Landon Question

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went there and feel like I was lucky to go there and better off for it. If you're trying to debate how well your son will do when he's 29 based on whether he goes to Landon or st albans, then don't worry about the things that are secondary. St albans does do better at college placement--both due to higher parent affluence and better reputation--but you're options are between excellent and about as excellent. Also remember college admissions are not the end goal. I've found that st albans alums run a very high chance of being lousy employees--I know because I have had plenty work for me or ask me for a job.

I feel like 1 of 3 st albans alums is doomed to give up easily and expect that success will always be handed to them. As a result, I feel like 1 out 4 st albans kids from class of 2004-2007 still live at home with their patents and expects to get handed a job. Many of the ones that do have jobs still need mommy and daddy to support their luxurious lifestyles and $80 Saturday night bar tabs. Landon obviously has its bad apples, but I feel the school is infinitely better at teaching a few traits that really matter--like never giving up, always finding a way to win, and accepting abd learning from life's constant failures and shortcomings.

Admittedly Landon certainly had its flaws--big ones--but I feel like all dc private schools are relatively screwed up. I do think that David Armstrong was a terrible choice for Landon and I don't trust him. The same can be said of Tom Cunningham. That said, the night is darkest before the dawn and those guys HAVE to be on their way out. If you have any concerns over Landon, I recommend looking at the teachers, the men and women who will actually be running the students lives. I'm sure every school has good teachers, but I couldn't imagine better teachers and role models than mr. Botti, mr. Swinehart, mr moseley (bless his soul), Michael carter, bill reed, Andy Katz, mr Goddard, mr cabry, mr sorkin

Aside from the kind words about some teachers (which is nice), what a poorly reasoned and silly post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went there and feel like I was lucky to go there and better off for it. If you're trying to debate how well your son will do when he's 29 based on whether he goes to Landon or st albans, then don't worry about the things that are secondary. St albans does do better at college placement--both due to higher parent affluence and better reputation--but you're options are between excellent and about as excellent. Also remember college admissions are not the end goal. I've found that st albans alums run a very high chance of being lousy employees--I know because I have had plenty work for me or ask me for a job.

I feel like 1 of 3 st albans alums is doomed to give up easily and expect that success will always be handed to them. As a result, I feel like 1 out 4 st albans kids from class of 2004-2007 still live at home with their patents and expects to get handed a job. Many of the ones that do have jobs still need mommy and daddy to support their luxurious lifestyles and $80 Saturday night bar tabs. Landon obviously has its bad apples, but I feel the school is infinitely better at teaching a few traits that really matter--like never giving up, always finding a way to win, and accepting abd learning from life's constant failures and shortcomings.

Admittedly Landon certainly had its flaws--big ones--but I feel like all dc private schools are relatively screwed up. I do think that David Armstrong was a terrible choice for Landon and I don't trust him. The same can be said of Tom Cunningham. That said, the night is darkest before the dawn and those guys HAVE to be on their way out. If you have any concerns over Landon, I recommend looking at the teachers, the men and women who will actually be running the students lives. I'm sure every school has good teachers, but I couldn't imagine better teachers and role models than mr. Botti, mr. Swinehart, mr moseley (bless his soul), Michael carter, bill reed, Andy Katz, mr Goddard, mr cabry, mr sorkin

OP here again. I can't believe this thread is still going! Thank you for this very honest answer. What I find most revealing is the answers from Landon parents. The only people bashing Landon or being abusive in their replies are people who don't send their kids there. It obviously has a strong community, which is a plus. The fact that none of the posts from Landon parents are rude makes me more positive on the school. Thanks so much.

Just for the record, I've never met a sta boy who has a negative or spoiled attitude. I think of sta as a truly academic school where intelligence is valued.

[Anonymous]

I'm a Landon parent, and although I haven't read all the responses, the first page is unfortunately confirming the worst stereotypes about the school. OP, I almost didn't consider Lnadon for my son because of the school's reputation, but I'm glad I did. Although there are some obnoxious parents who wish we still lived in the 1950's, I've found many welcoming, like-minded parents who are trying to bring the school into the 21st century, and my son has made a really nice, diverse, and well-rounded group of friends. Most importantly, he has had some really excelelnt teachers, who have brought out previously hidden talents and confidence in a rather shy young man. Moreover, although Landon has a reputation for sports, it actually has a great arts and music program, and it is very cool that excellence in any fields is encouraged and admired -- some of the toughest guys on the sports team have the sweetest voices! There are definitely things I dont' like about the school: its rather archaic traditions such as separate Mother's and Father's Clubs, and rather antiquated notions about mothers' activities versus fathers'. However, there are some terrific female teachers who I hope will help to dispel such notions. And the lower school boys are just about the happiest little guys I've seen anywhere. So I would suggest that you check out the school, talk to parents, and consider if your boy will be happy there. I know mine is.

