<p>PD - what school did your child (I’m assuming daughter based on username) ultimately decide to attend?</p>
<p>A couple of quick comments… Thanks to a recent $65 million capital campaign, there have been many new improvements to Cate’s campus. The new baseball facility mentioned by HanibalBarca09 in the above post is an example (congrats to Cate’s baseball team - they won their division and finished 2nd in the California state championship this year). And Princess’Dad, you’ll be pleased to learn that there’s also a newly constructed aquatic plaza with the same great view of the small, small pool you referenced. A portion of the funds from the recent capital campaign will go to the school’s growing endowment to be used for scholarships and such.</p>
<p>ThacherParent, I’ve been to Ojai and I think it’s a charming and quaint town (think Mayberry in California). In a VERY similar prior thread Princess’Dad obsessed over reported gang violence in Ventura, Ca. While I’m not aware of any specific issues, Ventura is 30+ miles away from Cate and I don’t know why any students would travel there when Santa Barbara is so near. In short, my son has never encountered or seen gang activity while at Cate. </p>
<p>I would suggest that prospective students and their families visit these schools and come to your own opinions. My son looked at many top caliber boarding schools and is delighted with his decision to attend Cate. We are too.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>From the May 10th Ventura County Star: (not quite Mayberry)</p>
<p>[Ojai</a> gang problem a community priority : Opinion : Ventura County Star](<a href=“http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/may/10/ojai-gang-problem-a-community-priority/]Ojai”>http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/may/10/ojai-gang-problem-a-community-priority/)</p>
<p>From recent TV station</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.keyt.com/home/ticker/48588407.html[/url]”>http://www.keyt.com/home/ticker/48588407.html</a></p>
<p>However, I totally agree with what CateParent said:
</p>
<p>Just realize that on different days and from different people, one can get multiple views.</p>
<p>It is always nice to also google the local paper on headlines re: your school choices. You can find interesting things to ask about in your interview.</p>
<p>I don’t know, there was the episode where Andy caught the bank robbers in the shack outside of town. In another episode the moonshiners (a gang if there ever was one) were causing trouble…</p>
<p>Seriously, virtually every school has had some episodes of town/gown, private/public contention. Furthermore, boarding schools are not immune to the social ills of surrounding communities. Hey, gangs are no longer isolated to “those places” but also do “business” in many suburban and rural communities. But I think serious issues for BS students are few and far between. In the absence of any specific events that affected the student body I’d be very reticent to put labels on a school based on its location.</p>
<p>Princess’Dad - that was an OPINION piece. Ojai has a vastly lower crime profile than the rest of the State. It is one of the most beautiful towns that I’ve seen and is filled with incredibly nice, well educated people. I hope to retire there someday.</p>
<p>I asked you in my last note whether you have ever been to Ojai. Have you? Did you visit Thacher? Did you walk around the tiny town of 8000 and see it with your own eyes? Also, who told you that Thacher students are told not to wear Thacher logos in town? I don’t believe you were ever told such a thing.</p>
<p>You were also asked where your daughter ended up. Are you able to answer that question?</p>
<p>Hahaha. That’s great humor and commentary Padre13.</p>
<p>Thatch</p>
<p>If you read before writing, you will have seen that I repeatedly said my comments on Thacher came only from the tour guide at Cate. We did not visit Thacher as d did not want a horse (which I think is a great way to teach responsibility)</p>
<p>As for Cate kids not wearing logos in town, I would refer CP to the Cate School Paper Dec 08.</p>
