This is from Holton's website about their win--what do others think about the way this is written?

At the September 21 taping of “It’s Academic”, Captain Kayla Moffett '14, and her teammates Megan Horey '14 and Glenda Smerin '15 sailed to a spellbinding win over Osborne Park and Park View High Schools. Their score at game’s end was 805 which set a new record for the Holton team and falls just 10 points shy of the all-time "It’s Academic" record. Osborne Park and Park View struggled to stay afloat with totals of 360 and 340 respectively.

Save the one occasion on which Osborne Park hit the buzzer in the final round, Holton did not miss a beat – or a question. To watch as they figured out the question before host Hilary Howard could finish reading it and provided one correct answer after another was truly a sight to behold. The team’s lightning fast reflexes elicited an audible laugh of incredulity from the studio audience at one point in the game as a picture of a Monarch butterfly flashed on the screen, Howard barely had uttered the words “moth and butterfly” before Holton buzzed in and Moffett confidently responded, “Lepidoptera.”

Congrats to these talented and intelligent young women who have dedicated so much of their time and energy to “It’s Academic”. Be sure to watch the show when it airs at 11 a.m. on October 19 on NBC4.

Anonymous wrote:Some of the posters seem really hostile here. Not sure why the mere mention of the word "Holton" causes so much unrest. If you don't like the school -- why are you continuing to come to this thread? Weird. Maybe you have an old axe to grind? I know when my kid didn't get into Sidwell -- I thought it sucked...I certainly didn't tear the school down on an anonymous post like some folks here.

PS. None of us is "tearing the school down." We're tearing the boosters down. Huge difference. This difference has been pointed out many times.

Anonymous wrote:Some of the posters seem really hostile here. Not sure why the mere mention of the word "Holton" causes so much unrest. If you don't like the school -- why are you continuing to come to this thread? Weird. Maybe you have an old axe to grind? I know when my kid didn't get into Sidwell -- I thought it sucked...I certainly didn't tear the school down on an anonymous post like some folks here.

If you're talking to me (just one of the people annoyed by the boosting), DC never even applied to Holton. DC got into NCS but decided to attend a different school that was a better fit. So you can drop the whole "axe to grind" thing.

As I said before, I'm simply trying to take a little time out to explain to the boosters exactly why their boosting is so annoying to MANY posters, and why they should cut out the boosting. View it as a public service, if you will. I'm done trying to get through that booster's self-absorbed thick skull, because it seems so hopeless and she seems so very self-absorbed. So I won't be posting any more unless additional people like you challenge my integrity....

Some of the posters seem really hostile here. Not sure why the mere mention of the word "Holton" causes so much unrest. If you don't like the school -- why are you continuing to come to this thread? Weird. Maybe you have an old axe to grind? I know when my kid didn't get into Sidwell -- I thought it sucked...I certainly didn't tear the school down on an anonymous post like some folks here.

I can only speak for myself, but there is zero chance that my choice of school for my children would be influenced by the fact that head of the IMF attended a school for one year or that the scion of a powerful Washington family attended a school (much less some relatively obscure author or news reader). That said, I believe that deciding on the right “fit” is a very personal decision and I know that every person has their own criteria for what is and is not important in making that decision. So as far as I’m concerned the more information the better. Ignore it if you don’t like it or don’t think it is important, but don’t try to impose your beliefs on what is or is not important.

It's not just me. I didn't write "welcome back Holton mom" on the first page, nor did I write the mocking doggerel.

Lots of us are annoyed by this crass attempt to use DCUM as a marketing tool for a single school. I thought I'd spend a few moments trying to explain why, so maybe the Holton marketing team would knock it off. Looks like PP doesn't want to hear it, she just wants to pretend that any annoying behavior on her part is someone else's problem.

Have a good day.

