You Roll Up the Sidewalks
Thursday, 3. January 2008, 03:46:59
We came back from Hatherford College, PA where the student population was under 1,000. This just might be the right atmosphere for my son. He had in the preceding weeks narrowed his decision down to either Hatherford or Harvard. We knew that there were Thousands of student at Harvard and worried that out son at age 15 might get lost in the enormity of the school.
When he made his final decision and choose Harvard we were just on to the next problem solving game presented in the education of "KIDS". My daughter 2 years the junior of her brother had never known any other school than the same one that her brother attended. This was by design rather than chance. After being satisfied that Harvard would not also take a younger sister in a two-for-one- package deal we were left to decide what we were going to do with her. She was 13 and too young for me to send to the convent. With two more years of high school left and no brother left to serve as protector we had a chore.
I decided that she should remain where her brother could keep tabs on her be near to his sister. I researched and decided on Phillips Academy in Andover Mass. It was a short distance from Cambridge and had the reputation of being one of the top academic high schools in the US After calling to set up an appointment. The drive from New Jersey was about 4 hours. We did the interview where they interview the family and the student together and then separately. We were told that we would be informed of the results.
The call came and I spoke to a "Ms. Better-than-thou", who told me that my daughter had met all the schools criteria, the family had also met the criteria ( I think this meant we could borrow enough to pay the slightly higher than college tuition and fees, and boarding, and food, and books and sidewalk fee. As we got toward the end of the conversation she said, "Now there is just one thing". "You people are from Newark, New Jersey and I know that Lauren is ahead of most and did well on her nationals but she is from Newark so we think if we can start her back one grade". My response to that. "Look Ms. Snooty, you're lucky I'm even thinking about letting my daughter go to your school. I letting you have the opportunity to act like she is a product of your educational system."
She asked to speak to my wife. My wife later told me that she had suggested that in the future she speak to my wife rather than me. The last thing I agreed to was that if she changed her mind she could call but other than that they were out. I wasn't going to sit by and take that from "Holier-than-thou" rich know it alls. After many calls I spoke on the phone to a representative of Milton Academy High School. It was a private high school with almost an identically good reputation for it's academics and was at least a dollar cheaper than Phillips.
I told the lady all about my experience with "Ms. Snob" from Phillips. I was matter of fact and we spoke of an appointment. I explained the urgency and was able to send my wife with my children two days later. After their interviews I was contacted by the school and informed that my daughter would make a most welcomed addition to Milton Academy. During this entire process some of my friends were trying to tell me about John Milton and his philosophy and doctrine. None of that bothered me. If anything it enhanced the purpose of choosing a private high school 300 miles away.
The icing on the cake and the convincing factor to let her go to Milton was during my conversation with my original contact. She told me that she wanted me to make a decision with my eyes wide open. She almost apologized to tell me that after school hours and after dark the students had very little to do. I asked her if she was trying to say the rolled up the sidewalks after dark. She chuckled and said ," well yes you might say it that way". It was right then that I knew this was the place I wanted my daughter. No mixed classes, eat diner and go to bed, guards at the girls dorms. This was what I had been searching for. Rah! Rah! Go Milton Fight!
My daughter went on to become the school student representative, the one that new student would meet first, the one that would take parents and students on tours. I delivered everything I promised in my daughter and they delivered everything they promised. A good quality education and invisibility from boys. Look I've already admitted to being a strict, stern parent. I never took the other option and locked her in her room for home schooling.
My daughter graduated from Milton in 1981 and went on to Princeton graduating in 1985
Milton Academy http://www.milton.edu/alumni/pages/alumni_fs.html
When he made his final decision and choose Harvard we were just on to the next problem solving game presented in the education of "KIDS". My daughter 2 years the junior of her brother had never known any other school than the same one that her brother attended. This was by design rather than chance. After being satisfied that Harvard would not also take a younger sister in a two-for-one- package deal we were left to decide what we were going to do with her. She was 13 and too young for me to send to the convent. With two more years of high school left and no brother left to serve as protector we had a chore.
I decided that she should remain where her brother could
The call came and I spoke to a "Ms. Better-than-thou", who told me that my daughter had met all the schools criteria, the family had also met the criteria ( I think this meant we could borrow enough to pay the slightly higher than college tuition and fees, and boarding, and food, and books and sidewalk fee. As we got toward the end of the conversation she said, "Now there is just one thing". "You people are from Newark, New Jersey and I know that Lauren is ahead of most and did well on her nationals but she is from Newark so we think if we can start her back one grade". My response to that. "Look Ms. Snooty, you're lucky I'm even thinking about letting my daughter go to your school. I letting you have the opportunity to act like she is a product of your educational system."
She asked to speak to my wife. My wife later told me that she had suggested that in the future she speak to my wife rather than me. The last thing I agreed to was that if she changed her mind she could call but other than that they were out. I wasn't going to sit by and take that from "Holier-than-thou" rich know it alls. After many calls I spoke on the phone to a representative of Milton Academy High School. It was a private high school with almost an identically good reputation for it's academics and was at least a dollar cheaper than Phillips.
I told the lady all about my experience with "Ms. Snob" from Phillips. I was matter of fact and we spoke of an appointment. I explained the urgency and was able to send my wife with my children two days later. After their interviews I was contacted by the school and informed that my daughter would make a most welcomed addition to Milton Academy. During this entire process some of my friends were trying to tell me about John Milton and his philosophy and doctrine. None of that bothered me. If anything it enhanced the purpose of choosing a private high school 300 miles away.
The icing on the cake and the convincing factor to let her go to Milton was during my conversation with my original contact. She told me that she wanted me to make a decision with my eyes wide open. She almost apologized to tell me that after school hours and after dark the students had very little to do. I asked her if she was trying to say the rolled up the sidewalks after dark. She chuckled and said ," well yes you might say it that way". It was right then that I knew this was the place I wanted my daughter. No mixed classes, eat diner and go to bed, guards at the girls dorms. This was what I had been searching for. Rah! Rah! Go Milton Fight!
My daughter went on to become the school student representative, the one that new student would meet first, the one that would take parents and students on tours. I delivered everything I promised in my daughter and they delivered everything they promised. A good quality education and invisibility from boys. Look I've already admitted to being a strict, stern parent. I never took the other option and locked her in her room for home schooling.
My daughter graduated from Milton in 1981 and went on to Princeton graduating in 1985
Milton Academy http://www.milton.edu/alumni/pages/alumni_fs.html
WIDGETIZE