Seven Myths about Independent
Schools
Adapted from the National
Association of Independent Schools:
In the world according to
Gossip Girl, everyone knows that independent schools are full of rich, snobby,
drug-addicted prepsters; and those are just the parents! Myths about
independent schools are alive and well, recycled in media old and new, and we
welcome this opportunity to tell the truth about these myths as they relate to
Brookstone School.
Myth #1
Brookstone is a school for the rich kids.
While Brookstone, like other private schools, has a number of families with two professional parents, we also have a number of single parent families and some in which parents are working two jobs in order to give their children the best possible education. Brookstone also has a number of middle to upper middle class families who find a way to afford a quality education for their children, seeing it as the best investment they can make in their children's future, whatever the cost and sacrifice. The common thread among Brookstone families is that they place a high value on the education of their children.
Brookstone is a school for the rich kids.
While Brookstone, like other private schools, has a number of families with two professional parents, we also have a number of single parent families and some in which parents are working two jobs in order to give their children the best possible education. Brookstone also has a number of middle to upper middle class families who find a way to afford a quality education for their children, seeing it as the best investment they can make in their children's future, whatever the cost and sacrifice. The common thread among Brookstone families is that they place a high value on the education of their children.
Myth #2
Brookstone is not the real world.
Unlike the real world, Brookstone is safe, structured, and teaches and reinforces value. In this way, Brookstone is counter-cultural to the real world. However, Brookstone students are extraordinarily well prepared for the real world- for college, the workplace, and for life. Recently, an Education Longitudinal Study from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) showed that private school graduates in disproportionate numbers earn college and graduate degrees, report high career satisfaction, vote and engage in civic activities, and generally contribute to make the real world a better place. Brookstone alumni are in all parts of the world doing great things at work and in their communities.
Brookstone is not the real world.
Unlike the real world, Brookstone is safe, structured, and teaches and reinforces value. In this way, Brookstone is counter-cultural to the real world. However, Brookstone students are extraordinarily well prepared for the real world- for college, the workplace, and for life. Recently, an Education Longitudinal Study from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) showed that private school graduates in disproportionate numbers earn college and graduate degrees, report high career satisfaction, vote and engage in civic activities, and generally contribute to make the real world a better place. Brookstone alumni are in all parts of the world doing great things at work and in their communities.
The truth of the matter is this: Every one of us is
dealing with things in our own life. We struggle. Our goal is to teach our
students to put others before self and always be aware of the struggles others
may be going through. We mentor. We have relationships with children at Fox
Elementary and have exchanges with children in Africa. We study other people.
We guide. And we counsel. We open our kids’ eyes to see those around them and
give them a sense of empathy for others, with the ultimate goal of putting
others before self. We hope that they will see others and put others before
themselves – ultimately hoping that this becomes “the real world.”
Myth #3
Brookstone is not affordable.
Private schools such as Brookstone are expensive but not unaffordable. It is expensive to hire the best teachers, maintain small classes, and provide a full-range of sports, arts programs, and activities. And at Brookstone, we expect all of our students to participate, unlike public schools in which only the top athletes and artists are served. We give those opportunities here at Brookstone. We want all of our students and parents to be involved. Therefore, we seek a wide spectrum of students and families.
Brookstone is not affordable.
Private schools such as Brookstone are expensive but not unaffordable. It is expensive to hire the best teachers, maintain small classes, and provide a full-range of sports, arts programs, and activities. And at Brookstone, we expect all of our students to participate, unlike public schools in which only the top athletes and artists are served. We give those opportunities here at Brookstone. We want all of our students and parents to be involved. Therefore, we seek a wide spectrum of students and families.
Brookstone offers need-based financial aid, which
discounts the “sticker price" for a significant number of families so that
they can afford to send their children to a high quality school. Do not be
afraid due to “sticker shock.”
