Community Chat

[Oznell]

There's been much concern over time with boys falling behind in the academic arena.  Girls outperform them in many areas.

Kudos to Boys' Latin in Maryland, who've adopted some ideas meant to nurture boys' specific needs in learning. 

Generalizations can sometimes be odious, but it's undeniably true that boys tend to have a higher need for kinetic movement, and ability to use up extra energy.

Boys' Latin lower ( elementary) has taken several steps. They've now two morning recesses, one that takes place just before the official start of school in the a.m.  The boys have embraced this wholeheartedly, and teachers report that their abilitiy to concentrate in class afterwards is improved.  Those who were chronically late in the past, now arrive in the classroom on time.

Another important measure is a ban of cell phones during school hours.  The school cited NYU psychologist Jonathan Haidt, author of "The Anxious Generation",  in that, boys tend to be over-protected in the natural world, yet UNDER-protected in the virtual world.

Just these two steps the school has taken are basic common sense, and show an improved understanding of how boys learn.  Encouraging.        

[brandiwine]

Do you have a child that attends this school?  After working for many years in a local school I found what was going on in a school can be very different than what a press release says.  Hopefully, this is the real deal.  I would love to see positive change in our schools.  Certainly not seeing it in the schools my grandkids go to.

[Oznell]

You make good points, @brandiwine .  My son went to a regular public school.  Boys' Latin is described as an independent school.  

It's very good to have a healthy skepticism about methods-- that's how we learn what works and what doesn't.  I tend to trust that these innovations are real and verifiable, as they've been widely reported, including in Education Week.

When our son was in elementary school, we strongly wished that a cell phone ban had been in place-- we feel it would have been beneficial to him too. 

[Cakers3]

@Oznell 👍👍👍

Our grandson has taught robotics to incoming high school seniors over several summers. 99% are male. Highly motivated and it's true about kinetic energy.

Wonderful to hear that education is focusing on individual traits for learning instead of standard methods which fail for so many.

[Shelbelle]

Boys Latin is close to my home, and is sooo expensive !!!

[PamfromCT]

Hopelessly, old-fashioned, I know.  But I went to an all-girls 

Catholic private school for my high school years.  They were quite strict, uniforms, and no disrespectful behavior permitted.  I got an excellent education.  No boys on site,  no competition for dressing, etc.

It really paid off in college.  
And I came from a home where my parents were loving and strict, the "real (?) world came as a shock.  Through it all, all these years later, I try my best and very unhappy with so much of what I see.  Of course, at my age, "I am in God's waiting room."  At 80, He still wants me here.

[Oznell]

We all still want you here, thoughtful @PamfromCT !

[Oznell]

 @Cakers3 --  you put it so succinctly:  'focus on individual traits for learning' --   that is key.

[Citrine1]

Tuition at Boys Latin ranges between $25,000 and $54,000.  Is that per year????

If I'm paying that kind of money, I expect the best.  

[Mersha]

Boys' Latin School of Maryland is an all-boys, university-preparatory school located in Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 1844, it is the oldest independent, nonsectarian secondary school in the state of Maryland. The school is divided into Lower, Middle and Upper Schools.

WOW...for the below tuition they better be doing a great job.

Keep in mind, in Maryland,  the public schools require its teachers to have better qualifications than the private schools.

Affording Boys' Latin

Boys' Latin Tuition 2024-2025

$31,300	GRADES 1-5
$34,500	GRADES 6-8
$37,400	GRADES 9-12
$54,900 $62,400	Boarding 9-12 International Boarding Tuition