St Anselm’s Abbey School — an AP mill?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it because most of the faculty is old?

no, they are just very intellectual (well, okay, there are 2-3 out of like 50 faculty that should have retired long ago, but most are just people that love to think, and love to debate and have an open flow of ideas.) Also, there is the harry-potter-like British-style house system, used for games. That is pretty unusual (although the boys seem to love it and find it fun)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess some SAAS parents are insufferable, thin-skinned, and unable to debate a topic without getting defensive and lashing out for no good reason.

No school is perfect, nobody was putting down the school, yet only voicing concern about the high emphasis on AP’s in light of all the criticism and concern over AP focused teaching in recent years. SAAS is no more special than any other top school in the areas, so stop being so petty when others bring up topics of concern.

I really don't understand this post at all. Yes, SAAS is more special. it is a quirky wonderful place. If you don't have a child there, why do you think you know how their AP classes are run? It seems to me that you are making assumptions about the school without any knowledge. And, yes, the school isn't perfect. It would be better if it had girls and would be better if less Latin were required. But the APs just are not a problem. Why do you refuse to believe this when no SAAS parent seems to think they are?

Latin is such an archaic language, Why so much emphasis on it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess some SAAS parents are insufferable, thin-skinned, and unable to debate a topic without getting defensive and lashing out for no good reason.

No school is perfect, nobody was putting down the school, yet only voicing concern about the high emphasis on AP’s in light of all the criticism and concern over AP focused teaching in recent years. SAAS is no more special than any other top school in the areas, so stop being so petty when others bring up topics of concern.

I really don't understand this post at all. Yes, SAAS is more special. it is a quirky wonderful place. If you don't have a child there, why do you think you know how their AP classes are run? It seems to me that you are making assumptions about the school without any knowledge. And, yes, the school isn't perfect. It would be better if it had girls and would be better if less Latin were required. But the APs just are not a problem. Why do you refuse to believe this when no SAAS parent seems to think they are?

Latin is such an archaic language, Why so much emphasis on it?

My SAAS graduate, who never took French for 2 years in middle school and never took Spanish, says he can get the gist of anything written in Spanish or French now.

[Anonymous]

Latin is such an archaic language, Why so much emphasis on it?

Not sure what the measure of "so much emphasis" is. The term seems to suggest that the program requires more Latin study than is reasonable, appropriate or valuable. Whether that is so seems to be an individual judgment for each student/student's parents. The program is set forth in writing on the website. Taking on the program means taking on each of its components.

Why is the study of Latin valuable?

Latin is a highly organized language. Studying it contributes to an organized mind, and to the ability to attack new intellectual material in an organized way.

Latin study is extremely rigorous. It requires hard work, fortitude, dedication, perseverance, delayed gratification. Developing these intellectual and character traits helps form the kind of person who can succeed at almost anything.

Latin requires significant memorization. A well-developed memory is a powerful tool, even in the modern age when we have so much information at our electronic fingertips.

As a PP noted, Latin is a root language and provides a basis to decide unfamiliar vocabulary in English and the various Romance languages.

A working knowledge of Latin opens up a universe of great thought in the original tongue.

Fundamentally, Latin is hard. It is supposed to be. Students who graduate from SAAS deserve respect because they have endured a hard program that has built their base of knowledge, their intellectual skills and their character.

SAAS is a highly supportive school dedicated to its students' success. But it is no cakewalk. The students work very hard. They make many sacrifices. That the school subsists after more than 75 years is testimony to how satisfied students, graduates, benefactors, colleges and employers are with the results of its program.

[Anonymous]

Really, You think memorization and then regurgitation is the way for a student to learn effectively and then succeed in real life? Of course it’s a root to most languages but to each its own

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess some SAAS parents are insufferable, thin-skinned, and unable to debate a topic without getting defensive and lashing out for no good reason.

