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OK, my first reaction to lbftw was that he was a troll. After some thought and based on some of his/her further posts, I have revised my opinion. Most of the posters here are kids who are either in BS or applying, or their parents. I think this can lead to a somewhat one sided and idealized view of the BS experience. When someone like lbftw comes on who is almost completely negative about the BS experience it creates a cognitive disonance that is upsetting to our happy little community of posters.
However, the points he makes are not without some validity. BS is expensive and at least some of the students will be snotty, preppy, spoiled rich kids. All of these schools have had scandals. Milton was in the news a few years ago with a "sex scandal" that involved members of the hockey team. A few weeks ago there was another scandal when one student was expelled and several others were suspended after hacking into the school computer and changing grades. St. Pauls had a financial scandal" involving its headmaster a few years ago, and if you go back a few more years a scandal involving a respected teacher who sexually harassed a number of female students. Choate had a drug scandal about 20 years ago that ended up being a story on 60 Minutes. Groton had a hazing scandal a few years ago.
Of course public high schools also their fair share of scandals, drug problems, hook ups, etc. - we are after all talking about a concentrated population of 14-18 year olds. You just don't hear about these scandals because they don't occur at prestigious, well known schools.
However, while lbftw does offer us a reality check by pointing out some of the negatives of BS life, ultimately I think that, for the right kid, the positives far outweigh the negatives, and I think that some of his arguments are flat out wrong. The caliber of teachers at the top boarding schools is far higher than at a local high school. They are also more available and more committed to establishing a personal relationship with their students.
For most kids, the quality and depth of the friendships you develop with your classmates will be stronger than they would at a day school.
The facilities, breadth of course offerings, opportunity for extra-curricular activities, etc, is far greater at most boarding schools than it is at most public schools.
The maturity, self-reliance and self-confidence you will have after you graduate from boarding school will make the transition to college MUCH easier.
BS clearly is not for everyone; and its sad that lbftw is so bitter about his/her experience. I think his/her view of BS is unduly negative, distorted and in some instances flat out wrong. However, no BS is a utopia. If you think otherwise your view will be equally distorted and you are bound to be disappointed with the reality.
BTW - to respond to lbftw's comment that none of the posters know what they're talking about/lack personal experience, I strongly suspect we both attended the same BS. (Only I went there when the school was slightly larger and shortly before the board of trustees was merged).
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