Anonymous wrote:How to explain this. If some PPs say they find Holton boosterism childish and annoying, it's probably because this is what they actually think and feel. It doesn't even really matter why they think this. Whether PPs think Holton is trying to improve its reputation by manipulating social media. Or PPs think DCUM is an inappropriate outlet for school "spirit" aka boosterism that should be confined to the Holton listserve. Or PPs notice that not a single other school engages in the sort of boosterism you see from Holton parents, and they don't want to see DCUM turn into war between cheerleaders for different privates, to the point where we're tripping over threads about Brit Hume and Sidwell. Or PPs suspect the school wants to increase applications and lower its admissions rates. Or whatnot. It's irrelevant why PPs find all the boosterism annoying.

The fact remains, plenty of posters have written they find the boosters annoying. Telling these PPs to seek professional help is the absolute wrong way to solve this problem, because the concerns described above are perfectly reasonable and you just look like a jerk. Reassessing the boosterism is the way to solve this problem.

New poster here. A non-Holton parent started the thread and maybe didn't understand "your" version of the DCUM's posting rules so I guess that gave you the right to go on a multi-page negative rant that seems to have consumed a good portion of your day. So what if someone posted about the 2 Emmy wins a month ago and now a high score on It's Academic. I come here occasionally and look for Holton info, good or bad. I didn't even know about this win and I am glad the person posted it. Sometimes I click on other school posts if they are generalized but I mainly just ignore anything that doesnt concern me, my kids or the schools they go to. I am not sure why you can't.

Anonymous wrote:For those of you who think that the opinions of some folks on DCUM are going to hurt Holton. I invite you to check out an Open House or one of the weekly group tours. There you will see first-hand just how many girls are interested in Holton despite the alleged” Boosterism.” Trust me; Holton is not affected by the bitter minority that hoovers on DCUM looking to call out people who express pride in Holton.

Tone deaf.

I'm off to start some threads about famous Landon graduates. I think you've identified DCUM's true purpose, and that should be to provide a bulletin board for superficial fluff about schools. But only the positive fluff, mind you. And masses and masses of fluff.

For those of you who think that the opinions of some folks on DCUM are going to hurt Holton. I invite you to check out an Open House or one of the weekly group tours. There you will see first-hand just how many girls are interested in Holton despite the alleged” Boosterism.” Trust me; Holton is not affected by the bitter minority that hoovers on DCUM looking to call out people who express pride in Holton.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How to explain this. If some PPs say they find Holton boosterism childish and annoying, it's probably because this is what they actually think and feel. It doesn't even really matter why they think this. Whether PPs think Holton is trying to improve its reputation by manipulating social media. Or PPs think DCUM is an inappropriate outlet for school "spirit" aka boosterism that should be confined to the Holton listserve. Or PPs notice that not a single other school engages in the sort of boosterism you see from Holton parents, and they don't want to see DCUM turn into war between cheerleaders for different privates, to the point where we're tripping over threads about Brit Hume and Sidwell. Or PPs suspect the school wants to increase applications and lower its admissions rates. Or whatnot. It's irrelevant why PPs find all the boosterism annoying.

The fact remains, plenty of posters have written they find the boosters annoying. Telling these PPs to seek professional help is the absolute wrong way to solve this problem, because the concerns described above are perfectly reasonable and you just look like a jerk. Reassessing the boosterism is the way to solve this problem.

Not sure how you know what plenty of people think - for all we know you may be posting multiple messages here. The term "boosterism" itself is a bit jerk like - if you ask me. There is another alternative to the false choice between censorship and the end of DCUM as we know it - how about you ignore threads that bother you?

I'm quite sure that, on this single thread, there is at least one other poster besides me who is criticizing the boosterism. You might be right, and maybe this other poster has posted multiple times. Somehow, given the experience on the many other booster threads, I doubt it.

I can't help you, if you refuse to see how you're hurting the school by prompting so many different types of eyerolling.