No school is perfect, nobody was putting down the school, yet only voicing concern about the high emphasis on AP’s in light of all the criticism and concern over AP focused teaching in recent years. SAAS is no more special than any other top school in the areas, so stop being so petty when others bring up topics of concern.

I really don't understand this post at all. Yes, SAAS is more special. it is a quirky wonderful place. If you don't have a child there, why do you think you know how their AP classes are run? It seems to me that you are making assumptions about the school without any knowledge. And, yes, the school isn't perfect. It would be better if it had girls and would be better if less Latin were required. But the APs just are not a problem. Why do you refuse to believe this when no SAAS parent seems to think they are?

Latin is such an archaic language, Why so much emphasis on it?

Because it is a Catholic school run by Benedictine monks. Of course there is an emphasis on Latin. Half the student body is practicing Catholics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Latin is such an archaic language, Why so much emphasis on it?

Not sure what the measure of "so much emphasis" is. The term seems to suggest that the program requires more Latin study than is reasonable, appropriate or valuable. Whether that is so seems to be an individual judgment for each student/student's parents. The program is set forth in writing on the website. Taking on the program means taking on each of its components.

Why is the study of Latin valuable?

Latin is a highly organized language. Studying it contributes to an organized mind, and to the ability to attack new intellectual material in an organized way.

Latin study is extremely rigorous. It requires hard work, fortitude, dedication, perseverance, delayed gratification. Developing these intellectual and character traits helps form the kind of person who can succeed at almost anything.

Latin requires significant memorization. A well-developed memory is a powerful tool, even in the modern age when we have so much information at our electronic fingertips.

As a PP noted, Latin is a root language and provides a basis to decide unfamiliar vocabulary in English and the various Romance languages.

A working knowledge of Latin opens up a universe of great thought in the original tongue.

Fundamentally, Latin is hard. It is supposed to be. Students who graduate from SAAS deserve respect because they have endured a hard program that has built their base of knowledge, their intellectual skills and their character.

SAAS is a highly supportive school dedicated to its students' success. But it is no cakewalk. The students work very hard. They make many sacrifices. That the school subsists after more than 75 years is testimony to how satisfied students, graduates, benefactors, colleges and employers are with the results of its program.

What colleges are you referring to? Last time I checked SAAS college Matriculation wasn’t that impressive compared to GP or the heights this year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Really, You think memorization and then regurgitation is the way for a student to learn effectively and then succeed in real life? Of course it’s a root to most languages but to each its own

Now, did anyone actually say anything like that?

A powerful individual memory remains an extraordinary tool in the most challenging professions. Consider medicine, where physicians must commit to memory all of the intricate details of anatomy, as well as a vast body of diagnostic and pharmacological data. Or the practice of law, where the ability to recall precedents, the content of specific documents, and the details of particular witness testimony grants a competitive advantage in a world where nearly everything can be looked up but there simply is not time to do so given externally imposed deadlines.

The way to build memory skills is to memorize things. The work (memorization) is a means to an end (powerful memory). These are classic concepts. To suggest that this involves mere "regurgitation" is equivalent to suggesting that when Anne-Sophie Mutter played Beethoven's Violin Concerto, she was merely "regurgitating" the memorized score.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Really, You think memorization and then regurgitation is the way for a student to learn effectively and then succeed in real life? Of course it’s a root to most languages but to each its own

High school students don’t actually know anything. So, yes, they should be spending their time memorizing things. It’s not sexy but it’s a necessary precursor to doing everything else.

[Anonymous]

The Heights has better matriculation? Wow.