<p>There is crime in all large cities such as NYC, etc and many schools have town gown problems, but gangs are in Ventura County and Santa Barbara County. Again my info is only what we picked up on our interview in Cate and what we were told. However, a simple google finds much more activity there than you do in NE. However, I would also add that we were told with safety planning (not wearing logos at times), there were no problems with Cate kids. However, I think it is wrong for Cateparent and Thatch to “blow it off” as if there is NO problem in the area. Granted California is a much more liberal State than most (legal marijuana?) and that may relate to some of the comments we heard. I am not “knocking” Cate. As I said, it was my first pick until we visited. We, however, withdrew our application based on what I have said. I believe parents should know good and bad experiances about where they will send their child. Cate was not where we wanted our daughter to go for all of the reasons I stated. Some don’t like Exeter because of the amount of work and stress. (Maybe Exeter needs Cate’s dorms and views) To each their own, but they should be well informed without just the Ra Ra of “CP”</p>
<p>[Articles</a> about Gangs Ventura County - Los Angeles Times](<a href=“http://articles.latimes.com/keyword/gangs-ventura-county]Articles”>http://articles.latimes.com/keyword/gangs-ventura-county)</p>
<p>[Pro-Youth</a> Coalition<a href=“in%20the%20city%20of%20Carpinteria,%20one%20gang%20with%2053%20members.”>/url</a></p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.dailynexus.com/article.php?a=15852]Gang”>http://www.dailynexus.com/article.php?a=15852]Gang</a> Busters - Daily Nexus](<a href=“http://www.zonaseca.com/PYC_Coal/pyc_need.htm]Pro-Youth”>http://www.zonaseca.com/PYC_Coal/pyc_need.htm) According to District Attorney Hilary Dozer, the southern region of Santa Barbara County is home to about five to seven major gangs and 1,200 gang members</p>
<p>[Santa</a> Barbara Sheriff’s Blog: Gang Members Beat Citizen in Carpinteria](<a href=“http://santabarbarasheriffblog.blogspot.com/2007/06/gang-members-beat-citizen-in.html]Santa”>http://santabarbarasheriffblog.blogspot.com/2007/06/gang-members-beat-citizen-in.html)</p>
<p>[Ojai</a> Valley News Blog: Gang Crackdown Nets Six](<a href=“http://ojaivalleynews.blogspot.com/2007/10/gang-crackdown-nets-six.html]Ojai”>Ojai Valley News Blog: Gang Crackdown Nets Six)
The Ojai Surenos Locos , a Hispanic criminal street gang based in Ojai, has about 15 to 20 gang members and has been in the area for about 20 years said Ojai Police Capt. Bruce Norris</p>
<p>[OjaiValleyNewsjump2-2[/url</a>]</p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://lang.presstelegram.com/socal/gangs/articles/ALL_p1main.asp]Enough”>http://lang.presstelegram.com/socal/gangs/articles/ALL_p1main.asp]Enough</a> is Enough: L.B. Press-Telegram Special Report](<a href=“http://ojaivalleynews.com/blogjumps/02febjumps/OjaiValleyNewsjump2-2.html]OjaiValleyNewsjump2-2[/url”>http://ojaivalleynews.com/blogjumps/02febjumps/OjaiValleyNewsjump2-2.html)</p>
<p>edit: Dec 07 school paper</p>
<p>Princess’Dad - I can only reiterate that my son has not encountered any gang violence while at Cate. He’s a smart lad and knows better than to venture into dodgy areas where gang villans might lurk. I would say that he has far too much common sense than to, for example, attend a high school graduation at a public high school in Nashville, TN. I guess the gang violence in Nashville is so bad that the gang members murder eachother at public high school graduation ceremonies. Yikes!! Here’s a link.</p>
<p>[Group</a> Fights To Stop Teen, Gang Violence - NewsChannel 5.com - Nashville, Tennessee -](<a href=“http://www.newschannel5.com/global/story.asp?s=10414860]Group”>http://www.newschannel5.com/global/story.asp?s=10414860)</p>
<p>Is that the same Nashville public high school your children attend, Princess’Dad?</p>
<p>What a sad story in that link, CateParent.</p>
<p>I looked up the scorecards for various locations on the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. Turns out that California, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Massachusetts are the four best rated states with respect to sensible gun laws. Happily, they all also have some fine prep schools.</p>
<p>My niece graduated from Cate this year and loved it. If you have any real concerns about gangs and such in that area, send me a PM and I will get you connected with her as I’m sure she would love to clear the air.
