What's it really like at the Big 3?

[Anonymous]

It'll depend. How rich (or not), how powerful (or not), even how good looking (or not). That the Big 3 are populated mainly by "elite" families is an urban myth. But most are reasonably well off, reasonably powerful, and reasonably good looking. If you don't hit on 2 out of 3, you may be a "second-class" citizen. But the saving grace is that if your DC is well-liked and popular, you'll find DC, and by extension your family, will be among the "first-class," regardless of how poor, powerless, or ugly you may be.



You have got to be kidding. If you consider GDS and Sidwell in "your Big 3" you are so wrong. GDS, for one, has some really really unattractive (dare I say flat out ugly) kids and parents and some of Sidwell's aren't far behind. Ugh.

[Anonymous]

...said the narcissistic parent from a Cathedral school

Anonymous wrote:

It'll depend. How rich (or not), how powerful (or not), even how good looking (or not). That the Big 3 are populated mainly by "elite" families is an urban myth. But most are reasonably well off, reasonably powerful, and reasonably good looking. If you don't hit on 2 out of 3, you may be a "second-class" citizen. But the saving grace is that if your DC is well-liked and popular, you'll find DC, and by extension your family, will be among the "first-class," regardless of how poor, powerless, or ugly you may be.

You have got to be kidding. If you consider GDS and Sidwell in "your Big 3" you are so wrong. GDS, for one, has some really really unattractive (dare I say flat out ugly) kids and parents and some of Sidwell's aren't far behind. Ugh.[/quote]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:...said the narcissistic parent from a Cathedral school

Anonymous wrote:

It'll depend. How rich (or not), how powerful (or not), even how good looking (or not). That the Big 3 are populated mainly by "elite" families is an urban myth. But most are reasonably well off, reasonably powerful, and reasonably good looking. If you don't hit on 2 out of 3, you may be a "second-class" citizen. But the saving grace is that if your DC is well-liked and popular, you'll find DC, and by extension your family, will be among the "first-class," regardless of how poor, powerless, or ugly you may be.

You have got to be kidding. If you consider GDS and Sidwell in "your Big 3" you are so wrong. GDS, for one, has some really really unattractive (dare I say flat out ugly) kids and parents and some of Sidwell's aren't far behind. Ugh.[/quote]

No, I think it's clear that sometimes kids log on and post to this forum.

[Anonymous]

According to these posts, it seems that STA doesn't treat AA faculty members very well. If that's the case, I find that disheartening and I hope that STA AA students (and other minorities) do not receive similar treatment. NO ONE deserves to be treated like a second class citizen.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which school are you referring to?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd like to think that the parents at my child's school treat one another the same regardless of socioecomic class, but I was most astonished to find that a current parent who is African-American and to who seems virtually shunned at school events is actually an alumnus who attended the school on scholarship and was a varsity athlete! I learned this when I came across his name in the school directory with his year of graduation after it, as all alumni are designated. Could it be that race and FA status are insurmountable barriers at this school? Are other parents perhaps unaware that this parent is an alumnus? As a member of a minority group (though not African-American) and a relatively new parent at this school, I have felt like an outsider at school events, but I don't know how much of this is my being relatively new, my seeming aloof (as I have been told since I was eight years old!), my being a minority, other parents' being shy, other parents' being exclusive . . . . Who knows?

At my son's school, an AA alum with an ivy league degree and who is quite intelligent has worked there as a coach for almost 20 years and has never been invited to teach in a classroom. Not surprising given that there's only 2 male AA teachers at the school. Usually alum at this school are teacher-coaches.

STA

Is the person to whom you are referring a full-time coach at STA who coaches or oversees the coaching of several sports, as opposed to coaching one sport and teachin one subject as the teacher-coaches at STA do? If his position is a full-time coaching position, then I could understand why he does not also teach a course. STA has at least one AA male teacher who teaches but does NOT coach a sport, so it seems they have a variety of positions along the spectrum extending from teaching to coaching.

I haven't compared numbers, but I would guess that STA's faculty diversity is not less than similar private schools' in th DC area.

I'm an STA parent, so you and I are posting about the same school, for I am also the one who posted at 07:27 about the AA alum who was a varsity athlete and whom I see everyone else ignoring. I have never met him, and I would not feel comfortable asking him, upon meeting, whether he feels shunned.

[Anonymous]

That is utter bullcr$p. STA treats ALL faculty members well, including any AA ones. There is one 8th grade English AA man who is revered by his students. There is a 4th grade AA woman who is also greatly appreciated despite the disappointment of some to get a female teacher, since the other 2 home room 4th grade teachers are male. Those in her class love her. Plenty of other examples too.

