Bolles School (crime, magnet schools, live)

[rtt]

We completely bought into it because we had faith that they knew what they were doing. (remember my earlier post on branding). Well, turns out they don't and that's what's so scary about it. The adminstrators bungle fairly simple typical school situations that end up escalating and truly damaging students. All in the name of saving the reputation of the school, and their own hides.

[HIF]

Both my cousins went to Bolles for 12 years. They come from a wealthy family, but not a family into social status. Both did very well. One was in the top five in the country for Latin. And both were offered scholarships to a number of top colleges. They are now in law school and doing well.

I also have a friend whose sons graduated from Bolles and both are successful professionals out of state, so the "connections" emphasis, isn't everything.

Schools are not one size fits all. If a school isn't a good fit, then it's wise to choose another option. But it sounds as though some are implying that it is a bad school and I doubt that it can be so black and white.

[rtt]

HIF, the connections made at Bolles can be very valuable if you plan on staying here.

[Karry]

This thread is interesting to me because I had dear friends that attended the Country Day private school system back in Ohio. It was called Maumee Valley Country Day Private School. And of course there is Miami Country Day, now I'm learning about St. John Country Day. I see in reading the Bolles ad that it's boarding/day, where as the Country Day system isn't a boarding school.

[riveree]

Originally Posted by Karry

This thread is interesting to me because I had dear friends that attended the Country Day private school system back in Ohio. It was called Maumee Valley Country Day Private School. And of course there is Miami Country Day, now I'm learning about St. John Country Day. I see in reading the Bolles ad that it's boarding/day, where as the Country Day system isn't a boarding school.

I think the boarders (kids from abroad) at St. John's Country Day stay with local families, not on campus.

[rtt]

Bolles does have a boarding program but its not what I'd call a true boarding school in that they're in the minority. Its not like the well known boarding schools in the US where the prevailing culture is with the boarders and the "day hops" are the ones who are kind of out of it. I think Bolles tries to make them happy and they have a Link program with day students' homes, but if I were to do boarding it wouldn't be my first choice.

[kwilli]

rtt

It seems to me that you continually bash The Bolles School based on your bad experiences there. You again state all the "friends" you speak to that wish they could do something with their kids! Well.....the public schools will obviously take anyone!

The "weed out" process you speak of is certainly based on the performance of your children not of the administration. Children accepted to the Bolles School were obviously capable of making the grade other wise I doubt they could have met the entrance requirements. This whole presumption of such a process does not fit in with your statement "they weren't the sharpest knives in the drawers by a longshot". why were these children weeded out? It sounds like maybe your attitude might be part of your childrens school problems rather than a solultion.

Your statement "The college placement is OK (speaking of honors) but nothing to write home about compared to private schools in other parts of the country. I'd say it was similar to maybe a competitive public school in those areas, or a little lower than that. They'll get an Ivy admit or top liberal arts sometimes, but its not the norm by a longshot" is not true at all. I would urge anyone who would like to know the facts on this to go to Bolles.org and look at the college placement. I would say 99 percent is not bad particularly since most are accepted at excellent learning institutions.

For further information there are about 150 boarders from 25 countries! The school was a world class hotel in the 20's and 30's and has excellent accomodations and security

I also have nothing to fear about someone discovering my identity

rtt your reply is welcome.

[rtt]

Kwilli, your devotion to Bolles is admirable, yet I have to wonder if your kids ever tell you what goes on there? Obviously not. Mine did. I'm not sure I'd use the word "bash", either. I am free to express my opinion and there's no need to get your feathers so ruffled! As for the weeding out that Bolles does, mine wasn't. She was an honors student. I do have compassion for the kids who were let in and then couldn't cut it. There were many and it isn't good policy. The entrance requirements vary according to the size of the parents' checkbooks. You should know that by now. As far as facts of college placement, I reviewed the matriculation figures annually and maybe 30% would be called selective, maybe 10% very selective. For a private school that toots its own horn as much as Bolles does, that's not impressive. I never said there wasn't a boarding program. Its a SMALL one. 10-20% of the school population is a minority, wouldn't you say?

[Ryde41]

My "weed" was a senior..(sigh)...very painful! (chest pains!)

[kwilli]

rtt I am not picking on you personally but I do, for some reason, feel that your anger is more of sour grapes than your concern for the poor downtrodden children who are forced to go to Bolles.

My child has not had the obviously wonderful opportunity to attend our socialist training grounds also known as public schools. I guess if he did he would learn that everything that happens to you is not your fault but that of someone else! “Don’t worry son you are never in any way responsible for your actions!”

I would hope if my child were having problems at Bolles he would face them. “While sliding down the sliding board of life you pick up a lot of splinters.” You can face it or run away! We all learn eventually in life that no matter where you go there you are.

I am a working person and by no means wealthy but I have chosen to make the sacrifices necessary to keep my child in private school from kindergarten to high school with no remorse. There may be some of those wealthy kids behind every bush trying to ruin some other students life but I seldom have to worry about gunfire robbery and rape.

The administration and parents association at Bolles from what I have seen are quite co operative and helpful. Sure there have been some kids asked to leave since we have been there but mainly because they have refused to follow the rules or maintain their grades.

I politically correct society I can see the point of some parents being upset that their child is called out in front of all the other team members by a coach when they have a failing grade or didn’t do their assignment. In the long run this is for the benefit of the child. I’m in my fifties so when I went to school they posted everyone’s grade for all to see. Peer pressure can also be good! I also think the honor court does a good job, speaking of peer pressure, to keep Bolles kids a cut above. My seventh grade teacher always said “What I am to become I am now becoming!”]

To cut through the chase I just want other people to look at the facts about Bolles and not be discouraged from trying to get their kid admitted based on one or two people who have a problem are afraid say what it was for fear of being identified. I don’t think Bolles has a blog watch, ruin your family, covert team in place.