My son is a January birthday and not (age-wise) a candidate for holding back. Despite having a superior IQ and no learning disabilities, he was not doing well in MCPS. In fact, none of his teachers there knew much about his academic capabilities. We did not red-shirt him for sports, but for his academics. We sent him to Mater Dei to repeat 6th grade and it has been a dream. He has developed strong study habits and he has learned to wear a belt, a tie and dress shoes (something he would only have fought me on in public school). He has made friends for life and his teachers know him well. We are not Catholic, do not belong to Columbia CC and are not even white. The organized sports are a plus - not all of the boys are athletes, and that is just fine. His class is at least 20% minority - blacks and Asians. The curriculum is very basic - no bells, whistles or frills - just a good solid education in a religious environment.

Most of the negative talk about the school seems to be based on rumor and ignorance.

Btw^^ I hate golf so no Columbia cc , lol

Lol... ^^
My best friends are from high school (Churchill )and elementary school. You never have friends like the ones you grow up with and knew you like your family knows you. I made tons of friends in college when I wrestled for Umd and had beach friends from being a lifeguard on OCBP. I'm in real estate and don't coach anything. I'm not catholic obsessed (lol) more of a born again.

I know this... Mater Dei is special. It stays inside you as a guy. They have a formula ... It's demanding but has a undertone of humor... Never knew anyone to be mistreated .

Dear PP:

Keep living the Catholic obsession.

What do you do for a living? Coach maplewood football, live on Prep's campus, graduate from Gonzaga, belong to Columbia Country club, ever lived outside the DC area?

I assume you are one of the posters on here who is obsessed where he went to high school and didnt make many friends in college.

Hardly ^^

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mater Dei is a wonderful school but it is not for every boy or family. The academics are no walk in the park - the boys work hard but do have the opportunity to make corrections. My son previously attended a co-ed Catholic school where he received straight A's without much effort but really needs to work @ MD to even get a B. MD teaches boys to be real men and not metrosexuals.

Your last sentence sums it up. Real sexist pigs like the Duke lacrosse players and George Huguely.

Landon, UVA and Duke are are far from a catholic school as you can get. Hardley anyone from MD goes on to Landon .
Duke even has the devil as a mascot. You won't see that stuff at MD , Georgetown prep, Georgetown , notre dame , Boston college , gonzaga or St. John's .

Anonymous wrote:Masculinity is equally ethical .

No, MD is very letter of the law not spirit, that is why CYO had to change all their rules.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:...the feminization of masculinity...

Huh.

Some people call it empathy or being ethical... like it is okay to cheat to win.

Please do go on.

Anonymous wrote:Mater Dei is a wonderful school but it is not for every boy or family. The academics are no walk in the park - the boys work hard but do have the opportunity to make corrections. My son previously attended a co-ed Catholic school where he received straight A's without much effort but really needs to work @ MD to even get a B. MD teaches boys to be real men and not metrosexuals.

Your last sentence sums it up. Real sexist pigs like the Duke lacrosse players and George Huguely.

Masculinity is equally ethical .

Anonymous wrote:...the feminization of masculinity...

Huh.

Some people call it empathy or being ethical... like it is okay to cheat to win.

...the feminization of masculinity...

Huh.

Anonymous wrote:I know lots of families who send their sons there - my son knows lots of the boys. Most are really nice families but, I have to say, I think the school tends to take boys and make them less compassionate to others, less kind to the physically weaker, more aggressive and competitive, than when they first started. For some I know that is a positive. For me, it is not. I have seen too many nice, sweet, kind boys made less so by Mater Dei.

I can see how may think that. My son went there and he is not very athletic. They built him up to his maximum potential , found a place for him on teams each season and put him in a position to contribute. They do everything with common sense and requisite compassion. They definately don't subscribe to the feminization of masculinity but they are very compassionate and push to get the most out of the boys. Watching your son singing Latin in the coat and tie at graduation will make you choke up.

I know lots of families who send their sons there - my son knows lots of the boys. Most are really nice families but, I have to say, I think the school tends to take boys and make them less compassionate to others, less kind to the physically weaker, more aggressive and competitive, than when they first started. For some I know that is a positive. For me, it is not. I have seen too many nice, sweet, kind boys made less so by Mater Dei.

Mater Dei is a wonderful school but it is not for every boy or family. The academics are no walk in the park - the boys work hard but do have the opportunity to make corrections. My son previously attended a co-ed Catholic school where he received straight A's without much effort but really needs to work @ MD to even get a B. MD teaches boys to be real men and not metrosexuals.