Religiously affiliated boarding schools

Prep School Admissions
1

<p>This question is for students and parents at the religiously affiliated boarding schools: St. Paul’s, Groton, St. Andrew’s, St. George’s, St. Mark’s, Episcopal, Blair, Kent, and Woodberry Forest.</p>

<p>As a general background comment, my son is an 8th grade student, with a keen interest in sports and theater. He has all As from a good public school, taking high school level geometry and foreign language. He plays on an ‘elite’ (state term) level travel soccer team and was selected to the Olympic development program. He loves acting and usually able to do one community theatre production per year. He took a practice SSAT test and scored a little above 2300. On the personal side, he created a charitable giving foundation based on one of his passions. Long story short, he wants to stretch himself and is very interested in boarding schools and the terrific resources offered.</p>

<p>My son has read a bunch of viewbooks and school websites. At this time, he's most interested in: Middlesex, Deerfield, Andover, St. Paul’s, Groton, St. Andrew’s, and St. George’s.</p>

<p>For clarity I must state that I would like for religion, per se, not to play a large role in his boarding school experience. So, my questions are:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>How pervasive is religion in the culture at the religiously affiliated schools?</p></li>
<li><p>Will a non-religious young person feel somewhat out-of-place or even a little bit oppressed at the religiously affiliated schools?</p></li>
</ul>

<p>Interested in your thoughts and experiences.</p>

2

<p>There are many other schools with relgious affiliations, and of the ones you originally mention, neither Blair or WF is thought of in that way.</p>

<p>In general, the Episcopal schools have ratcheted down the religious teaching (of course this might be a small part of the reason they are becoming extinct). They still have chapel, they still keep a chaplain on staff, but a large part of these meetings is mostly a school meeting, a speech, or a musical presentation. </p>

<p>You shouldn’t worry about this at all. In fact, he might even learn something. If you really think it will be a problem, there are plenty of good schools with no affiliation at all.</p>

<p>fif can’t speak for the Catholic schools like Canterbury or St. Thomas More.</p>

3

<p>fif meant in the above that Episcopalians are becoming extinct, not Episcopal schools.</p>

4

<p>If you do not want your son to be with religous peolple do not go to these schools
look at schools like andover and exeter that have no faith based idea
you should become christian though, its a great religion to be in and everyone is nice
I am an episcopalian</p>

5

<p>I am an alum of an Episcopal affiliated school you mentioned in the original post but had no strong feelings regarding religion when I arrived in ninth grade. I attended chapel five days a week and took 2 courses in religion (as required). When I left boarding school I had a much better idea of who I was and why I was an athiest but also left with a tremendous love for chapel and the concept of “reflection” in one’s life. This seems to be contradictory but in many ways I feel that if I attended an “agnostic” school I never would have developed as strong (or educated) a “sense of self”. FIF is absolutely correct, don’t eliminate schools based on their religious affiliation (especially those you listed) because they all have something great to offer. I currently teach at an “agnostic” BS and frequently miss the quiet morning ritual of Chapel, not because of my religious beliefs but because quiet reflection is a great way to start what will be a very busy day.</p>

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<p>Blair has an affiliation with the Presbyterian church [Blair</a> Academy - About Blair](<a href=“http://www.blair.edu/About_Blair/ab_spiritual_life.shtm]Blair”>http://www.blair.edu/About_Blair/ab_spiritual_life.shtm) but it is not pervasive. </p>

<p>They do not have the mission of converting any student into a Presbyterian. There is a once a week chapel in which the focus is on moral issues. There is a requirement to attend 6 vespers a year. However, vespers can be a discussion of what love is, and opportunity to hear students discuss their faith from Catholicism to Hinduism, a time of quiet meditation with music, etc. There is also a requirement to take a course in religion, often a review of the major religions of the world, or a review of the role of faith in the world (not the Presbyterian world), etc. </p>

<p>Atheists are comfortable at Blair, as well as students of many different faiths. </p>

<p>I discussed the role of religion at a few Episcopal schools when we were looking a few years ago. Some schools have a stronger religious bent than others, and some do have chapels with communion. My suggestion is that you talk to the Chaplain at the schools that interest your son. </p>

<p>As you narrow your list, you should also find out about the role of religion in schools that do not have an affiliation. For example, at Westminster, every Sunday evening, the school gets together to sing hymns. At Lawrenceville, there is a requirement for every student to attend a religious service a certain number of times (maybe 6?) every year. It can be any kind of service, even zen meditation.</p>

<p>None of the schools you mentioned have a mission of converting students to a specific religion.</p>

7

<p>Thanks very much for the range of thoughtful replies received so far. Your experience and insights have helped put things into a clearer perspective. We look forward to visiting schools to really get a sense of the place.</p>

<p>We remain interested in any further comments that people care to make on this topic.</p>

8

<p>Incoming freshman and sophomores may be required to take a religion course for whole or part of the year. Indoctrination or brainwashing will not occur. hola3 said it quite well. The Episcopal Church at all BS are receptive of all denominations including those students still undecided on the concept of religion. What comes after 3 or 4 years can always change but just in case, a little faith might not be so bad with upstairs. I wasn’t aware Episcopalians were on the endangered list.</p>

9

<p>My child is a freshman (III former) at St. Mark’s School. It is an Episcopalian boarding school. There are two required chapel services per week. (The school just changed the schedule this year, so some information I have dates from last year, when I was gathering information about schools.) My child is, at best, agnostic, but I haven’t picked up on any feelings of oppression or feeling-out-of-place. I hear just as much grousing, and about the same “tone” of grousing, about the two (?) required sit-down-dinners, for which the students must dress up.</p>