It’s a rough world out there, she is currently touring Europe with Cate friends and loving every minute of it. I’m sure Cate toughened her up for the experience:) (just kidding)
But really, the prep schools near Boston, NYC, Philadelphia, wouldn’t they be just as dangerous to go to…or not?</p>
<p>True CP, there are inner city gangs - but most of the violence related to them is within the inner city gangs - not external. And, our school paper has not recommended not wearing logos to town.</p>
<p>But enough. You are a supporter of Cate. That is great. It is probably a great school. Unfortunately, my “snap shot” of it was totally different than yours. But I believe parents want to know (at least I did) the bad about schools too (the Harkness Club at another school has been discussed in the past) - then they can make an informed decision.</p>
<p>Princess Dad, </p>
<p>Where did you decide to send your daughter?</p>
<p>Princess’Dad - No hard feelings. I genuinely wish the best for you and your family. Should one of your children decide to consider boarding schools again in the future, I hope you take another look at Cate with a more favorable outcome.</p>
<p>CP</p>
<p>I am going into my senior year at Cate, and I have to say it is one of the best decisions I have made in my life. I originally didn’t think much of the school, even going as far as to treat it as a “safety school”. Now that I look back on my Cate experience, I see that it has shaped me into the person I am today (as trite as that may sound). The sense of community here is strong, and when I mean strong, I mean no locks on our dorm rooms strong. You see backpacks littered outside of the dining hall, laptops sitting unattended in the library because everybody trusts each other. The dining hall during lunch is a great snapshot of the social situation at Cate. Sure, we all have our groups of friends, but in no way can you spot out clique tables. You end up being very bonded to the people in your class. The faculty here are awesome. Sure, there are moments when you may not like a specific teacher, but more often than not, they are always there to help. They regularly welcome us into their homes for help and even to bake. All in all, Cate is a place where one will grow organically and come to appreciate life more than he or she had appreciated it before.</p>
<p>And to answer the gang question, not once in my near weekly ventures into town have i seen gang related activity. And even if it is present, gangs are present almost everywhere, but the average citizen is usually not the target.</p>
<p>both are great, i have friends who go to both.
stevenson is FULL of totally rich kids.
cate is possibly the most beautiful school in the whole world. haha no joke, i’m not applying there, but i really wanted to just after seeing the campus.</p>
<p>why didn’t you apply there ?</p>
<p>@princess dad</p>
<p>I realize that this is an old thread but none the less. ventura county is huge just like many other county and regions throughout the world in has its wealthy, affluent areas and towns . there are always working-class areas that are in close proximity to these areas an example of this; is the upper east side of manhattan which runs from about 60th street to 96th street. it is one of the richest places in the world. and yet on 100th street on some avenues there city projects. i have lived in manhattan all of my live and i have only once or twice seen violence (gang related or not). and like somebody pointed out its usually not students who attend the cities various elite education institutions. so if you are going to say that your child cannot go to school with improvised areas 30 miles away then is she allowed to visit the upper east side one of the safest places in the country. so really you have a mute point, i really do not even understand why you are on this forum. you are what is commonly called in new york a helicopter parent.</p>
<p>which urban dictionary defines as</p>
<p>“A parent who hovers over their child, regardless of the child’s needs or desires. An over protective parent who does not want their child to face any difficulty without their parent’s help.”</p>
<p>Example: That kid’s mom just went onto the field to check on his injury. All he did was slide into home. Think she’s a helicopter parent??</p>
<p>please let your kid make some decisions in his/her life. its not your life to live, you had your chance and if you blew it, then thats your fault but don’t use that as an excuse to dictate your child’s being.</p>
<p>RANT OVER</p>