Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have three kids, all of them, at Sidwell. For all its warts, it is a kind culture. This is one area where the Quaker stuff helps. However, like any school, a couple of bad apples can ruin the dynamic in a particular grade/class.

I love it, "Quaker stuff." Now I understand why true Quakers aren't necessarily attracted to Sidwell.

TF, is that you?

OK, seriously, I'm another PP (not the one that the "true Quakers" poster is responding to) and our kids have actually been incredibly lucky, with all 3 in classes that are known for having nice kids. That said, I don't think the school's culture in the upper grades is all about kindness; rather, I think the many nice kids at Sidwell come from families that value kindness. (And, no, I don't think you can say that the LS is responsible for their being nice kids -- by the time you get to the UP, the lifers are a pretty small minority.) I don't mean that Sidwell's culture is unkind or mean, but that it's more about achievement, wit, competition.

Sheridan, at every level.

Anonymous wrote:Not Sidwell.

Any school that subjects the parents to a surprise essay during their visit is not a nice place.

And it begins again...

Anonymous wrote:I have three kids, all of them, at Sidwell. For all its warts, it is a kind culture. This is one area where the Quaker stuff helps. However, like any school, a couple of bad apples can ruin the dynamic in a particular grade/class.

I love it, "Quaker stuff." Now I understand why true Quakers aren't necessarily attracted to Sidwell.

WES!

Anonymous wrote:I have three kids, all of them, at Sidwell. For all its warts, it is a kind culture. This is one area where the Quaker stuff helps. However, like any school, a couple of bad apples can ruin the dynamic in a particular grade/class.

+1

Anonymous wrote:I think this is a ridculous question.

What school sets out to have an "unkind" culture? None.

The school can't weed on personality all the time and kids change.

Also, what you see on tours and open house and parents you meet before you are in the school, is everyone putting their best foot forward to market the school.

No school sets out to have an unkind culture, but if they don't actively pursue a kind culture, its what will happen. The school has to counter all the negative competitive pressures from parents.

I have three kids, all of them, at Sidwell. For all its warts, it is a kind culture. This is one area where the Quaker stuff helps. However, like any school, a couple of bad apples can ruin the dynamic in a particular grade/class.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not Sidwell.

I disagree. Almost all people I've met in lower school are genuinely nice, and school works hard to encourage similar attitude in children. Maybe I have a little more personal experience there though.

Things change in the MS and the US. We have been pleased enough with Sidwell to send 3 kids there, but I would have to agree that kindness is not a core value of the school in the upper grades. The culture emphasizes competition and achievement. Tolerance or acceptance might be as warm and fuzzy as it gets, but not really kindness.

Anonymous wrote:I think this is a ridculous question.

What school sets out to have an "unkind" culture? None.

The school can't weed on personality all the time and kids change.

Also, what you see on tours and open house and parents you meet before you are in the school, is everyone putting their best foot forward to market the school.

OP here. It's fine if you think it's a ridiculous question. It's not to me.

I'm sure some schools are more known than others for what I would call "personhood," and for a focus on helping kids develop in ways that enhance genuine happiness and well being over the lifespan. I want to hear about those schools.

I agree with previous posters. However, some schools are set up more to be institutions rather than communities. Some schools demand students to be independent learners. Others have large class/grade size so they don't develop a nurturing relationship with teacher they would in a smaller environment.

I would check out some of the smaller schools in MoCo. Ones that come to mind are Sandy Spring Friends, Christ Episcopal, WES, just to name a few.

Anonymous wrote:I think this is a ridculous question.

What school sets out to have an "unkind" culture? None.

The school can't weed on personality all the time and kids change.

Also, what you see on tours and open house and parents you meet before you are in the school, is everyone putting their best foot forward to market the school.

No school sets out to have an unkind culture but if you've been to one (or your child has) with one, you know what it is and you know why it's important to avoid it if possible. Some schools have particularly kind cultures. If you've been involved with one of these schools, you know it. I'm soot you haven't and you can't contribute to the conversation.

Anonymous wrote:Field. Its a special place.

Agreed. But since it starts in 6th grade and OP posted that they were interested in schools that go thru 8th or 12th, I figured OP has a younger student.

I think this is a ridculous question.

What school sets out to have an "unkind" culture? None.

The school can't weed on personality all the time and kids change.

Also, what you see on tours and open house and parents you meet before you are in the school, is everyone putting their best foot forward to market the school.