Many other examples, but the head of the lower school would never stand for any mistreatment of faculty members. The whole previous posting about someone not getting to teach and "just" being a coach is not because the man is being mistreated. It must be like a PP said because he chose not to teach, doesn't like it, doesn't want to, does other things or some other reason. But a coach who has lasted there 20 years is unlikely to stay if he were mistreated.

So whomever wants to slam STA get lost. You do not know what you are talking about. I'd venture to guess you are unlikely to be a current family in the school as you are spouting nonsense.

The faculty diversity at STA is pretty good actually and it is a good thing to see.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

It'll depend. How rich (or not), how powerful (or not), even how good looking (or not). That the Big 3 are populated mainly by "elite" families is an urban myth. But most are reasonably well off, reasonably powerful, and reasonably good looking. If you don't hit on 2 out of 3, you may be a "second-class" citizen. But the saving grace is that if your DC is well-liked and popular, you'll find DC, and by extension your family, will be among the "first-class," regardless of how poor, powerless, or ugly you may be.

You have got to be kidding. If you consider GDS and Sidwell in "your Big 3" you are so wrong. GDS, for one, has some really really unattractive (dare I say flat out ugly) kids and parents and some of Sidwell's aren't far behind. Ugh.

Have to agree with this based on attending HS sports games at nearly all the independent schools over the last couple of years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It'll depend. How rich (or not), how powerful (or not), even how good looking (or not). That the Big 3 are populated mainly by "elite" families is an urban myth. But most are reasonably well off, reasonably powerful, and reasonably good looking. If you don't hit on 2 out of 3, you may be a "second-class" citizen. But the saving grace is that if your DC is well-liked and popular, you'll find DC, and by extension your family, will be among the "first-class," regardless of how poor, powerless, or ugly you may be.

You have got to be kidding. If you consider GDS and Sidwell in "your Big 3" you are so wrong. GDS, for one, has some really really unattractive (dare I say flat out ugly) kids and parents and some of Sidwell's aren't far behind. Ugh.

Have to agree with this based on attending HS sports games at nearly all the independent schools over the last couple of years.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present the winner of the "Most Obvious Troll" Award for 2010 ....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That is utter bullcr$p. STA treats ALL faculty members well, including any AA ones. There is one 8th grade English AA man who is revered by his students. There is a 4th grade AA woman who is also greatly appreciated despite the disappointment of some to get a female teacher, since the other 2 home room 4th grade teachers are male. Those in her class love her. Plenty of other examples too.

Many other examples, but the head of the lower school would never stand for any mistreatment of faculty members. The whole previous posting about someone not getting to teach and "just" being a coach is not because the man is being mistreated. It must be like a PP said because he chose not to teach, doesn't like it, doesn't want to, does other things or some other reason. But a coach who has lasted there 20 years is unlikely to stay if he were mistreated.

So whomever wants to slam STA get lost. You do not know what you are talking about. I'd venture to guess you are unlikely to be a current family in the school as you are spouting nonsense.

The faculty diversity at STA is pretty good actually and it is a good thing to see.

There are three, AA teachers in the lower school. And, two AA teachers in the upper school and they all are highly regarded. Two of these teachers are male and neither are alumni. The ivy-league educated, AA alumni who has been employed as a coach there for over 20 years probably isn't interested in teaching at STA for good reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It'll depend. How rich (or not), how powerful (or not), even how good looking (or not). That the Big 3 are populated mainly by "elite" families is an urban myth. But most are reasonably well off, reasonably powerful, and reasonably good looking. If you don't hit on 2 out of 3, you may be a "second-class" citizen. But the saving grace is that if your DC is well-liked and popular, you'll find DC, and by extension your family, will be among the "first-class," regardless of how poor, powerless, or ugly you may be.

You have got to be kidding. If you consider GDS and Sidwell in "your Big 3" you are so wrong. GDS, for one, has some really really unattractive (dare I say flat out ugly) kids and parents and some of Sidwell's aren't far behind. Ugh.

Have to agree with this based on attending HS sports games at nearly all the independent schools over the last couple of years.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present the winner of the "Most Obvious Troll" Award for 2010 ....

No, I think this poster is correct. But, correct as to most kids in high school. The hormones are raging. Faces are pimpled. Hair is growing. They're butt ugly. All of them. The only ones who aren't are doped up on accutane, and they'll probably kill someone.

