Full disclosure, I have not read the piece yet. But have it bookmarked and will.
While I agree with some of the sentiments expressed here (and was, frankly, astounded that the head of school makes $700,000) it seems a little disingenuous as the author both taught at an elite school AND sent her own children to one.
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Why? As a member of the faculty, her children get preference treatment in admissions as well as financial aid.
Since she has a lot to say about the evils of elite private schools (and I agree with many of her points), you’d think she wouldn’t sent her kid to one. She was not a faculty member at the time her child was a student and hadn’t been for some years.
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But she has first hand knowledge of how much better the education and opportunities at HW were, so wanted those for her kid, too.
Thank you for sharing! While her tone is snarky, she’s a great writer, and I agree with her overall point. There is vast inequality in this country, and the gap is widening by the minute. It is obscene, the difference in the educational experience of a top private school vs. a bottom public. Or even a middle of the pack public.
That said, we would need a revolution in education to fix the inequality there. I have never understood why education is funded by property taxes. Aren’t all children equally valuable? If I could wave a magic wand, I would have schools funded equally (per student) – all with the same resources. I would increase salaries so the teaching profession attracted the best and brightest. I would have public schools adopt some of the best practices (which aren’t all expensive) of the private schools. This would not eliminate private schools, and I don’t think they should be abolished. But it might close, a bit, the gulf between the haves and have nots.
Climbing down off my soapbox now 
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This. The gutting of public schools over the last 30? 40? years is a travesty- it was once part of the ‘secret sauce’ of the US’s success.
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Thank God that no one in our family has had such a horrible person as a teacher as the author of this article.
The author seems obsessed with finding fault & focusing on negatives. I had to check whether the article was from The Atlantic or from The National Enquirer.
The author’s initial complaint was that she had to deal with a grade obsessed student & his parents twice over a two year period while teaching at an elite NYC private day school. Welcome to the real world. This type of interaction is not limited to private schools.
The author further complains about wealthy families donating money to elite private schools. Most families first reaction might be to thank the donors for their generosity which often funds need based aid in addition to providing funds for teacher’s pay & for updated equipment & facilities.
Private schools are wonderful institutions which focus on delivering the best education to those who are willing to work & sacrifice for such an opportunity.
Hard work & a great education are values which should be applauded–not subject to ridicule & scorn because one family values education so much that it has become an obsession.
This article is little more than an attempt to create scandalous trash in an effort to boost readership. A complete waste of time.
I see a lot of good done by private schools throughout the country in an effort to share the wealth with the community. For example: St. Paul’s School in New Hampshire offers a summer session or sessions open to only New Hampshire public school students at no charge. All elite private prep boarding schools spend a great deal of time & resources searching for capable students in low income areas in order to provide four years of schooling with the benefit of more than just a full ride scholarship. Often the award includes transportation for the student, parents & siblings in addition to housing during school breaks, clothing, all supplies, room, board & tuition.
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Great article. I had a kid go to one of the schools discussed in the article, and of course most parents aren’t like the ones she mentions. That said, I’d be fine with Congress limiting the tax-free nature of private schools and colleges – say, income on the first $50 million of endowment could be tax-free, but amounts above that taxable (or, say, $1 billion for universities). I have no problem with private institutions, but I don’t see why we need to allow their income to be tax-free.
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Given that a very similar thread was closed by @CC_Jon just a day ago, I feel it’s best to err on the side of caution in this case.
Feel free to read Jon’s comment on the other thread about the same topic. Political Correctness and new Wokeness at the elite high schools that gave us the varsity blues scandal - #149
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