<p>I know that there are many people in my small town who totally don't understand prep schools. While I trust that misinformed adults may just roll their eyes at students, I wonder how some of our local youths might treat students if prep school students might be seen walking along our Main Street.</p>
<p>I have read the article in the Phillipian about local teens' treatment of PA students and I have also read comments posted under newspaper articles dealing with various schools. Most of the schools to which my son is applying are in small towns (or tiny towns).</p>
<p>Just how much animosity is there between prep school and townie? While schools do well to maintain "diplomatic relations" with local officials, what of general attitude? There are a lot of misconceptions about who a prep school student is. </p>
<p>I would love to hear from current students.</p>
<p>I can’t answer your question, Neato, but I do know that this also exists in college towns. My son attended Bowdoin and said that the townies were not at all friendly towards the students.</p>
Incidents like this almost always get reported immeidately and then get much publicity as they deserve, but they do actually rarely happen. While we should be watchful on where the trend is moving, there is no reason to get worked up by the thoughts that your child will be harassed/attacked whille he’s in boarding school.</p>
<p>Oh, I know Benley! (about surges in publicity), that’s why I’m asking people who are not a part of the media. I’m asking for actual experience as opposed to media hype and inflammatory responses to news articles.</p>
<p>I’m sorry if I wasn’t clear. I mentioned the Phillipian article because I didn’t want anyone to go through the trouble of digging it up for my benefit, as I’d already read it. </p>
<p>I can’t help but think that local teens might feel jealous of the privilege they see the prep students enjoying and I was wondering how that plays out in the towns.</p>
<p>I was at a boarding school pretty recently. When kids from town drove by they’d curse at us, and my friend had a hamburger thrown at her. One time, someone set off fireworks right in front of our dorm late at night. </p>
<p>That being said, we went into town a lot and had barely any problems. Some people in town won’t like you because you go to a particular school, but I don’t think you should really worry about it.</p>
<p>I haven’t heard of anything negative at my daughter’s school. I think if it were an obvious issue she would have noticed. As it is, she loves walking into town and spending what little pocket money she keeps on hand, at the dollar store and pizza place. I think her school works hard to do volunteer work in the small town and students often help in the elementary schools (put on plays,etc).
It certainly is a double edged sword as the schools employ the local residents and also bring in money (through student spending) into the local economy.</p>
<p>According to a friend who lives in Andover, the relations between the academy and the town are excellent. In general, the students at PA are involved on campus, and don’t come into frequent contact with Andover kids.</p>
<p>PA does have a large population of day students who live in the immediate area. </p>
<p>I do wonder about the culture at the local high school, that (a few) local teens feel it’s o.k. to attack other teens on the street.</p>
<p>Blairstown village is a small and right next to Blair Academy. Town/gown relationships are good. The benefactor of Blair, John Insley Blair, created the school to educate town children before public education became mandated in the US. [Blair</a> Academy - About Blair](<a href=“http://www.blair.edu/About_Blair/ab_history.shtm]Blair”>http://www.blair.edu/About_Blair/ab_history.shtm) I sense that the town is proud of the Academy, and many of the postcards on their website are of Blair Academy property [Blairstown</a> Township Home Page](<a href=“http://www.blairstown-nj.org/]Blairstown”>http://www.blairstown-nj.org/) The history of Blairstown is tied to Blair Academy through John Insley Blair. </p>
<p>My understanding is that the people from Blairstown use the track when not being used by the school, play golf for a small fee, and probably have access to some other facilities. Many of the shops in the village get a good percent of their business from Blair students and faculty. The top wrestlers from the local high school work out with the Blair wrestlers, which is a big plus because Blair wrestling is so strong. In addition to 20% day students, there are many local families with ties to Blair, including employment. </p>
<p>I asked my son if he had heard of any incidents. He said he has never experienced anything, but over 3 1/2 years, has heard of 2 comments like “You Blair kids are spoiled.” He heard this from 2 classmates, and has never had negative comments directed at him. He has never heard of anything worse than that, and never any threat of physical violence.</p>
<p>I think the town-prep relationship depends largely on the socioeconomics of the town. I live in a town with a couple of highly ranked prep schools. Because the town is relatively well-to-do and many kids from town attend these schools I’ve never heard of any friction between public and prep school kids. There’s actually a fair amount of fluidity between the groups.</p>
<p>On the other hand, I attended a LAC in an economically depressed area. The town-gown tension was palpable in certain areas of town. </p>
<p>I think issues arise when one or both groups see the other as unlike themselves.</p>
<p>It’s too bad that kids have such perception when we all just want to be accepted amongst ourselves. The fact that TV always portrays kids going to prep schools as spoiled brats doesn’t help the cause :)</p>
<p>I specifically asked my dd about her school and the local residents. Her response “Oh, they hate us”. me: “Why” Someone else in the common room: “Because they think we’re wierd”.</p>
<p>Interesting, the rich and spoiled comment wasn’t there.</p>
<p>I asked my daughter about the Andover article. She had just been to E/A (she is a student at Exeter). I asked her if she saw the “townies” cursing at the Exeter buses as described. Upon reflection she said that she thinks she saw them but didn’t really notice. </p>
<p>She hasn’t said anything about problems with the local kids at Exeter. In fact, they had a Christmas concert at the public high school auditorium this past December. It was a joint concert with performers from both schools (although they did not perform together). She said there was a distinct difference between the quality of musicians from each school which I would expect, but everyone from both schools was very polite and applause was equal.</p>
<p>The concert with Exeter and the locals sounds really nice. </p>
<p>Phillips Academy Andover has track meets with Andover High, and it’s very funny to see everyone with Andover on their shirts, and Andover High’s colors are blue and yellow so that’s even close!</p>