<p>An interesting, somewhat gossipy, story:</p>
<p><a href="http://nymag.com/news/features/45592/%5B/url%5D">http://nymag.com/news/features/45592/</a></p>
<p>Based on what we saw and heard when my son was applying last year, my guess is that it's a bit unfair to the school and its headmaster, but it still leaves me feeling a little relieved that my son decided not to go there. Hopefully the issues described in the story have been put behind them at this point.</p>
<p>The article is too long, too boring & excessively gossipy; but it is a good example of why substantial endowments are important to private schools. Integrity & independence can be enhanced by the careful and successful accumulation and management of endowment funds. One very old, wealthy, elite boarding school has quietly dismissed several trustees' children over the past few years for repeated minor transgressions. At this school, the faculty members are more powerful than the donors and more powerful than any individual serving on the board of trustees. This is possible in large part due to the method & success of building up the school's endowment over a period of many decades. Simply put: If you overspend, then you are at the mercy of big donors.</p>
<p>I liked reading the article, although it was a bit hard to follow all the characters. Schools are going to have to develop policies regarding Facebook, JuicyCampus, etc etc. It makes school seem much more difficult to navigate than it was pre-internet.</p>
<p>That's what is known in journalism circles as a "hit piece".</p>
<p>Lol, I remember the Swiffer girl, hahahahahhaha, it spread like wildfire! lol, Im cracking up just thinking back on it. Everyone knew about it, and from what I heard the girl wasn't even embarrassed!!!!! The ho was like just 14 years old.</p>
<p>It is sad that some parents never find fault with anything that their children do. How could someone say that saying racist or sexist things is ok to blow off steam? WOW. Also sad that these are the school's "Trustees." Trusted to do what? Whatever is in their own self interest.</p>
<p>That article is rather long and gossipy...does not flow well. It left me feeling very sad.</p>
<p>Aussie: do we really need to use the term "ho" for a young girl? I think that is a bit strong.</p>
<p>As someone very much familiar with the situation at HM, I can tell you that the article was both true and very much overblown.</p>
<p>The facts were there, but they aren't nearly as significant as they were made out to be. HM is a fine school - though it may be cutthroat at times, a sizable portion of HM students are honest, hardworking, scarily bright individuals. Though "scandals" like this may tarnish the school's reputation in terms of social status, it is still very much an academically excellent school.</p>
<p>For a girl like the Swiffer Girl, a STRONGER word should have been used, the video was absolutely gross! Im getting chills thinking back. Hahahaha
I do not know her life before the incident or that much after, but the girl who was portrayed in the obviously VGA clip, was indeed a ho. Sorry for my language.</p>