<p>Part of this comes from the time pressures. The freshmen dorms are across the street, and it’s uphill, mildly, both ways. (As a parent, my sympathy is limited. It may seem like a huge distance to a freshman, but it’s less than two city blocks. Builds character, and all that. Having toured other campuses, the distance from the dorm to chapel isn’t unusual.) At any rate, that’s just to point out that the complaints stem from the perceived logistics of being on time, not from any resentment of religion.</p>

<p>I’ve heard the new chaplain speak. She has a calling to service in boarding schools. I quite liked her, and as I recall, she spoke of providing a space for students, should they choose to avail themselves of it. In no way do I believe the school seeks to convert anyone. As I look at the description of the school’s support for their students’ spiritual lives, it strikes me that the student must seek out the opportunities. </p>

<p>The affiliation with the Episcopal Church, and the school’s belief in service, supports a number of community service opportunities, which involve helping others in the nearby communities, and abroad (during the summers.) The web pages available online under the “chapel” heading outline various aspects of activities in the chapel, including “chapel talks” on various subjects, which can give you an idea of the tenor of the time spent in chapel. </p>

<p>St. Markers are required to take two classes in religious studies (that is, a fall course and a spring course) during their time at St. Mark’s. The fall course is “Introduction to Religious Studies.” Then, in the spring, students choose between various seminar courses, which are writing intensive. If you are considering boarding schools with a religious affiliation, it’s worth asking about any required courses. My husband and I like the requirement, but it does limit the choices available when building the academic schedule.</p>

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<p>Even though St. Markers are required to take two classes in religious studies (that is, a fall course and a spring course) during their time at St. Mark’s. The courses have nothing to do with a specific religions. My D is taking Introduction to Religion, and they are teaching a general religion covering a few religions principles. And She is planning to take “Religion nad Science” next Spring. She wants to be a medical doctor, and I believe it is going to be a good foundation for her practice later. There are many choices for the religion class after Introduction to religion. For example, different courses cover Islam culture, Buddism, etc… So the classes have nothing to do with the school affiliation.
My daughter’s room mate’s religion is Buddism and we do not have any religion. Nobody feels any pressure or any strange feeligs by having different religion or no religion at all.</p>

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<p>I would assume that the religion requirements are not meant to convert, but to allow students to have a better understanding of culture, history, etc. Even though religion in the industrialized world no longer serves as the driving force behind people’s outlook and actions, it has for most of history, and continues to do so in many parts of the world. How empty would the study or art or literature be without an understanding of the religious implications? </p>

<p>This is especially important as society becomes more and more secular and religious stories are no longer common knowledge. European literature is riddled with references to the Bible, as well as Shakespeare and Greek Mythology. </p>

<p>I think the study of world religions (not just Christianity) is vital to understanding not just history, but our current situations as well. It is so important to examine not just one’s own fundamental beliefs, but those of others; not to tear them down or to convince, but to understand what motivates them. Can we understand the conflict in Tibet without understanding Tibetan Buddhism? How do we reconcile human rights with Sharia law? Some would say that the root of the Jewish/Muslim conflict dates back to Hagar and Abraham. Even when one does not practise the religion of their culture, it often becomes so ingrained into their lives that it still has profound effects.</p>

<p>Needless to say, I look at religious scholarship and availability in a school as a great big plus!!</p>

<p>Also…the “chapels” are so beautiful at the Episcopal schools. All of them.</p>

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<p>Most beautiful chapel I’ve seen at a school is Pomfret’s. It’s the kind of place that can convert the non-religious…</p>

13

<p>At St. Paul’s family weekend chapel was our favorite experience. Being able to start your day with your school community sets a more positive tone and it was not a purely religious experience. A non-religious poem was read and the Rector’s talk was not religious. I have read some of the chapel talks online and none of them have a religious overtone, but all of them impart valuable life lessons. I asked my d about the references to Christ in the hymns and school prayer and she said that students are encouraged to substitute Christ for another term they are more comfortable with. I am guessing that a student could also chose not to sing or recite a prayer they were uncomfortable with. </p>

<p>But what I am loving about my d’s experience so far, is that she is addressing the question of “Who am I?” They are doing this formally in her humanities class and she is doing it through the experiences with other students and the boarding life is giving her the opportunity to also address this question. I hope, like hola3, she leaves in four years having a better idea of who she is. Already, I have seen a tremendous positive change in her and am grateful for the experience St. Paul’s is giving her.</p>

14

<p>I saw a video on Pomfret’s chapel. It is really stunning, in a way that is not at all ostentatious.</p>

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<p>fif has seen most of the BS chapels and the three that really stand out for him are Pomfret, St. Mark’s and St. George’s. Probably prefers St. Mark’s.</p>

<p>Kent, SPS, Trinity-Pawling and Groton are also quite beautiful. Lawrenceville’s chapel, while the school has no affiliation, is also striking.</p>

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<p>Here is the video I referred to earlier on Pomfret’s chapel: [YouTube</a> - Pomfret School Chapel](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCGEEmDlWk0]YouTube”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCGEEmDlWk0)</p>

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<p>I agree with so much of what has been posted here. I think a student can go to an Episcopal school and feel comfortable whatever his/her religion or lack thereof. I do know a student who had never been exposed to religion by his parents, who went to Kent, really found himself and was baptised and confirmed during his years at Kent. While I’m sure this doesn’t happen very often, and he was certainly not recruited or converted in any way, what did happen was that he found comfort and meaning in the beliefs and practices and took them on as his own.</p>

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<p>beautiful video. thanks for sharing</p>

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<p>Thanks for the video. I was at Pomfret recently and totally unaware of their marvelous Chapel. I promise the big guy I’ll check in next time I’m there.</p>

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<p>Hey ops, I think you’re supposed to capitalize that. </p>

<p>Big Guy :slight_smile: or should it be Big G*y?</p>