<p>I think Hill has had an unusually large number of drug/alcohol issues the past few years. Things cycle, though, and next year it might be some other school. NO school is free from this problem, and a lot of a parent's "comfort factor" will depend on how the administration handles such things. I know at Blair discipline is applied fairly and consistently, which is not the case at all schools (cough, cough st.stephen's-austin). Blair also communicates honestly with the parent-body and lets them know what is going on. Some schools try to hide this information.</p>
<p>I think narcotics and their ramifications are prevalent at every boarding school. However, I am not an advocate of zero tolerance. It brings the wrong message to students, and makes it seem more like a game of chance than something that will devastate their future if caught. </p>
<p>The only people who should be immediately expelled from the school are people who are caught in the act of selling or distributing illicit narcotics or prescription drugs, alcohol and/or tobacco if the school considers that illegal for its students (usually that is the case). </p>
<p>The rest MUST be given the option of unconditional rehabilitation. If that course of action is refused then expulsion is in order. I have seen too many cases of students ruining their lives because they were pressured into using drugs by their peers, and some times the student dealer doesn't get caught. I firmly believe that once a student understands the seriousness of the situation and the embarrassment that comes of it, then a second attempt is often never undertaken. </p>
<p>Parents should be just as worried about on-campus theft as well. Drugs are a motivation for students to steal valuables. If you don't have to bring a family heirloom, irreplaceable objects or jewelery, or extremely expensive electronics other than a computer and its peripherals, I would advise against it. If anything, make sure you have a safe place to put your things. </p>
<p>This is just a reality of boarding school, it matters not which one. As my dorm parent said to me once </p>
<p>"It is just a fact of life that students will get bored and make stupid decisions regardless of how much we try make school exiting and engaging. This is the reality that we have to fight every day. It is the job of both you and I to let our friends know what is at stake."</p>
<p>mm, good post tokyorevelation9- theres always going to be stuff like that going on, imean ppl have done some pretty foolish things loll (ie last week some student had a brilliant idea of sneaking a girl into his (2nd story) room via a dropped sheet... ill leave the rest to ur imagination >.<) </p>
<p>i dont know if this is just an art school thing, but here i kinda feel as though some students have more slack than others, ie for ex. the star of the theater department being given detention for something he shouldve received a suspension for or something...</p>
<p>I definetly agree that it's unfair to expel a student just because they have posession of drugs. Maybe a month long suspension w/rehab to straighten them out.</p>
<p>Unfortunately xcyuen it is often not that simple. Every case must be evaluated thoroughly in order to find the proper course of action. One overarching policy will not do the trick. Possessing drugs is illegal and wrong, and students must understand that, but due to the nature of how drugs are distributed the crime is not the same for everyone. It is easy to implicate students wrongly, or mistakenly accuse a student framed by his or her peers. Sometimes the situation that led to the possession of drugs does warrant expulsion, but the point I'm trying to make is that zero tolerance assumes that ** every time ** it warrants such recourse. That is not right. </p>
<p>It would be like getting rid of all the distinctions between different types of homicide. We have those distinctions for a very good reason. Manslaughter is by no means not the same as premeditated murder in cold blood.</p>
<p>MAPLPARENT,</p>
<p>Just to let you know, many of my D's 8th grade peers will be attending boarding schools next year (Her school ends at the end of 8th grade). In addition to our relative who is in his 1st year at Hill, we also know a few other students from her school who are there now, and a couple who have recently graduated. My D actually visited the school (along with 2 other boarding schools) this year and had a great interview. </p>
<p>Although we WEREN'T crazy about the boarding school idea at first, my D was interested in checking some out, so we tried to have an open mind about the whole thing. We actually liked the school when we visited and were considering it for our D. We didn't start to find out about issues at Hill until right before she was about to apply. We also heard from parents of recent Hill graduates that they also had to deal with lack of supervision issues when their kids were there (off-campus drinking parties, etc). So I obviously DO KNOW quite a bit about this school! </p>
<p>As I stated in my previous post, when The Hill administration FINDS OUT about drug, sex, and alcohol problems, they DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I heard (from Hill parents and students) they kicked out SEVERAL students last year after they were caught drinking at an unauthorized off-campus party. It was so bad, they actually canceled classes one day to address the situation with the kids. They also kicked out a boy and girl this year after they were caught having sex on campus. As far as I know, they DON'T sweep things under the rug, and I applaud them for this. It just bothered us that these things happened in the first place. Parents are leaving their children in the school's care, and it's scary to hear about what goes on there--and at some other boarding schools. </p>
<p>Goliedad-- I KNOW every school has their drug, alcohol, and sex issues. However, even my oldest D--who attends a local day school--could not believe the TYPE of drugs the kids at Hill were using. She says there are kids who do drugs at her school, but not hard stuff. We're not just talking about pot. These kids are using VERY hard drugs. There woud be no reason (MAPLPARENT) for our relative to make this up. He said it's much easier for them to smuggle in the drugs than alcohol. </p>
<p>And... we're not selfish, controlling parents. My oldest D had no interest in going to a boarding school, and my youngest D is not upset about not going to one. She is very excited about going to a great local day school next year. If she had REALLY wanted to go to The Hill or another boarding school, I don't think we would have been selfish to not let her attend. We know our child, and we know it just wouldn't have been the right place for HER. We do know kids-- like your D-- that are extremely happy and are doing really well at boarding schools. We even know kids and parents that are happy at Hill! It's just not the right place for everyone.</p>
