<p>I've been taking a closer look at schools (the ones we applied to and the ones we didn't - but maybe should have!) and I've found one school with an interesting system of rules (lots of them!), demerit points, and discipline. It seems rather extreme to me . . . perhaps because years ago when I was in school (and dinosaurs still walked the earth), we didn't really have a lot of rules. Yes, you had to be back in your dorm by 10 pm, but no one did a head count to make sure. Everyone pretty much knew who was getting into trouble and who wasn't - and mandatory study hall wouldn't have made much difference.</p>
<p>So, I'm wondering, what's it like at the HADES and other top schools? Obviously, there are going to be differences . . . I'd like to hear about them. Do all the schools have mandatory study hall for 9th graders? Are cell phones permitted? What about my son's beloved portable dvd player? What are the rules at the different schools, and how are they enforced?</p>
<p>SPS does not have mandatory study hall. That is what for many students sets them apart - good and not so good.</p>
<p>Other than that, most have mandatory study hall - at least for 9th and 10th graders, some for all. And it’s not in a room like we used to have study hall in public school. Most are in their dorm rooms, doors open, monitors in door sight, no music, etc. Or, you can get permission to go to the library.</p>
<p>Cell phones allowed. (not during study hall). Portable dvd probably ok, no tv’s usually.</p>
<p>They have dorm checks, many have lights out time. </p>
<p>Discipline and rules is something important to consider when deciding where to attend.<br>
Schools have vastly different rules when it comes to what happens if you are caught with alcohol, or drugs for example. Some are immediate dismissal, some not. </p>
<p>A good place to start is to search the web sites for “publications” and get the Student Handbook. It will have all the rules.</p>
<p>Careful with what you offer as facts. The differences are not as you describe. Here are a few school’s rule. The differences are often inconsequential for most of the most academic challenging schools.</p>
<p>Exeter:
</p>
<p>Deerfield:
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<p>St. Pauls:
</p>
<p>Choate:
</p>
<p>Andover: Someone else can provide. While this article from the Andover Phillipian is 5 year old, it provides some interesting comparisons between schools. “Andover Vs. Our Peer Schools” [Andover</a> Vs. Our Peer Schools | News | The Phillipian](<a href=“http://phillipian.net/article/1458]Andover”>http://phillipian.net/article/1458)</p>
<p>Please add any hard information from other schools.</p>
<p>Wow…the only thing I said as fact was that SPS does not have mandatory study hall. They don’t. And I mentioned them by name because the admissions people “touted” it during our tour and interview. Yes, you can be referred, but they talk about it as “suggest study time” and quiet time. It is my understanding you can play cards quietly if you want. At schools with in-room study halls, you have to be doing home work. </p>
<p>In-room study hall IS study hall - it’s not only in the “stereotypical” sense, but it IS study hall. </p>
<p>All I did was answer the question asked: “Do all the schools have mandatory study hall?”
The answer is that they all used to have a formal study hall you went to. For almost all of these schools, that is no longer the case. Instead they have quiet study hours. Even when they call it “study hall” it can be in your dorm (Groton, with a 2nd form, is an exception I believe). And every school has faculty on duty and/or circulating during that period.</p>
<p>Winterset - I appreciate the reference to the Phillipian . . . what a thorough job of researching someone did!</p>
<p>But the “signing in” and mandatory in-room study hours . . . does this not strike anyone other than me as excessively paternalistic? I concede, it is apparently the norm for the New England schools (and is doubtless significantly more lax than it once was), but is the practice the same at schools in other parts of the country? Cate or Thacher, for example? And is it perhaps different at smaller schools?</p>
<p>I think it is a great question to ask on re-visit days. For study hall or quiet time, it’s all about the individual student.</p>
<p>As far as “signing in”, personally, I would not feel comfortable with my children at a school that did not “keep track” of them with some kind of signing in and out system.<br>
I believe, some schools consider “town” an extension of campus and do not require students to sign out for trips there (based on location - Suffield Academy for example is int he middle of town and they said the CVS and a few stores are considered “part” of campus).</p>
<p>Mercersburg has a mandatory proctored study hall for freshman during the first trimester and much of the second. Somewhere in the middle of the second trimester, the freshman begin having in-room study halls two nights a week. During the third marking period, kids with an average of 83 (I think) or higher are allowed to have study hall in their rooms and not in a classroom. Upper classmen have a study period from 7:30-9:30 in their rooms. I think it is a great system as it supports freshman during a traditionally difficult transition period.
zp</p>
<p>I believe other than SPS which doesn’t have mandatory study, which is great for some kids, you need to consider the schools rules when making a final decision. I dont’t feel my d needs the rules in that sense, but she was home schooled and given a option of either figuring out how to get her work done or following my schedule, she chose the former—lol.</p>
<p>As far as checking in, I want someone to know where my kid is most of the time, especially after dark. I know as they get older they deserve, if they have earned it, the right to more freedom. </p>
<p>At Miss Porter’s, i believe that after dinner, students must swipe or log in to what ever building they are in, so in case of an emergency they know where ever student is, is that a bad thing? Small all girls school, in the middle of a small rural town, I love it.</p>
<p>After Virgina Tech, i wan to know where my kid is…as much as humanly possible.</p>
<p>To my knowledge, most schools require kids to sign out, other than the exceptions mentioned above. I agree it is nice to call the housemaster and know where they have gone, whether that is another dorm or in town. At most of these schools (unlike at home) they are constantly surrounded by kids all working on papers, group projects and homework. It tends to be infectious. </p>
<p>It is also a bit different when you have a teacher on duty in your house every night and a short walk if you need extra help on another subject. A big difference from the public schools. And at most schools if they get in trouble academically they will find that they have to go to a required study hall, lose privileges et cetera. </p>
<p>I am not aware of any problems at any of these schools with students getting lost academiucally or physically.
They are all overseen carefully by a faculty that have worked with thousands of teens.
Generally, they have more experience with teens than we do as parents.</p>
<p>I joke with my friends about 'letting her go"–</p>
<p>I tell them there are more adults watching her at boarding school than me and my family could do at home—lol.</p>
<p>I believe in peer pressure. Typically we only hear the negative, drugs, alcohol, etc, we seldom think of the “positive pressure” that may occur, pressure to study, work hard, show up and be supportive of others, help a house mate with homework, share support. </p>
<p>It is this type of “peer pressure” that makes the bs experience interesting to me and my d.</p>
<p>Alexz825Mom I agree wholeheartedly. And teens often look to their friends.</p>
<p>Related to the boarding school application process, and your comment, I received the following today. It was addressed to seniors yesterday at a boarding school facing the pressures of college applications, but it applies equally to many here and used some of the same ideas that you just used:
</p>
<p>As you said Alexz825Mom be supportive, help and share.</p>
<p>dogersmom,
My son came to Proctor as a repeat jr. so I don’t know how freshman study hall works. Currently, he has a 2 hour study period in his room each night. I believe some kids use that time to speak with teachers or get extra help. I think many kids go to study in the library, but I believe the rule is once you sign in, you have to stay the entire study period. Generally, my son spends the time in his room. Not sure how much studying is going on though spring term of his sr. year.
zp</p>
<p>At Exeter we have study hours for preps and lowers that start at eight. The doors don’t have to be open or anything and you can be in other people’s rooms but you just can’t be loud. You’re technically not supposed to watch movies and stuff during study hours but they have no way of knowing. The dorm fac can give you a study card (which means noone can bother you during study hours) on your door though if you aren’t doing your work or something.</p>