Kids and Stress top school’s rates

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell 10+

I graduated a few years ago but even then it was a 10+. I played a sport every season or was in a play/musical, was on the yearbook, and did community service outside of school and did 4 hours of homework a night and then 6-10 hours of homework on the weekend. I did well, and while I wouldn't say I was unhappy, it was a huge slog. I never felt like I could have a day off or take a break because I'd get behind and not be able to catch up.

It just seems unnecessary. Are they training you to be an associate?

NP. I had a very similar schedule taking AP classes & doing sports at a public school most people here would sneer at.

I don’t know what the solution is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCUM parents on these threads seem to sort into two groups:

1. Kids are raw dough to be shaped, pounded, and cooked into the right shape under high heat. The best kids thrive. The others fall back. Too bad. It's a competitive world.

2. Where can my kids have the best life experience and still do well enough academically to succeed in life later on?

The two camps DO NOT share any common ground, apparently.

This is spot-on and one of the most insightful posts I've seen on DCUM in years.

Pure pablum.

Most DCUM parents want a challenging school with a rigorous curriculum but also want their kids to be well-rounded and happy.

You can have both if you are OK with Bs and great colleges outside of the prestige arena (which is the happiest place to be).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I say this sincerely. The thought of a teenage *liking* three hours of homework every night makes me sad. You are only a teen once for a few years. Teens should be doing activities after school and have time with friends and family. They don't need to be stressed out all the time.

+1. If she wanted to do ANY school activity, that puts her working on homework until late at night. That’s just awful.

[Anonymous]

Would love to hear from some Maret, GDS, and Holton parents on this. Our girls are still young but I can’t fathom an environment like some described above. Just doesn’t sound like a good fit for my kids.

[Anonymous]

Maret and I’d say 4. Perfect balance for our family and the kids generally go to similar colleges as 3-4 hour homework schools

[Anonymous]

Agree that Maret provides balance. They actively try to be the “challenging but joyful” alternative to Sidwell/Cathedral/etc, and they seem to be succeeding for the most part. Kids are getting great education and going to great colleges, but most don’t seem overly stressed or competitive with each other. We chose the school for this reason and have been happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I say this sincerely. The thought of a teenage *liking* three hours of homework every night makes me sad. You are only a teen once for a few years. Teens should be doing activities after school and have time with friends and family. They don't need to be stressed out all the time.

You have a narrow view of what a teen “should” feel or do. I didn’t enjoy every moment of homework, obviously, but I loved figuring out really tough problems and getting to that “aha” moment when you realize what your paper has to say. Some kids really do enjoy that type of challenge - and can still find time to hang out and enjoy other activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maret and I’d say 4. Perfect balance for our family and the kids generally go to similar colleges as 3-4 hour homework schools

However, Maret is much smaller than the other schools mentioned. It makes for a hard admit. Good luck getting in!

[Anonymous]

How about Holton, Stone Ridge, Holy Cross, Holy Child? TY

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NCS 100

NCS is stressful for some girls and not stressful at all for others.

Fit is very important for this school.

Can you elaborate on this? What makes it stressful for some?

The level of academics is a great fit for some and a very poor fit for others. If your daughter enjoys learning and working very hard--3 hours of homework a night---GREAT fit. I'm not being sarcastic.
This is a dream school for this type of girls.
For others, it's a poor fit. There are easier schools.

It's not about intelligence--it's about diligence and being the kind of kid who just likes to study, study, study. They exist and they thrive at NCS.

I have two daughters. One is absolutely thriving at NCS (high school). She gets straight As. She enjoys learning for learning's sake.
We are sending our second daughter to a different school. She needs more down time.

Reading this me makes me stressed! I was that kid who loved school and learning but I could have never done 3 hours every night.

Public school AP/IB kids do that.

Kids on the honors or AP track at most schools do 2-4hrs of homework a night. If they do a sport or activity they are not going to bed until late. I distinctly remember being up at 10:30pm the first day of Senior year working on a map for AP Euro. There were several nights I was too tired so just went to bed earlier but then got up at 2/3am to finish.

[Anonymous]

Adding to the Maret choir. Asked my kid, new 9th grader, to rank stress level. 4. Great balance. Very very happy. Hope the new head doesn’t change this!!

[Anonymous]

He spoke about the school’s balanced approach and emphasis on wellness during his parent meeting. The school admin knows that families choose Maret for this reason, so I don’t see it changing. Thankfully!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I say this sincerely. The thought of a teenage *liking* three hours of homework every night makes me sad. You are only a teen once for a few years. Teens should be doing activities after school and have time with friends and family. They don't need to be stressed out all the time.

+1000 THIS.
For those administrators and pressure cookers who pretend to “care for” kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I say this sincerely. The thought of a teenage *liking* three hours of homework every night makes me sad. You are only a teen once for a few years. Teens should be doing activities after school and have time with friends and family. They don't need to be stressed out all the time.

+1000 THIS.
To those administrators and pressure cookers who pretend to “care for” kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I say this sincerely. The thought of a teenage *liking* three hours of homework every night makes me sad. You are only a teen once for a few years. Teens should be doing activities after school and have time with friends and family. They don't need to be stressed out all the time.

+1000 THIS.
For those administrators and pressure cookers who pretend to “care for” kids.

Then don't apply to schools that are known to have this degree of homework. I just don't get parents who, despite schools such as NCS having a 50+-year history of being one of the most rigorous schools in the DC area, and one of the top girls' schools in the country, have their daughters apply there, only to then complain about the level of work. A parent above suggested that the school should somehow take into consideration lifers who, in order to move to another school, would have to give up their friend groups and start anew at a new school. That's an unenviable position, to be sure, but it comes down to the school being a bad fit for your DD and you having to make tough decisions that are good for her. Add on the pressure of parents who think anything short of an A- is unacceptable, and students over-studying or studying inefficiently (making study guides the size of novellas) as a result, and you get a bunch of anxious kids.