A few general thoughts on this thread--some factual clarification along with some opinion:

1. As bad as the poem was (and it was bad, as described), it was not read nor distributed in the Quaker Meeting. I believe an earlier poster said the tradition was to read it at a concert. Believe me, it shouldn't have seen the light of day anywhere, but it is not a Meeting issue.
2. From what I understand, it is a tradition (maybe since late 80s, early 90s?) for seniors to sing Jingle Bells at the end of the last Meeting before winter break, and for a "Santa" from the senior class to throw out candy. Two things were different this year. First, they did their singing early on--not at the end of meeting--and walked out and left and Meeting continued. Second, apparently some seniors threw candy forcefully AT administrators--not assault, but pretty disrespectful under the circumstances. The Headmaster stated this later in the Meeting, from what I'm told, so he at least was pretty sure this had occurred.
3. I agree with those who say to give the school a chance to respond. Anyone who has been involved with schools a good deal would, if honest, concede that poor behavior can happen even at the "best" schools. It might be a permissive environment and years of blurred lines, or maybe a bad dynamic in a group of kids or an entire grade--don't know which might apply at Sidwell. But talk to a high school teacher and I bet they will say things like "that was a great graduating class' but also "that was a bad graduating class." In other words, those schools without sin cast the first stone! Landon had its problems; last year there was a string about rude and disrespectful behavior by St. Albans boys at their graduation in the National Cathedral; Choate expelled a group of girls for nasty posts on Facebook; etc.

I do think what is important is what the school does, and hope Sidwell will try to take some meaningful action, if nothing else because it is sad that kids at what is supposed to be a progressive place in the Quaker tradition would think their poem was funny, or that it is hilarious to anonymously pelt adults with candy from the safety of a crowd.

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]
Not just at a "school function" but inside the Meeting House; a clear act of dissrespect. Can you imagine a St Alban's boy conceiving of something like this inside the National Cathedral ?? Have the parents of these young adults made a formal apology to the Meeting ?

STA boys are too busy giving each other blowjobs.

[/quote][/quote][/quote]

Congrat's, you get 1st prize as the classiest Sidwell parent this year.[/quote]



That is a creepy post. No I cannot imagine an STA boy reciting a poem about classmates on BJ's etc at Chapel and/or distributing it at school as an official Holiday document. Nor can I imagine an STA student throwing hard candy at administrators.

I guess Sidwell parents run the show. What an unsuitable environment if you don't have a kid that fits into the school cover up for wealthy piece of garbage kid sort of place.

A few comments to try to clarify things:
1. The nasty poem was not read at Meeting nor was the hard copy of it passed out at Meeting. I believe one of the early posters said this was something read at a concert. Don't get me wrong--it was indeed ugly--but it is not part of the discussion about Meeting.
2. As I understand it, there is a tradition of seniors singing Jingle Bells at the final pre-winter break Meeting, and having a "Santa" from the senior class throw out candy. What was different this year is that the seniors didn't wait till the end--they did the singing then walked out as Meeting continued. And some seniors did forcefully throw candy "at" administrators--the Headmaster said this during Meeting.
3. The anti-St. Albans crack sounds a lot like something a teenage boy would write, not a parent (even a defensive parent).
4. I don't like what I heard but agree with those who say that the school should have the chance to rein in bad behavior and it is not a Sign of The Apocalypse.
5. I do note a lot of Schadenfreud towards Sidwell on this Board--yes, of the same type seen when other schools get bad publicity. Anyone associated with schools will, if they are honest, admit that bad behavior can go on at any of these schools and yes, sometimes particular groups of kids or a grade have a negative dynamic. See Landon Maureen

[quote=Anonymous]
Not just at a "school function" but inside the Meeting House; a clear act of dissrespect. Can you imagine a St Alban's boy conceiving of something like this inside the National Cathedral ?? Have the parents of these young adults made a formal apology to the Meeting ?

STA boys are too busy giving each other blowjobs.

[/quote][/quote][/quote]

Congrat's, you get 1st prize as the classiest Sidwell parent this year.

This "tradition" must be relatively new because no part of the tradition existed when I was there in the 80's.

Not just at a "school function" but inside the Meeting House; a clear act of dissrespect. Can you imagine a St Alban's boy conceiving of something like this inside the National Cathedral ?? Have the parents of these young adults made a formal apology to the Meeting ?

STA boys are too busy giving each other blowjobs.

