All of these schools are venemous when they take on their arch rivals, but there’s always a few who take it a bit too far. There were some reports last year of an Exeter student spitting on Andover rival athletes. The video is not becoming to the headmaster here. It’s a good example of taking a good thing a bit too far.
@GMC2918 if you haven’t already done so I would encourage you to give the MX admissions office a heads up regarding your experience. All of these schools know that their tour guides can occasionally miss the mark, but this particular incident sounds like it went beyond a simple indiscretion. I am sure the admissions office would appreciate feedback that your son had an uncomfortable experience, and it is worth considering that other prospective students might be in the same boat when given a tour by that student.
Thanks @lr4550 I already did ;-). They were apologetic and kindly offered to have us come back, which I said really wasn’t necessary. DS understands that you can’t judge a school by its tour guide, or by any one interaction for that matter. I guess the point I was making in even bringing this up isn’t to bash MX, but to highlight that concept. Having been through this process 2x before and with one child already in BS, I know how hard it is not to judge based on a single data-point. I always encourage people to visit schools multiple times if they can (go see a game, a performance), read the school newspaper, follow them on social media, speak to teachers & students and ask questions. Your suggestion of reading the Head of School’s newsletters is also a great one. For Cate, where my DD attends, these are easy to find on their website and I’m sure that other schools do the same. Especially for parents looking at boarding schools for the first time, it’s important to keep an open mind, and realize that no school is perfect.