[Anonymous]

Instead of all of this speculation about how the AA coach is being treated, why doesn't someone just ask him why he doesn't teach in the classroom? We have one side claiming that STA discriminates against the coach and won't let him teach. Then we have the other side claiming that racism couldn't possibly exist at an institution as fine as STA. However, no one will know the truth, unless someone simply asks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is utter bullcr$p. STA treats ALL faculty members well, including any AA ones. There is one 8th grade English AA man who is revered by his students. There is a 4th grade AA woman who is also greatly appreciated despite the disappointment of some to get a female teacher, since the other 2 home room 4th grade teachers are male. Those in her class love her. Plenty of other examples too.

Many other examples, but the head of the lower school would never stand for any mistreatment of faculty members. The whole previous posting about someone not getting to teach and "just" being a coach is not because the man is being mistreated. It must be like a PP said because he chose not to teach, doesn't like it, doesn't want to, does other things or some other reason. But a coach who has lasted there 20 years is unlikely to stay if he were mistreated.

So whomever wants to slam STA get lost. You do not know what you are talking about. I'd venture to guess you are unlikely to be a current family in the school as you are spouting nonsense.

The faculty diversity at STA is pretty good actually and it is a good thing to see.

There are three, AA teachers in the lower school. And, two AA teachers in the upper school and they all are highly regarded. Two of these teachers are male and neither are alumni. The ivy-league educated, AA alumni who has been employed as a coach there for over 20 years probably isn't interested in teaching at STA for good reason.

[Anonymous]

The fact that the Coach has continued to coach there must mean something to someone! Isn't that enough evidence to prove the original poster is just stirring thepot for no reason? The man has an Ivy league education. Great but doesn't mean he has to/wants to teach!!

He would be in demand anywhere else, given the sport he coaches. To me, that is eveidence enough. I've sat next to him at dinners and he has never spoken about wanting to teach or not getting to teach. He seemed, to me, to be happy at STA. Why would I ask him anything about teaching then? It would be like someone asking me why I don't do the million things I don't do. If he were not treated well, why would he still be there?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The fact that the Coach has continued to coach there must mean something to someone! Isn't that enough evidence to prove the original poster is just stirring thepot for no reason? The man has an Ivy league education. Great but doesn't mean he has to/wants to teach!!

He would be in demand anywhere else, given the sport he coaches. To me, that is eveidence enough. I've sat next to him at dinners and he has never spoken about wanting to teach or not getting to teach. He seemed, to me, to be happy at STA. Why would I ask him anything about teaching then? It would be like someone asking me why I don't do the million things I don't do. If he were not treated well, why would he still be there?!

I suppose the school decides what coaches they will request also teach. Too bad that STA has some unqualified coach-teachers in the classroom.

[Anonymous]

Who said there are unqualified teacher coaches in the classroom?!

Quit slamming STA.

As another STA parent wrote, teachers are teachers first there. Some double up as coaches, and are very good (ie lacrosse, baseball, among others). Not all teachers coach, not all coaches teach. Some do both and I have yet to find an unqualified teacher at the school. There are some my son did not like, but not because they were unqualified!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who said there are unqualified teacher coaches in the classroom?!

Quit slamming STA.

As another STA parent wrote, teachers are teachers first there. Some double up as coaches, and are very good (ie lacrosse, baseball, among others). Not all teachers coach, not all coaches teach. Some do both and I have yet to find an unqualified teacher at the school. There are some my son did not like, but not because they were unqualified!

Off the top of my head, it's laughable that the baseball coach is a Form C teacher.

Not a slam, it's the truth that STA has some coaches teaching who are unqualified. I suppose they go to admin and ask to teach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is utter bullcr$p. STA treats ALL faculty members well, including any AA ones. There is one 8th grade English AA man who is revered by his students. There is a 4th grade AA woman who is also greatly appreciated despite the disappointment of some to get a female teacher, since the other 2 home room 4th grade teachers are male. Those in her class love her. Plenty of other examples too.

Many other examples, but the head of the lower school would never stand for any mistreatment of faculty members. The whole previous posting about someone not getting to teach and "just" being a coach is not because the man is being mistreated. It must be like a PP said because he chose not to teach, doesn't like it, doesn't want to, does other things or some other reason. But a coach who has lasted there 20 years is unlikely to stay if he were mistreated.

So whomever wants to slam STA get lost. You do not know what you are talking about. I'd venture to guess you are unlikely to be a current family in the school as you are spouting nonsense.

The faculty diversity at STA is pretty good actually and it is a good thing to see.

There are three, AA teachers in the lower school. And, two AA teachers in the upper school and they all are highly regarded. Two of these teachers are male and neither are alumni. The ivy-league educated, AA alumni who has been employed as a coach there for over 20 years probably isn't interested in teaching at STA for good reason.

...are more AA teachers in the upper school.