[Anonymous]

Current landon parent affirming pp--the good and bad. Well said.

However i'm told Landon just had a record number of transfers out of middle school (between 8 and 9) which has me wondering about the cumulative impact of various challenges. It would be pretty nifty if the school could recognize that we are 12 years into a new century.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Current landon parent affirming pp--the good and bad. Well said.

However i'm told Landon just had a record number of transfers out of middle school (between 8 and 9) which has me wondering about the cumulative impact of various challenges. It would be pretty nifty if the school could recognize that we are 12 years into a new century.

I think it says something about the lack of confidence in the upper school. But you're right. The school would do well to drop the good old boy board and get with the times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went there and feel like I was lucky to go there and better off for it. If you're trying to debate how well your son will do when he's 29 based on whether he goes to Landon or st albans, then don't worry about the things that are secondary. St albans does do better at college placement--both due to higher parent affluence and better reputation--but you're options are between excellent and about as excellent. Also remember college admissions are not the end goal. I've found that st albans alums run a very high chance of being lousy employees--I know because I have had plenty work for me or ask me for a job.

I feel like 1 of 3 st albans alums is doomed to give up easily and expect that success will always be handed to them. As a result, I feel like 1 out 4 st albans kids from class of 2004-2007 still live at home with their patents and expects to get handed a job. Many of the ones that do have jobs still need mommy and daddy to support their luxurious lifestyles and $80 Saturday night bar tabs. Landon obviously has its bad apples, but I feel the school is infinitely better at teaching a few traits that really matter--like never giving up, always finding a way to win, and accepting abd learning from life's constant failures and shortcomings.

Admittedly Landon certainly had its flaws--big ones--but I feel like all dc private schools are relatively screwed up. I do think that David Armstrong was a terrible choice for Landon and I don't trust him. The same can be said of Tom Cunningham. That said, the night is darkest before the dawn and those guys HAVE to be on their way out. If you have any concerns over Landon, I recommend looking at the teachers, the men and women who will actually be running the students lives. I'm sure every school has good teachers, but I couldn't imagine better teachers and role models than mr. Botti, mr. Swinehart, mr moseley (bless his soul), Michael carter, bill reed, Andy Katz, mr Goddard, mr cabry, mr sorkin

The idea that Landon parents are less affluent than St. Albans parents is truly absurd. You need to find a better answer for STA's better college placement than crying poor. That's just one verifiably false thing in this post -- the rest is biased opinion that comes across as goofy. Although generally I think Landon takes a beating, often unfairly, posts like this really make it sound like there is a toxic alumni culture.

OP here again. I can't believe this thread is still going! Thank you for this very honest answer. What I find most revealing is the answers from Landon parents. The only people bashing Landon or being abusive in their replies are people who don't send their kids there. It obviously has a strong community, which is a plus. The fact that none of the posts from Landon parents are rude makes me more positive on the school. Thanks so much.

Just for the record, I've never met a sta boy who has a negative or spoiled attitude. I think of sta as a truly academic school where intelligence is valued.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Current landon parent affirming pp--the good and bad. Well said.

However i'm told Landon just had a record number of transfers out of middle school (between 8 and 9) which has me wondering about the cumulative impact of various challenges. It would be pretty nifty if the school could recognize that we are 12 years into a new century.

I think it says something about the lack of confidence in the upper school. But you're right. The school would do well to drop the good old boy board and get with the times.

I've heard a bunch of kids who play lacrosse transferred to Bullis. I don't know what grade or if it overlaps with these referenced transfers out of middle school. I do think the lacrosse transfers say more about Bullis' renegade status (raiding other IAC schools for athletes) than anything else. It will be interesting to see if the IAC has to adopt the type of inter-league transfer rules the Catholic Leagues had to go to, or whether momentum will build at some point to kick Bullis out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Current landon parent affirming pp--the good and bad. Well said.

However i'm told Landon just had a record number of transfers out of middle school (between 8 and 9) which has me wondering about the cumulative impact of various challenges. It would be pretty nifty if the school could recognize that we are 12 years into a new century.

