Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This MS head is far better than the last one. That guy let the middle schoolers run his division. I hope the administration supports her.

She is amazing (as is her deputy!). She has been empowered and her guidance and leadership has taken hold. We, like the earlier poster who so accurately describe the honor code, etc., have experienced these things first hand. Anyone who would take these anonymous posts as the "truth" about any school is ill-advised.

I get the sense that there are folks on these boards who simply want to perpetuate the old stereotypes about Landon. If we started listing the litany of issues at each of the other schools and continually focused on those issue year after year, I'm sure we could brand one school the "drug" school, another the mean-anorexic-girls school, the stressed-out-anxiety school and on and on. None of those one-dimensional nasty descriptions would be any more true than the stereotypes peddled about Landon.

Bottom line, people who like the culture and values at Landon should send their sons there and not care what anyone else thinks. Those that do not, should find other options for their sons. We did not feel the current culture aligned with our family, so we moved. It's very simple. Loads of great schools out there and no need to bash one over another. It's all a personal choice for each family.

Then what is the point of DCUM?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This MS head is far better than the last one. That guy let the middle schoolers run his division. I hope the administration supports her.

She is amazing (as is her deputy!). She has been empowered and her guidance and leadership has taken hold. We, like the earlier poster who so accurately describe the honor code, etc., have experienced these things first hand. Anyone who would take these anonymous posts as the "truth" about any school is ill-advised.

I get the sense that there are folks on these boards who simply want to perpetuate the old stereotypes about Landon. If we started listing the litany of issues at each of the other schools and continually focused on those issue year after year, I'm sure we could brand one school the "drug" school, another the mean-anorexic-girls school, the stressed-out-anxiety school and on and on. None of those one-dimensional nasty descriptions would be any more true than the stereotypes peddled about Landon.

Bottom line, people who like the culture and values at Landon should send their sons there and not care what anyone else thinks. Those that do not, should find other options for their sons. We did not feel the current culture aligned with our family, so we moved. It's very simple. Loads of great schools out there and no need to bash one over another. It's all a personal choice for each family.

Anonymous wrote:This MS head is far better than the last one. That guy let the middle schoolers run his division. I hope the administration supports her.

She is amazing (as is her deputy!). She has been empowered and her guidance and leadership has taken hold. We, like the earlier poster who so accurately describe the honor code, etc., have experienced these things first hand. Anyone who would take these anonymous posts as the "truth" about any school is ill-advised.

I get the sense that there are folks on these boards who simply want to perpetuate the old stereotypes about Landon. If we started listing the litany of issues at each of the other schools and continually focused on those issue year after year, I'm sure we could brand one school the "drug" school, another the mean-anorexic-girls school, the stressed-out-anxiety school and on and on. None of those one-dimensional nasty descriptions would be any more true than the stereotypes peddled about Landon.

This MS head is far better than the last one. That guy let the middle schoolers run his division. I hope the administration supports her.

To the PP who wrote: "I am also aware of the incident at Landon where a boy brought a weapon to school. I was very unhappy that the parents were not immediately notified. I only found out through my son, and then was later informed of the incident at a "state of the school" address by Mr. Herman."

Did you mean St. Albans where Paul Herman is head of the lower school? (There wasn't a person listed on the Landon faculty with this last name who would likely give a "state of school" address. And if you did mean St. Albans (confirming what another poster claimed) I think this should be clarified because this is a serious matter.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry. It has not changed at all. I am a current parent, who is leaving after this year. Yes there are some cosmetic changes with regard to personnel, but they are not systemic in the least. i do give Landon kudos for making some staffing changes, but there are still issues that are deep rooted that one can only hope Jim will be given the kind of support from the Board he will need in order to effectively change.

An all boys school without a religious structure is always a recipe for problems.

Oh yes, because we all know religion fixes everything

I have a son at both STA and Landon, so I can chime in here with a certain degree of knowledge. First and foremost, the schools are far more similar than this board would have you believe. Academically, they are very similar in terms of work load and style of teaching, but I think Landon has a less intense and competitive academic atmosphere. That is not to say that the academics are less worthy than STA, but that the culture surrounding the academics is more collaborative and competitive. As for the culture in terms of morals and values, I will add that my son at STA has had things stolen from his gym locker and backpack on multiple occasions. In these incidents he had small amounts of cash taken, as well as an iPod, which he shouldn't have brought to school anyway. Contrast this with Landon, which, unlike STA, does not permit students to put locks on their lockers because they want to cultivate a community of trust. My son at Landon, has not had anything taken from him- ever. Additionally, the boys are Landon sign an honor code, which is framed in their hall, as a visible commitment to trust, respect, and integrity. Not using locks is one example of the expectation of proper conduct they hope to instill in the boys.

I am also aware of the incident at Landon where a boy brought a weapon to school. I was very unhappy that the parents were not immediately notified. I only found out through my son, and then was later informed of the incident at a "state of the school" address by Mr. Herman.

Anonymous wrote:Sorry. It has not changed at all. I am a current parent, who is leaving after this year. Yes there are some cosmetic changes with regard to personnel, but they are not systemic in the least. i do give Landon kudos for making some staffing changes, but there are still issues that are deep rooted that one can only hope Jim will be given the kind of support from the Board he will need in order to effectively change.

An all boys school without a religious structure is always a recipe for problems.

Respect the middle school head, but she does not appear to be empowered to make the kind of changes that are needed.

Sorry. It has not changed at all. I am a current parent, who is leaving after this year. Yes there are some cosmetic changes with regard to personnel, but they are not systemic in the least. i do give Landon kudos for making some staffing changes, but there are still issues that are deep rooted that one can only hope Jim will be given the kind of support from the Board he will need in order to effectively change.

Anonymous wrote:Have you been to any sporting event at Landon? Landon has not changed at all.

A sporting event? Really?

Have you been to any sporting event at Landon? Landon has not changed at all.

Landon has become very focused on changing and addressing some of its past issues. Kudos to Landon for counseling out some, for bringing in a progressive woman as the head of he middle school and for bringing in Jim Neill as head of school. There is indeed a "new" Landon. That is the Landon that today's parents want and are getting.
There have always been great boys at Landon--and there have been not-so-great boys who tarnish it for the rest. Change is hard. Landon is not afraid of change and is open about its renewed focus on character. Rather than using these positive changes to bash, why not see these for the examples of positive leadership that they so clearly are.
Landon is not afraid of change, but maybe some of its detractors are. I hope that is not the case. The current Landon. Boys deserve a fair chance.

Possibly the connective thread here is the all boys culture. I for one at first thought it was great, but now have changed my perspective entirely. You take the reality, of a si make a ex environment, and then layer over on top of it the decades of "turning a blind eye" that Landon is famous for, coupled with a divided parent community (the haves and have nots), toss in the ridiculous influence wealthy board members have, and you get the Landon of today. I'm sorry you don't want to hear it, but the boorish behavior of the older boys is real and rampant.

I think those referencing the issues at Landon are speaking of their own personal experience. They more than likely don't also have a son at STA, so they can't comment on issues at STA.