS, LOL! It's working for my DC and her (more often than not male) friends. (Well, ok, she discovered a sport outside of school, so she may end up reasonably athletic as well as bookish....) At any rate, it's been a school where institutional norms reinforce our values (which sound pretty similar to yours) and where DC has found great friends who are on the same wave-length. Not saying that's everyone -- or even the majority of the kids/families -- but more than enough to feel socially connected without feeling pressured to conform.

Saint Anselm's, ALL THE WAY. It is the only way they make them over there!

[Anonymous]

Why wouldn't a 14-year old boy be old enough to read the article himself? I'm sure he could handle it. Teens are capable of having sex -- so they need to read articles like this.

Anonymous wrote:I have a fourteen year old son. Do you think I should tell him about the details of this article and use it as a teaching moment or should I just talk about about (once again) respecting women etc and not mention this episode at Landon?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: [b] I wish so much I knew how to ensure that my son grows up to be a bookish, uncoordinated geek who doesn't even get the invite to these types of parties, then comes into his own in college -- just like Mom and Dad. I'm always on the lookout for a school that might help in that regard if anyone has any suggestions!

Adorable!! DH and I feel the same way!

I continue to wonder whether good public school (Arlington, MoCo) is a better option than private around here . . . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why wouldn't a 14-year old boy be old enough to read the article himself? I'm sure he could handle it. Teens are capable of having sex -- so they need to read articles like this.

Anonymous wrote:I have a fourteen year old son. Do you think I should tell him about the details of this article and use it as a teaching moment or should I just talk about about (once again) respecting women etc and not mention this episode at Landon?

I agree with the PP. Let him read it and then talk with him about it. Not just you -- DH, too.

And to me, the "teaching moment" here is not just about respecting women, although that's always good. It's really about thinking for himself. Having a critical eye when observing the people around him. Taking the time to ask himself if what he's seeing and hearing from his classmates is right or wrong, good or bad. And then having the self-confidence to act based on his own instincts, rather than his peers. This type of independent, critical thinking is an absolute godsend during the teen years, and it is also incredibly valuable academically and professionally, too.

Here's a good resource: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0031WH8CM/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?ie=UTF8&cloe_id=3c4b8e38-040f-416e-9707-51a4a80e093b&attrMsgId=LPWidget-A1&pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=1582700478&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0PN3E7HKN96P0S306NQA

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

11:01 Me, too. This is a group of boys who are coldheartedly concocting a game with a vile subtext. This is insidious.

[Anonymous]

PARENTS - supervise what your kids do please. Especially when they are teenagers. We focus so much on heli-parenting during the tee ball years ... the article does not explain how they were busted or where they were "publishing" the records.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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!

PP here again. I know! I would never never never associate my name with this school and I would take my kid outta there, lickety split.

Look there are pieces of trash guys at all schools. Same for girls. I've heard worse than this piece about some non-Landon students. Mommy or daddy might be on boards [even of schools] and important yet that is meaningless as far as parenting. I wonder how many were in the pool at Landon. At least Landon took disciplinary action.

[Anonymous]

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. ...

[Anonymous]

You have to admit, this line is pretty f**king funny

"She would be a special asset to the team, he noted, because her mother “is quite the cougar herself.” "

[Anonymous]

Is this really that ridiculous? They're 14 and 15 year old boys.. they're supposed to be brash and hormonal.

[Anonymous]

Less everyone forget, Pyle and Whitman students were sending pornographic pictures of women through their phones and trying to make money doing it. Bad behavior is all over the place.