If you are talking about kids who are not going to the Upper School from Form II to HS, 8 and 9 is not a record at all. Every year has about that number who decide to leave for various reasons. Some go public, some want coed schools, some go to boarding schools. Usually it is the kids that have been lifers since 3rd grade and want a change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Current landon parent affirming pp--the good and bad. Well said.

However i'm told Landon just had a record number of transfers out of middle school (between 8 and 9) which has me wondering about the cumulative impact of various challenges. It would be pretty nifty if the school could recognize that we are 12 years into a new century.

I think it says something about the lack of confidence in the upper school. But you're right. The school would do well to drop the good old boy board and get with the times.

I've heard a bunch of kids who play lacrosse transferred to Bullis. I don't know what grade or if it overlaps with these referenced transfers out of middle school. I do think the lacrosse transfers say more about Bullis' renegade status (raiding other IAC schools for athletes) than anything else. It will be interesting to see if the IAC has to adopt the type of inter-league transfer rules the Catholic Leagues had to go to, or whether momentum will build at some point to kick Bullis out.

"raiding other IAC schools?" The students should be able to transfer to any school they want. That's the competitive private school culture: sports or otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Harvard interviewer here. The SAT scandal a number of years back definitely affected the willingness to consider Landon applicants for a few years following (the data can tell the story there). That effect lasted a few years. I don't have the data to measure whether there was a post-Huguely effect.

I only know two Landon parents. One is awful. One is nice, but would be completely oblivious to any problems in terms of campus environment.

[Anonymous]

What was it about the SAT scandal that caused the concern? Wasn't it seen as a one-off?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went there and feel like I was lucky to go there and better off for it. If you're trying to debate how well your son will do when he's 29 based on whether he goes to Landon or st albans, then don't worry about the things that are secondary. St albans does do better at college placement--both due to higher parent affluence and better reputation--but you're options are between excellent and about as excellent. Also remember college admissions are not the end goal. I've found that st albans alums run a very high chance of being lousy employees--I know because I have had plenty work for me or ask me for a job.

I feel like 1 of 3 st albans alums is doomed to give up easily and expect that success will always be handed to them. As a result, I feel like 1 out 4 st albans kids from class of 2004-2007 still live at home with their patents and expects to get handed a job. Many of the ones that do have jobs still need mommy and daddy to support their luxurious lifestyles and $80 Saturday night bar tabs. Landon obviously has its bad apples, but I feel the school is infinitely better at teaching a few traits that really matter--like never giving up, always finding a way to win, and accepting abd learning from life's constant failures and shortcomings.

Admittedly Landon certainly had its flaws--big ones--but I feel like all dc private schools are relatively screwed up. I do think that David Armstrong was a terrible choice for Landon and I don't trust him. The same can be said of Tom Cunningham. That said, the night is darkest before the dawn and those guys HAVE to be on their way out. If you have any concerns over Landon, I recommend looking at the teachers, the men and women who will actually be running the students lives. I'm sure every school has good teachers, but I couldn't imagine better teachers and role models than mr. Botti, mr. Swinehart, mr moseley (bless his soul), Michael carter, bill reed, Andy Katz, mr Goddard, mr cabry, mr sorkin

Seriously? You think STA is more affluent than Landon? Seriously? You think STA, as opposed to Landon, is where boys coast because their parents will hand them a job?

I highly doubt this is a real post. It just isn't credible that someone this goofy and off-base is in a position to hire anyone at the age of 29. Not to mention the absurd argument that STA grads make lousy employees. I don't think there is any school in this area, no matter what you think of it, which you could say produces lousy employees as a matter of course.

Plus, make up your mind -- do the STA grads have a daddy-job waiting for them, or are they working for you?

Troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Harvard interviewer here. The SAT scandal a number of years back definitely affected the willingness to consider Landon applicants for a few years following (the data can tell the story there). That effect lasted a few years. I don't have the data to measure whether there was a post-Huguely effect.

I only know two Landon parents. One is awful. One is nice, but would be completely oblivious to any problems in terms of campus environment.

Oh really? Harvard interviewer on DC Urban Moms and Dads?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What was it about the SAT scandal that caused the concern? Wasn't it seen as a one-off?

It was my brother's year and yes, it was a one-off. The guys who did it are total idiots.

[Anonymous]

Re Harvard interviewer, most elite private colleges ask alums to interview candidates as a volunteer. So I find it totally believable that a Harvard alum who lives in this area and interviews kids is on this forum. Re Landon's culture, I want so badly to believe that they are building young men who value diversity, respect women, and demonstrate good sportsmanship. I really do...because ultimately this will benefit all of us.