Anonymous wrote:It's outdated. What is my $20K tuition even going towards?

Your kid not hating going to school. I am not MD fan, 1/2 my family went to Gonzaga and some sent their boys to MD, but the boys like it at least they get to play sports in the afternoon.

I know 1/2 the families are crazy but some are really nice.

It's outdated. What is my $20K tuition even going towards?

Meat and potatoes is the way to describe the academics. You leave with a solid foundation in math basics through algebra I (not advanced), strong biology, strong grammar, solid understanding of american history, and exposure to a lot of books in literature - old and new classics. Boys learn to memorize well for frequent quizzes, tests. There is no music past 4th grade, no art in 7th/8th grade. No real technology curriculum in middle school Very limited labs or no lab work many years. Latin is 8th grade only and really is an introduction - helpful for the first year of high school. Some families supplement outside of this and expose their kids to more diversity (academics and other). A few teachers will work to stretch a kid if asked. Boys do get into a range of high schools including top schools and have no major gaps in the basics. In high school, they can create a deeper, broader education, though some boys remain more narrowly focused checking the box. To say mater dei is a well rounded or rigorous education is an unnecessary stretch, but it does the 'meat and potatoes' well for a reasonable cost.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mater Dei doesn't offer any type of the art or foreign language (other than Latin)...... this sums up the school.

Latin is the language of science due to its order and logic. If you are going to pick a language for the developing mind and academic excellence , Latin would be it.

No need to knock Latin, I agree, but seriously? Learning modern languages can help develop the skills that led to academic excellence. Ever tried to learn Arabic, or to reach native-like flunency in Spanish?

+1.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mater Dei doesn't offer any type of the art or foreign language (other than Latin)...... this sums up the school.

Latin is the language of science due to its order and logic. If you are going to pick a language for the developing mind and academic excellence , Latin would be it.

Exactly.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mater Dei doesn't offer any type of the art or foreign language (other than Latin)...... this sums up the school.

Latin is the language of science due to its order and logic. If you are going to pick a language for the developing mind and academic excellence , Latin would be it.

No need to knock Latin, I agree, but seriously? Learning modern languages can help develop the skills that led to academic excellence. Ever tried to learn Arabic, or to reach native-like flunency in Spanish?

*lead

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mater Dei doesn't offer any type of the art or foreign language (other than Latin)...... this sums up the school.

Latin is the language of science due to its order and logic. If you are going to pick a language for the developing mind and academic excellence , Latin would be it.

No need to knock Latin, I agree, but seriously? Learning modern languages can help develop the skills that led to academic excellence. Ever tried to learn Arabic, or to reach native-like flunency in Spanish?

Anonymous wrote:Mater Dei doesn't offer any type of the art or foreign language (other than Latin)...... this sums up the school.

Latin is the language of science due to its order and logic. If you are going to pick a language for the developing mind and academic excellence , Latin would be it.

if you are an exceptional athlete, you are a shoe in to be admitted at Mater Dei....

Gonzaga or Prep will find away to get you in through admissions if you can "survive" the rigors of Mater Dei.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know these posts are supposed to be positive but you're making this school sound terrible. Yelling shows a loss of control by the teacher and that is not the only way to get the attention of boys. Making them run in circles as punishment? Not taking the best and most qualified students in favor of legacies, relatives of legacies and athletes? Parents are afraid to call and complain for fear of repurcussions for their kid? Insular? How are these things good?

They care about the boys but they don't treat them like babies. The boys like it and respond to it. It's funny how kids like boundaries and to know exactly what's expected. They also get the humor that can even come from yelling, having to run around a field or being sent home in a cab. It's not for shrinking violets but people deserve to be able to choose a school that strengthens resiliency.

Sure and I hope the school is up front about these things because this kind of environment is not for everyone.

They may not put it that way.

But they don't make a lot of mistakes on who they let in. They have been doing this a while. The people who apply here, and its a narrow slice of the DC population, know the reputation of the place and what to expect.

Except George Huguely of course.

Anonymous wrote:I know these posts are supposed to be positive but you're making this school sound terrible. Yelling shows a loss of control by the teacher and that is not the only way to get the attention of boys. Making them run in circles as punishment? Not taking the best and most qualified students in favor of legacies, relatives of legacies and athletes? Parents are afraid to call and complain for fear of repurcussions for their kid? Insular? How are these things good?

You want the truth about a school. And when you get it, you don't like the answer.

Obviously, this isn't a place you would want to consider.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know these posts are supposed to be positive but you're making this school sound terrible. Yelling shows a loss of control by the teacher and that is not the only way to get the attention of boys. Making them run in circles as punishment? Not taking the best and most qualified students in favor of legacies, relatives of legacies and athletes? Parents are afraid to call and complain for fear of repurcussions for their kid? Insular? How are these things good?

They care about the boys but they don't treat them like babies. The boys like it and respond to it. It's funny how kids like boundaries and to know exactly what's expected. They also get the humor that can even come from yelling, having to run around a field or being sent home in a cab. It's not for shrinking violets but people deserve to be able to choose a school that strengthens resiliency.

Sure and I hope the school is up front about these things because this kind of environment is not for everyone.

They may not put it that way.

But they don't make a lot of mistakes on who they let in. They have been doing this a while. The people who apply here, and its a narrow slice of the DC population, know the reputation of the place and what to expect.