<p>I'm sorry if Hill alumni and/or Hill parents aren't happy with my post. Since people come on this forum to get info about schools, I thought it was important to pass along what I TRULY FEEL is accurate information. You can believe it --or not.</p>
<p>rockyroad,</p>
<p>Thank you for your followup post. I think it better clarifies your particular situation.</p>
<p>If your daughter is not hung up about boarding school and feels more comfortable dealing with the local day school, then that certainly is the correct choice for her.</p>
<p>I don't doubt your stories about hard drugs being used. Personally, I don't see much of a difference between pot smoking and the harder stuff from the perspective that the drug users are self-medicating to deal with a psych problem and are not getting the support they need either at home, in their community or through their schools, churches, synagogues, temples, etc.</p>
<p>Yeah, some people are more comfortable with pot than other drugs as there seems to be a longer history of fewer "serious" problems associated with pot. And with money (much of which can be found at just about any boarding school), students can afford more exotic problems (prescription drugs) that are even easier to hide. </p>
<p>As much as you would like to think that the local day school is cleaner than Hill, it is difficult to compare the two as most drug use goes on "off-hours" when the day school kids are home (often alone and unsupervised). This is much like the problem you described with off-campus parties. I don't know Hill's policy on letting students leave campus with other students is, but at my D's school, they require written permission naming specifically which (if any) students (or parents for that matter) a boarder may leave campus with. My D's school is upfront advising boarding parents against allowing their children this priveledge specifically because it leads to these drug/alcohol situations.</p>
<p>I'm sorry that a thread about Hill has turned into a public discussion of substance abuse. As much as rockyroad has brought to the attention of this forum his family's experience with drug usage at Hill, do remember that rockyroad's is a single data point. His relative may have the general picture, but easily may not as well as young people do tend to focus on the exceptional, especially when it is very near them. </p>
<p>I would encourage any parent who has a child going to Hill or ANY boarding school to ask many deep and probing questions to as many faculty and staff as they can (especially house parents) to get a feel as to how their children are supervised.</p>
<p>And even more importantly to all parents of boarding students, know your child's problems well and how s/he deals with them. If your child doesn't consistently demonstrate effective strategies for dealing with the problems and stresses that come up in life, s/he is more likely to try drugs or alcohol as a solution. And no matter where you send your child, s/he will find drugs and alcohol.</p>
<p>Thank you rockyroad for bringing this serious experience to our attention. I wish your daugher a happy and productive school experience.</p>
<p>@rockyroad
You just made my day. im going to the hill!!</p>
<p>Good decision. Hill School has great teachers, and a fun atmosphere. My other children have graduated from other prep schools (Taft, Groton etc) and I'm very pleased with Hill. My daughter is getting an excellent education. The headmaster, David Dougherty, is kind, warm and fun and the kids love him.
David and Kay Dougherty set the tone for the school and the values they seek to instill are those of honesty, kindness to others, and compassion.
Three of my daughters teachers this year hold Ph.D's, and all of her teachers have been excellent.
Pottstown isn't great, but they kids make the best of it.</p>
<p>I have recently been accepted to The Hill School, and Westtown School.</p>
<p>The only feedback I've been hearing from both of these schools is posotive.. I'm now wondering what students DON'T like about these schools. Any feedback would be helpful making my decision. Thanks</p>
<p>When we were narrowing down our list of schools last fall, I read schools' handbooks, etc. The section on Hill's site about the dress code was more comprehensive than any I saw elsewhere and was definitely too conservative for our family. I did not see any other schools that dictated a "hair code" as well as a dress code. </p>
<p>"In accordance with the value of self-discipline at The Hill School, all students are expected to keep their hair neat and clean. Radical colors and hairstyles, including ponytails on boys, are not permitted."</p>
<p>True, there is a dress code at Hill for academic dress, and guidelines for hair. The kids however, seem to accept it happily. Once, my daughter commented on how easy it was to tell the difference between the town kids who came to Hill for SAT tests, and the Hill kids. I asked her, what is the difference? She thought about it and said "we (the Hill kids) all look happier."
Doubtless the structure and dress code would not be comfortable for everyone.</p>
<p>I have games at the Hill School and lets just say Pottstown is the home of the nuclear reactor.</p>
<p>well.
Hill used to be very strict, but now it's loosening up.
I know a couple people who were alumni of hill, who taught at hill, and who go to hill (you can tell i'm from near philly)</p>
<p>I didn't get a very good impression the school when I visited.
the dress code is now considered a joke, and people there just slack off too much.</p>
<p>Hill does periodically revise and adapt their dress code, but the boys still wear jackets and ties and the girls wear blazers, or dressy jackets, with their skirts or pants.<br>
More importantly than the dress code, I'm hearing that many kids are getting into very good colleges.</p>
<p>wooot, go hill.
kill lville!</p>
<p>My wife & I were impressed with Hill. Our D chose to attend another school, but we would have also been delighted had she enrolled at the Hill. We loved the Headmaster, the ethos, the traditions, and the old school mores. They were also (very) generous with FA. Should our younger two children consider BS, we will consider Hill.</p>
<p>Our Hill daughter is going into her second year of college now. She was pleased with her college choice (a very good school) and found that Hill had prepared her well, both with information and good study habits. College has gone smoothly.
We all feel so happy about her Hill years.</p>
<p>The hill is amazing. The dress code is to take pride in one’s appearance which I find teens lack these days immensely. And the academic dress is really only for classes.</p>