[/quote][/quote]

[quote=Anonymous]Jeff, I think it might be time to rename this forum the Sidwell and Other Private Schools if You Care Forum[/quote]

Let the whining and lobbying begin...let's run to Jeff and apply pressure for no more Sidwell posts because there is FINALLY a dialogue about our DC's school and, OMG ,its negative . Give me a break, "Getting into St. Albans" has over 65,000 hits and over 1,200 posts.

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I think any group of rich, spoiled teenagers can come off as "as smug and a bit nasty"...

and what exactly can the school do about something like this? There really isn't much to be done. Can't come to the meeting anymore??? Kick them out of school??? Neither are really feasible.

Maybe they should can this particular tradition. The problem with private schools is they come up with "traditions" that seem to run their course, the admins know it, the students know it, but they just keep going. I for one believe if a tradition is stupid - get rid of it. Just because you do something for a long time over and over, doesn't mean it was ever a good idea to begin with...[/quote]

So these Sidwell students wrote a mean foul poem to be read in public at a school function and distributed hard copies. They threw objects at school administration. I gather they know Sidwell would not take any action like suspension or communicate such on the school section of the application to college. If this is what is done in the face of administration imagine what happens student to student.

Not just at a "school function" but inside the Meeting House; a clear act of dissrespect. Can you imagine a St Alban's boy conceiving of something like this inside the National Cathedral ?? Have the parents of these young adults made a formal apology to the Meeting ?

[/quote]

Presuming that the Sidwell Senior Class has spent atleast 4 years absorbing Quaker traditions of the purportedly "Quaker" school and most since KDG this act makes it pretty evident that there isn't much respect for "the meeting" instilled at Sidwell after all . How did this happen? I can't imagine this act of dissrespect: reading aloud talk about blow jobs happening in a Synagogue.

[quote=Anonymous]I think any group of rich, spoiled teenagers can come off as "as smug and a bit nasty"...

and what exactly can the school do about something like this? There really isn't much to be done. Can't come to the meeting anymore??? Kick them out of school??? Neither are really feasible.

Maybe they should can this particular tradition. The problem with private schools is they come up with "traditions" that seem to run their course, the admins know it, the students know it, but they just keep going. I for one believe if a tradition is stupid - get rid of it. Just because you do something for a long time over and over, doesn't mean it was ever a good idea to begin with...[/quote]


Or the school could set the tone by not rejecting Quaker applicants in favor of the rich and entitled

The tradition is not for the seniors to throw candy "at" anyone; in past years they have thrown candy "to" the other students and faculty at the end of meeting for worship -- it's been harmless fun. Similarly, the tradition is not to write a nasty poem; it's to write something humorous and clever. Many high schools have traditions like these; certainly, we did back in the day. Most of the time, kids can figure out where the line, but sometimes they cross it and need to be reined in a bit. Parents and teachers are there to help kids understand this; it's not a new story.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think any group of rich, spoiled teenagers can come off as "as smug and a bit nasty"...

and what exactly can the school do about something like this? There really isn't much to be done. Can't come to the meeting anymore??? Kick them out of school??? Neither are really feasible.

Maybe they should can this particular tradition. The problem with private schools is they come up with "traditions" that seem to run their course, the admins know it, the students know it, but they just keep going. I for one believe if a tradition is stupid - get rid of it. Just because you do something for a long time over and over, doesn't mean it was ever a good idea to begin with...

So these Sidwell students wrote a mean foul poem to be read in public at a school function and distributed hard copies. They threw objects at school administration. I gather they know Sidwell would not take any action like suspension or communicate such on the school section of the application to college. If this is what is done in the face of administration imagine what happens student to student.

Throwing candy at everyone, including faculty and administration, is part of the tradition. They wouldn't get in trouble for that. The faculty and administration are aware that this is part of the tradition.

Jeff, I think it might be time to rename this forum the Sidwell and Other Private Schools if You Care Forum

Anonymous wrote:I think any group of rich, spoiled teenagers can come off as "as smug and a bit nasty"...

and what exactly can the school do about something like this? There really isn't much to be done. Can't come to the meeting anymore??? Kick them out of school??? Neither are really feasible.

Maybe they should can this particular tradition. The problem with private schools is they come up with "traditions" that seem to run their course, the admins know it, the students know it, but they just keep going. I for one believe if a tradition is stupid - get rid of it. Just because you do something for a long time over and over, doesn't mean it was ever a good idea to begin with...

So these Sidwell students wrote a mean foul poem to be read in public at a school function and distributed hard copies. They threw objects at school administration. I gather they know Sidwell would not take any action like suspension or communicate such on the school section of the application to college. If this is what is done in the face of administration imagine what happens student to student.

Wow, and here I thought the original post was a hoax....