Anonymous wrote:How to explain this. If some PPs say they find Holton boosterism childish and annoying, it's probably because this is what they actually think and feel. It doesn't even really matter why they think this. Whether PPs think Holton is trying to improve its reputation by manipulating social media. Or PPs think DCUM is an inappropriate outlet for school "spirit" aka boosterism that should be confined to the Holton listserve. Or PPs notice that not a single other school engages in the sort of boosterism you see from Holton parents, and they don't want to see DCUM turn into war between cheerleaders for different privates, to the point where we're tripping over threads about Brit Hume and Sidwell. Or PPs suspect the school wants to increase applications and lower its admissions rates. Or whatnot. It's irrelevant why PPs find all the boosterism annoying.

The fact remains, plenty of posters have written they find the boosters annoying. Telling these PPs to seek professional help is the absolute wrong way to solve this problem, because the concerns described above are perfectly reasonable and you just look like a jerk. Reassessing the boosterism is the way to solve this problem.

Not sure how you know what plenty of people think - for all we know you may be posting multiple messages here. The term "boosterism" itself is a bit jerk like - if you ask me. There is another alternative to the false choice between censorship and the end of DCUM as we know it - how about you ignore threads that bother you?

How to explain this. If some PPs say they find Holton boosterism childish and annoying, it's probably because this is what they actually think and feel. It doesn't even really matter why they think this. Whether PPs think Holton is trying to improve its reputation by manipulating social media. Or PPs think DCUM is an inappropriate outlet for school "spirit" aka boosterism that should be confined to the Holton listserve. Or PPs notice that not a single other school engages in the sort of boosterism you see from Holton parents, and they don't want to see DCUM turn into war between cheerleaders for different privates, to the point where we're tripping over threads about Brit Hume and Sidwell. Or PPs suspect the school wants to increase applications and lower its admissions rates. Or whatnot. It's irrelevant why PPs find all the boosterism annoying.

The fact remains, plenty of posters have written they find the boosters annoying. Telling these PPs to seek professional help is the absolute wrong way to solve this problem, because the concerns described above are perfectly reasonable and you just look like a jerk. Reassessing the boosterism is the way to solve this problem.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow...what a bunch of HATERS on this thread! Why would any normal, rational adult resort to bashing kids who are being praised for academic excellence? Go Holton...keep up the good work girls!

You missed the point. The issue is, why would any normal, rational adult resort to constant boosterism on DCUM? Nobody begrudges the Holton girls. They begrudge the parents who keep running to DCUM to plug trivial things like Emmy appearances.

It's called School Pride. I'm sorry that you have never experienced it. School Pride is huge at Holton...if it bothers you so much stop opening the thread and just move on.

It's called immaturity and insecurity. Your ad hominem attacks are another side of immaturity and insecurity, like telling people to get professional help and claiming they must not have school pride. Grow up.

You have no clue how you're hurting Holton's rep, do you? Did you ever wonder why you never see Sidwell parents plugging Brashares? Take a leaf from the book of a school with confident parents.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow...what a bunch of HATERS on this thread! Why would any normal, rational adult resort to bashing kids who are being praised for academic excellence? Go Holton...keep up the good work girls!

You missed the point. The issue is, why would any normal, rational adult resort to constant boosterism on DCUM? Nobody begrudges the Holton girls. They begrudge the parents who keep running to DCUM to plug trivial things like Emmy appearances.

It's called School Pride. I'm sorry that you have never experienced it. School Pride is huge at Holton...if it bothers you so much stop opening the thread and just move on.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow...what a bunch of HATERS on this thread! Why would any normal, rational adult resort to bashing kids who are being praised for academic excellence? Go Holton...keep up the good work girls!

You missed the point. The issue is, why would any normal, rational adult resort to constant boosterism on DCUM? Nobody begrudges the Holton girls. They begrudge the parents who keep running to DCUM to plug trivial things like Emmy appearances.

Why are you so bothered by what you see as "boosterism?" You may need professional help to understand that. I'm not kidding.

Why are you so bothered that your boosterism rubs people the wrong way? It's the internet, where if you act like a baby, people will say so.