You do realize these schools are self-selecting, right?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hey everyone -- poise is not synonymous with "manners" or "politeness."

You're stupid for saying that! It's ridiculous to say a person can have "poise" without manners and refinement.

Not the quoted poster, but I must commend you on your very poised, articulate and mannerly response.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hey everyone -- poise is not synonymous with "manners" or "politeness."

You're stupid for saying that! It's ridiculous to say a person can have "poise" without manners and refinement.

What is "poise"?

Anonymous wrote:Hey everyone -- poise is not synonymous with "manners" or "politeness."

You're stupid for saying that! It's ridiculous to say a person can have "poise" without manners and refinement.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not gds. socially awkward is the rule.

We recently hired a GDS grad who has a tremendous amount of poise. She's also incredibly smart and hard-working.

Agree. I've been nothing short of impressed by the thoughtfulness, clarity, and ease with which GDS students speak with adults. I wish that I had had that kind of confidence when I was growing up.

There are a couple of things that I think that Sidwell does that benefits children and may (or may not) contribute to them having poise. One is that there is a big emphasis on presentation skills. This comes up in a holiday concert, a class play every year, reading aloud writing in class and other examples. Another deeply engrained tradition or tenant is Meeting for Worship, where starting in PK, the children sit in silence for half an hour. It really grounds them as they move through the years at the school and they are able to tap into a reserve of calm when it's needed. As part of the meeting they are also able to stand up in front of many people at a very young age and share a thought or feeling. I think that really sinks in for them. That said, I do agree that poise comes from many different places and a home life will have a tremendous influence on kids in this way. Also, poise has to resonate with the child or it won't really become a natural behaviour.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Poise comes largely from the example set at home, not from school.

Yes. I was going to say Mon and Dad U. It's something that might be reinforced by a school, but it's primarily taught at home.

Maybe. But there some poised kids that don't have poised siblings. I think it is a combination of so many things.

Anonymous wrote:Poise comes largely from the example set at home, not from school.

Yes. I was going to say Mon and Dad U. It's something that might be reinforced by a school, but it's primarily taught at home.

Anonymous wrote:Not gds. socially awkward is the rule.

We recently hired a GDS grad who has a tremendous amount of poise. She's also incredibly smart and hard-working.

Anonymous wrote:Miss Porter's.

EEEEEWWWWW!

Not gds. socially awkward is the rule.

Landon ... if poise is poison.

Some schools pointedly develop the raw material brought from home better than other schools do. I disagree that home life factors more heavily than the 35-40 hours a week spent on school property.

the jerks who entered my boarding school in the 9th grade remained jerks through graduation. Ball games if the lad or lass left the crib without good ole fashioned home training. Poise comes from home and not bricks and mortar.

What do kids with poise do?

Whats all this fuss about children with toys? there are schools that give out toys?