I haven’t looked in the last couple year, but last I did look, SAAS matriculation wasn’t super impressive, yet not bad either. I know that many say that the kids are steered toward the schools that give them the best financial packages, yet isn’t that done for most students in the majority of private and parochial schools around here as well?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it because most of the faculty is old?

no, they are just very intellectual (well, okay, there are 2-3 out of like 50 faculty that should have retired long ago, but most are just people that love to think, and love to debate and have an open flow of ideas.) Also, there is the harry-potter-like British-style house system, used for games. That is pretty unusual (although the boys seem to love it and find it fun)

Aren't the teachers at many of the other top private’s also big intellectuals? Those I know of are. I am not trying to say that SAAS isn’t quirky nor great as I assume it is, but this explanation as to what makes it quirky doesn’t make sense. At least in my book.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it because most of the faculty is old?

no, they are just very intellectual (well, okay, there are 2-3 out of like 50 faculty that should have retired long ago, but most are just people that love to think, and love to debate and have an open flow of ideas.) Also, there is the harry-potter-like British-style house system, used for games. That is pretty unusual (although the boys seem to love it and find it fun)

Aren't the teachers at many of the other top private’s also big intellectuals? Those I know of are. I am not trying to say that SAAS isn’t quirky nor great as I assume it is, but this explanation as to what makes it quirky doesn’t make sense. At least in my book.

okay, maybe it is just the house system, and also the dress code that is simultaneously very strict and very lax. And they are certainly more intellectual than my top public school teachers were. maybe other private school teachers are just as intellectual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it because most of the faculty is old?

no, they are just very intellectual (well, okay, there are 2-3 out of like 50 faculty that should have retired long ago, but most are just people that love to think, and love to debate and have an open flow of ideas.) Also, there is the harry-potter-like British-style house system, used for games. That is pretty unusual (although the boys seem to love it and find it fun)

Aren't the teachers at many of the other top private’s also big intellectuals? Those I know of are. I am not trying to say that SAAS isn’t quirky nor great as I assume it is, but this explanation as to what makes it quirky doesn’t make sense. At least in my book.

okay, maybe it is just the house system, and also the dress code that is simultaneously very strict and very lax. And they are certainly more intellectual than my top public school teachers were. maybe other private school teachers are just as intellectual.

The dress code is fascinating. The boys wear ties and blazer, but there are no (as far as I could ever tell) restrictions on hair length or style or facial hair. It seemed to me that the message is that school is to be taken seriously, but feel free to come as you are. I always thought that was such an empowering, unspoken message.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess some SAAS parents are insufferable, thin-skinned, and unable to debate a topic without getting defensive and lashing out for no good reason.

No school is perfect, nobody was putting down the school, yet only voicing concern about the high emphasis on AP’s in light of all the criticism and concern over AP focused teaching in recent years. SAAS is no more special than any other top school in the areas, so stop being so petty when others bring up topics of concern.

About this you are wrong-the school is very special and unique-no other place like it in the DMV. The student and parent community is amazing. For those who don’t know, just keep hating and we will keep this gem of a school to ourselves. The colleges know plenty about SAAS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it because most of the faculty is old?

no, they are just very intellectual (well, okay, there are 2-3 out of like 50 faculty that should have retired long ago, but most are just people that love to think, and love to debate and have an open flow of ideas.) Also, there is the harry-potter-like British-style house system, used for games. That is pretty unusual (although the boys seem to love it and find it fun)

Aren't the teachers at many of the other top private’s also big intellectuals? Those I know of are. I am not trying to say that SAAS isn’t quirky nor great as I assume it is, but this explanation as to what makes it quirky doesn’t make sense. At least in my book.

okay, maybe it is just the house system, and also the dress code that is simultaneously very strict and very lax. And they are certainly more intellectual than my top public school teachers were. maybe other private school teachers are just as intellectual.

The dress code is fascinating. The boys wear ties and blazer, but there are no (as far as I could ever tell) restrictions on hair length or style or facial hair. It seemed to me that the message is that school is to be taken seriously, but feel free to come as you are. I always thought that was such an empowering, unspoken message.

Also any color is allowed, including loud plaid, except for the socks. The socks must be black. The headmaster said that he can often tell when a kid is starting to feel depressed when they start violating the very few rules there are. That it can be a hint that a kid needs some extra help.