The All Boys School Conundrum

[Anonymous]

Is there any all-boys school in this area that isn't a lightning rod for criticism by seemingly everyone on this message board? There are 18 receent pages as of now dedicated to STA's anti-equality issues. On any other given day it could easily be trashing Landon , Prep, or Gonzaga. If someone wants to send their daughter to an all-girls school, it seems to be praised as giving these girls a place to "shine, take center stage, and fill every role", but the boys' schools are more often criticized than applauded. Why is this? And what is a parent to do around here if they seek an all-boy education for their son? Is it like this with all boys' schools in other cities?

[Anonymous]

Single sex education has its advantages and disadvantages. I would try to find some academic research, even though the social sciences are admittedly undergoing a duplication problem. If your child is hip to it and you have the money the schools you’ve mentioned are world class.

When we looked into it, seems a pretty famous study said it benefited girls more due (likely) to cultural reasons. I.e girls trying to hide their light to please the boys. More options for leadership as well. Not sure at any of these elite schools this is really much of a problem. Girls seem to be encouraged more than boys these days by the culture (grrrl power and all that)...good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there any all-boys school in this area that isn't a lightning rod for criticism by seemingly everyone on this message board? There are 18 receent pages as of now dedicated to STA's anti-equality issues. On any other given day it could easily be trashing Landon , Prep, or Gonzaga. If someone wants to send their daughter to an all-girls school, it seems to be praised as giving these girls a place to "shine, take center stage, and fill every role", but the boys' schools are more often criticized than applauded. Why is this? And what is a parent to do around here if they seek an all-boy education for their son? Is it like this with all boys' schools in other cities?

St. Anselm's Abbey School

[Anonymous]

I would ignore the DCUM bias and talk to families with sons there. But almost everyone in my family attended single gender schools so I am comfortable with that option.

[Anonymous]

St. Anslem’s Abbey

[Anonymous]

Dcum is not real life. I wouldn’t let anything here impact your real world decisions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there any all-boys school in this area that isn't a lightning rod for criticism by seemingly everyone on this message board? There are 18 receent pages as of now dedicated to STA's anti-equality issues. On any other given day it could easily be trashing Landon , Prep, or Gonzaga. If someone wants to send their daughter to an all-girls school, it seems to be praised as giving these girls a place to "shine, take center stage, and fill every role", but the boys' schools are more often criticized than applauded. Why is this? And what is a parent to do around here if they seek an all-boy education for their son? Is it like this with all boys' schools in other cities?

What?! Who cares what other people say. We chose one of the schools on this list--fantastic decision in all regards. I like the school MUCH better than the other co-ed fancy school we are at, and the boys have been so much nicer than they were at progressive coed school too. You need to have a backbone and not follow the BS from other parents.

[Anonymous]

I went to an all girls school in HS and it was life changing. I actually participated in class. I was shy and felt self conscious that boys wouldn’t like me in MS so I sat mostly mute in class. I didn’t do a 180 in HS but I developed self confidence. My friends from HS are still my best friends. My son goes to an all boys school now. He’s an only child so the brotherhood aspect appealed to me. He is doing well and it’s the right place for him. He’s not athletic but there are still so many activities there that there is something for everyone. The teachers will meet with boys everyday for extra help if they need it. I wouldn’t care what people said. It’s the right place for him and I can afford it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dcum is not real life. I wouldn’t let anything here impact your real world decisions.

The Instagram posts about racism in these schools are real though, and recent dcum discussions center on those posts. There are many lovely all-boys schools in the country. I’m not sure why the ones in dc seem particularly problematic on matters of race.

[Anonymous]

SAAS is a gem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dcum is not real life. I wouldn’t let anything here impact your real world decisions.

The Instagram posts about racism in these schools are real though, and recent dcum discussions center on those posts. There are many lovely all-boys schools in the country. I’m not sure why the ones in dc seem particularly problematic on matters of race.

I'd guess it's because we just know more about the local schools. I went to an all boys HS for two years and can attest that without the presence of girls, boys unleash their inner lord of the flies. The racism is probably just how it expresses here, since our community is diverse. Are these lovely all boys schools you mention overwhelming white already?

[Anonymous]

Jealousy. Miserable sucky things are celebrated and coddled. Strong, attractive things with vitality and low numbers of mental illness diagnosis are attacked.

Happens in all walks of life.

[Anonymous]

SAAS and Damatha

It comes down to the fact that Gonzaga use to be for the poor Irish but then became for rich a-holes. Prep was always for rich a-holes so we could usually just herd them all into 1 school.

The other boys schools went coed, so having very few options is a problem. When there is no competition you lack the desire to fix the problems because ... well there is a waiting list to get in. It's a bad model.

It's too bad, Gonzaga use to be great and STJ and Good Counsel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dcum is not real life. I wouldn’t let anything here impact your real world decisions.

The Instagram posts about racism in these schools are real though, and recent dcum discussions center on those posts. There are many lovely all-boys schools in the country. I’m not sure why the ones in dc seem particularly problematic on matters of race.

I'd guess it's because we just know more about the local schools. I went to an all boys HS for two years and can attest that without the presence of girls, boys unleash their inner lord of the flies. The racism is probably just how it expresses here, since our community is diverse. Are these lovely all boys schools you mention overwhelming white already?

The all boys schools here are overwhelmingly white. How is that in such a diverse area? Answer: Design

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dcum is not real life. I wouldn’t let anything here impact your real world decisions.

The Instagram posts about racism in these schools are real though, and recent dcum discussions center on those posts. There are many lovely all-boys schools in the country. I’m not sure why the ones in dc seem particularly problematic on matters of race.

I'd guess it's because we just know more about the local schools. I went to an all boys HS for two years and can attest that without the presence of girls, boys unleash their inner lord of the flies. The racism is probably just how it expresses here, since our community is diverse. Are these lovely all boys schools you mention overwhelming white already?

Can't speak to the other schools mentioned in this thread, but St. Anselm's appears to have a real commitment to racial and economic diversity.