New Leadership at Landon School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
To the PP who wrote: "I am also aware of the incident at Landon where a boy brought a weapon to school. I was very unhappy that the parents were not immediately notified. I only found out through my son, and then was later informed of the incident at a "state of the school" address by Mr. Herman."

Did you mean St. Albans where Paul Herman is head of the lower school? (There wasn't a person listed on the Landon faculty with this last name who would likely give a "state of school" address. And if you did mean St. Albans (confirming what another poster claimed) I think this should be clarified because this is a serious matter.

Sorry- PP here. I meant St. Albans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This MS head is far better than the last one. That guy let the middle schoolers run his division. I hope the administration supports her.

She is amazing (as is her deputy!). She has been empowered and her guidance and leadership has taken hold. We, like the earlier poster who so accurately describe the honor code, etc., have experienced these things first hand. Anyone who would take these anonymous posts as the "truth" about any school is ill-advised.

I get the sense that there are folks on these boards who simply want to perpetuate the old stereotypes about Landon. If we started listing the litany of issues at each of the other schools and continually focused on those issue year after year, I'm sure we could brand one school the "drug" school, another the mean-anorexic-girls school, the stressed-out-anxiety school and on and on. None of those one-dimensional nasty descriptions would be any more true than the stereotypes peddled about Landon.

+100

[Anonymous]

Good luck to the new HOS. No matter where you sit on the "love/hate" Landon continuum, he no doubt has a big job ahead of him.

[Anonymous]

I know Landon tends to take a lot of HEAT on this website, I'm actually impressed with the schools facebook page and stories about old and young alums.

And YES we are considering the school for our SON this admissions season.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like it could be a new beginning for Landon. I sure hope so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know Landon tends to take a lot of HEAT on this website, I'm actually impressed with the schools facebook page and stories about old and young alums.

And YES we are considering the school for our SON this admissions season.

If you are depending on a school’s website or a Facebook page as important sources of information about a school than good luck. You are going to need it.

If I were you, I’d consider you talk to some real people about the school. Of course, you should talk to the Landon boosters. But you might want to talk to others like parents of current and graduates of the schools that Landon competes with.

Why do you suppose there is so much “HEAT”? Is this based on jealousy? Old grudges? Misperception?

And there is a lot of HEAT locally.

I’m not aware of any school locally that has so many people who harbor negative feelings about it.

The interaction between schools comes primarily in athletics. To me, Landon is Sparta. A place where competing and winning are extraordinarily important. Where the athletes are the warriors and where everyone else is just a voice in the stands. I have always believed the teacher – coach model creates this situation.
I’d shop wisely if I were you. All that smoke suggests at least some fire.

And there's a sense that the school is not as politically correct as some might like it. But, much of that seems to be pouncing on a school that you don't like with any allegation that pops up. The same behavior at other places would be ignored.

[Anonymous]

The school is what it is.

if you don't like the teacher - coach mentor model, don't look there. I don't think the school values athletics more than any other of its rival schools. Coaches, players, parents and alumni want to win.

I'm actually in favor of a school that is not too PC and reflects what life will be like post college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The school is what it is.

I don't think the school values athletics more than any other of its rival schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The school is what it is.

if you don't like the teacher - coach mentor model, don't look there. I don't think the school values athletics more than any other of its rival schools. Coaches, players, parents and alumni want to win.

I'm actually in favor of a school that is not too PC and reflects what life will be like post college.

Of course you don't think Landon puts more emphasis and more of itself into winning. You are inside fence looking out and you can't imagine what all the fuss is about.

That's fine. As you say, the school is what it is.

But people considering schools should understand just what that phrase means. What is it that it is?

I can respect the all out effort to win. But, I learned a lot about the atmosphere at the school by watching how devastated the teams were when they lost. It seemed to me a joyless place in which winning had an outsized value. Everyone wants to win. But there are degrees.

The landon people always seem to be confused by the negativity (outright dislike) they faced. I'm sure they felt they weren't doing anything different from anyone else. But they were and they continue to.

[Anonymous]

there is no difference in Landon's athletic approach compared to Georgetown Prep or Bullis or Episcopal (other teams in the IAC)

The kids want to win as do the coaches, parents and alums.

If you really think there is a huge difference in athletic philosophy between these schools, you have a hidden agenda.

[Anonymous]

But, I learned a lot about the atmosphere at the school by watching how devastated the teams were when they lost

Can you shed some light on this comment PP? And why were you watching a Landon athletic contest? Was your son playing at a RIVAL school?

[Anonymous]

Following your advice about checking out school's face book pages and I was more impressed with the content Landon and Bullis pushed out to the public vs Georgetown Prep.

Our son will most likely explore all 3 of these schools during the admissions process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

But, I learned a lot about the atmosphere at the school by watching how devastated the teams were when they lost

Can you shed some light on this comment PP? And why were you watching a Landon athletic contest? Was your son playing at a RIVAL school?

you're not trying to discredit the comment are you/

I'd recommend everyone considering any school to watch some athletic contests and the behavior of the teams. Are these kids having fun or do you see something else?

And if a particular school is roundly disliked, why is that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:there is no difference in Landon's athletic approach compared to Georgetown Prep or Bullis or Episcopal (other teams in the IAC)

The kids want to win as do the coaches, parents and alums.

If you really think there is a huge difference in athletic philosophy between these schools, you have a hidden agenda.

That you can't see it doesn't mean it isn't there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The school is what it is.

if you don't like the teacher - coach mentor model, don't look there. I don't think the school values athletics more than any other of its rival schools. Coaches, players, parents and alumni want to win.

I'm actually in favor of a school that is not too PC and reflects what life will be like post college.

I actually think this captures the traditional mindset, as represented on the Board for many years and in the majority of the alumni body. I do think some current admin/teachers/parents/Board members are committed to a broader view of education than one that labels all criticism as just "PC."