NMH vs St. Marks - Page 3

JoshByron · 03-16-2010, 09:31 PM

Ohh, hahahhahaha

Anyways, Raid-in-Plaid96, do you know whether you're going to attend NMH next year or not???

sandakm · 03-16-2010, 09:34 PM

NMH! 10char

cdnhockeymom · 03-16-2010, 09:50 PM

I can not speak for all students at St Marks but I can say that there is zero tolerance and the two students that were caught were expelled. There are kids at all prep schools, according to my son, his own and others, he is aware of the same issues of a few students at MANY prep schools. It happens everywhere that there are kids doing drugs but they are definitely the minority. Andover has expelled 6 already this year but that does not mean they have a drug problem, to me the opposite, that they deal with it and are aware of it.

JoshByron · 03-16-2010, 10:46 PM

cdnhockeymom, I understand that you are trying to defend SMS, since your son goes there, but, drugs are more prevalent at SMS, and other boarding schools as well, then you think. And, referring to the Andover drug problem, I actually think its the opposite. The only reason they got expelled was cause they got caught. Imagine all the other students who are doing drugs and just haven't gotten caught. There was also a recent issue at St. Georges. I believe they were spraying the dorms with some kind of insect repellent (or something) and they found a ton of heroin in several of the dorms. I've also heard of a problem at Berkshire (Drug Incident Shakes a School Campus - NYTimes.com), where it was recorded that over 200 students took LSD. As you can see, drugs are extremely prevalent at boarding schools, and the schools aren't exactly doing much.

Periwinkle · 03-16-2010, 11:18 PM

JoshByron, for some reason young teens posting on this site think parents believe that some schools are drug-free. As a parent, I would wager that most of the parents who regularly comment on this site could swap hair-raising stories about drug use scandals at public high schools, private high schools, boarding schools, and even middle schools. We all attended high schools and colleges at which some students indulged, even back in the dark ages. We now must deal with the fact that any school is only one kid's stupid mistake removed from being branded with a "drug problem" by those who gladly pass on gossip.

The incident at Berkshire? Did you read the article? It's 14 years old. Even the seniors at Berkshire today had not yet entered kindergarten. It has as much relevance to today's Berkshire as the reports of past hazing have to many prominent, respected boarding schools today.

Please. Go to all the revisit days you are permitted to attend. Ask questions of current students and teachers. Do not spend your time spreading second-hand gossip on the internet.

erkybk · 03-17-2010, 01:07 AM

Periwinkle, leave JoshByron alone. Joshbyron has to repeat 4th form(sophomore) if he comes to SMS while he can be a Junior(IV form) at NMH. And also JoshByron likes a place where he can relax a bit. I guess JoshByron may fit NMH better. If I am in the position to choose a school, I definitely choose SMS because SMS is much better in academics and ranklings. But everybody has different value and different idea. I wish JosyByron a good luck at NMH. If JoshByron feels comfortable with NMH, he hs to go there.

Of course, SMS is very strict about the drug policy. Quite frankly, Most of BS has the same problem. It is a matter of when they are caught up.

The problem is not only drug but also sex. I think most of people remember that Milton had a sex scandal a few years ago.

The drug and sex problems are not unique to one school. Those are general problems not only in BS and but also in public school regardless of the school reputation. Some time, they are caught in one school and they are caught in different schools later.

JoshByron · 03-17-2010, 08:59 AM

Periwinkle, I'm sorry for offending you. I was just trying to inform cdnhockeymom, as well as everyone else on this forum, of all the drug issues occurring at boarding schools. Yes, the article is 14 years old, but 14 years is still considered pretty recent. "It has as much relevance to today's Berkshire as the reports of past hazing have to many prominent, respected boarding schools today." Ummm, I dont exactly know what you were trying to say here, since it makes absolutely NO sense. But, good luck learning English.

Erkybk, thanks for having my back. As for the issues regarding sex, you're kind of right. Sex happens everywhere. And there's not much the school can do about it.

Periwinkle · 03-17-2010, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Ummm, I dont exactly know what you were trying to say here, since it makes absolutely NO sense.

After Dormitory Attacks, Boarding Schools Move to Reduce Risks - NYTimes.com

10 years ago. By my standards, a different NMH than today. All schools need active administrations to deal with adolescents. All adolescents run the risk of making mistakes.

Again, go where you feel most comfortable. However, don't base your decision on gossip. Also, don't base your decision on articles from the newspaper.

JoshByron · 03-17-2010, 06:45 PM

Periwinkle, when I said what you wrote made absolutely no sense, I was referring to the way you structured your sentence, and how you made no point whatsoever in the sentence itself. And, if you're telling me not to base my decision on a newspaper article, then why are you showing me this other newspaper article? But if you're referring to the article on Berkshire I posted, I never mentioned wanting to attend Berkshire.

Anyways, I do agree with you on one subject, to go where I feel most comfortable. Although I can't attend re-visit day at any of the schools, I feel like I'd be most comfortable at NMH.

Rad-in-Plaid96 · 03-17-2010, 08:02 PM

I may or may not be attending next year. :/ I got accepted but w/ no FA so I wait listed. Hopefully, I'll know in April

JoshByron · 03-17-2010, 08:31 PM

YESSS, Raid-in-Plaid96, you HAVE to go next year!!!

And good luck with your FA

smski · 03-20-2010, 03:34 PM

Josh-
I am a recent alum of SM. Actually '09 and I have to say your source doesn't sound very accurate. There were some drug issues the year before my freshman year and they were expelled. It was a messy situation that caused some drama due to 5 students getting kicked out and 2 suspended, but it was resolved. Yes some students would go home and drink on the weekends and yes some students occasionally would smoke pot on the weekend but I would be surprised if you could find a single school that didn't have those problems. St. Mark's was a wonderful environment for me. I didn't focus on the prestige of the colleges I wanted to apply to. I chose the schools that looked like they would fit me like St. Mark's did. I loved all of my teachers at SM. They really support you and help you when you need it. My younger brother is at another BS and he doesn't seem to have the support I ever had. My advisor was amazing and she always helped me whether it was for academic purposes or driving me to the Rt 128 train station so I could go home for the weekend to see my dying grandfather. The administration is fantastic. Mr. Warren has done a lot for SM he really has. The only member of the administration and the only thing about SM I didn't like is on her way out and I just know that SM is going to become an even better place in the future.

I know you're set on NMH, but please go to the revisit days, they really make all the difference. I went to four revisit days myself. My heart was set on St. George's and when I went there I liked it and if I really strained hard I could see myself there. However once I went to the SM revisit day I knew it was the place for me. My parents made the deposit on the spot. I really think you should consider all options.

Best of luck for you! Also I do know some people at NMH who did like it.

thegreentea68 · 03-20-2010, 07:01 PM

How has the administration been fantastic even with the current dean of students there? I know she is leaving after this year, and trust me we are all thankful, but how can you say the administration was fantastic when she was there?

erkybk · 03-20-2010, 08:05 PM

St. Mark's has been doing great since Mr. Warren(new headmaster) came. These days their administration is getting really fantastic. They have a new college counseling director(she is doing a wonderful job this year and their college matriculation is excellent so far this year), they just hired a new assistant head from Concord, chapel head from St. Paul, Director of development from MIT, and they hired a new dean of students. They are building up an excellent administartion team. It will be a really fantastic team!
Great movement!

cdnhockeymom · 03-20-2010, 11:23 PM

smski, thanks for clarifying! Josh had misunderstood my post. What you said about drugs is what I was trying to say. We have not been unhappy with the dean of students but if you think things are going to be even better than they are now, I am thrilled!