Approximately 20% of the students at Brookstone receive financial
assistance. Financial aid is computed according to a formula that takes into
account a number of things like the number of people in the family, assets and
liabilities, the amount of taxes paid, and payments being made to other
tuition-charging institutions. Families of relatively high income often qualify
for some financial aid.
When you consider spending money on education, you will
have to ask yourself: Is it worth it? Ask yourself - Can I put a price-tag on
teachers and coaches investing themselves in my child’s life? Is there a price
for the effect of excellent mentoring for our children? Teaching them character
as well as academics? Brookstone teachers and coaches invest themselves daily
in our students’ lives. The relationships built at this school are priceless
and enduring.
Myth #4
Private schools like Brookstone
are snobby and have cliques.
This is a common misperception that is totally dispelled by a visit to the school. We hope that you will find that we are an educational institution focused on character. We value the heart as much as the head. This sense of community pervades every aspect of who we are as a school and is the main value that our alumni take from the school.
This is a common misperception that is totally dispelled by a visit to the school. We hope that you will find that we are an educational institution focused on character. We value the heart as much as the head. This sense of community pervades every aspect of who we are as a school and is the main value that our alumni take from the school.
You may think that all Brookstone students have been
friends all their lives and/or all their parents are friends. This is simply
not true. We add students at every grade level, and the diversity of the
program and the student body makes it impossible for students and families to
remain sheltered and comfortable in a separate community. Furthermore, our
parents don’t want that. Our new families are so quickly absorbed into the
Brookstone community that it is difficult to tell who is new and who has been
here since the beginning.
We constantly introduce new students, new friends, and
new parents to the community so that all of us are meeting new people and
building new relationships on our journey through the school with our children.
Families who have transferred to Brookstone, even from
other private schools, frequently comment on the genuine friendliness and
kindness of our faculty, staff, students, and families. While a number of our
students have gone to school together since preschool, they love new classmates
and making new friends.
Myth #5
Brookstone lacks diversity.
Brookstone values an inclusive and diverse environment. All of our students benefit from being part of a diverse environment and understanding and appreciating the differences and similarities among friends from a variety of ethnic, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds. The comfort that Brookstone students have with diversity serves them very well once they leave for college and in the workplace after college. Our student body is made up of approximately 20% students of color in the upper school and 13% in the school overall. We draw students from areas all across Columbus, outside of Columbus, and from other counties in Georgia and Alabama.
Brookstone lacks diversity.
Brookstone values an inclusive and diverse environment. All of our students benefit from being part of a diverse environment and understanding and appreciating the differences and similarities among friends from a variety of ethnic, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds. The comfort that Brookstone students have with diversity serves them very well once they leave for college and in the workplace after college. Our student body is made up of approximately 20% students of color in the upper school and 13% in the school overall. We draw students from areas all across Columbus, outside of Columbus, and from other counties in Georgia and Alabama.
Myth #6
Brookstone has an alcohol and drug problem.
We do more at Brookstone in terms of drug and alcohol education than any other school in the city. Do some of our students struggle with the influences that pervade society? Yes. But, so do students who attend any school, whether it is public or private, in the nation.
Brookstone has an alcohol and drug problem.
We do more at Brookstone in terms of drug and alcohol education than any other school in the city. Do some of our students struggle with the influences that pervade society? Yes. But, so do students who attend any school, whether it is public or private, in the nation.
If we think that there is a place in any school, in any
church, or in any community where students are not confronted with the issues
of drug and alcohol use then we are being foolish.
The key is education and arm our children with the
knowledge they need to fight against the influences that they face in our
society. We do that. We also make clear in every forum that here at Brookstone
we firmly stand against the use of drugs and alcohol. Does this mean that all our families and
children are perfect? Not at all. None of us is perfect. But, we do not close
our eyes to the issues. We deal with them and handle them in a serious
manner.
You can be assured that a clear and consistent message of
the at-risk behavior of drug and alcohol use is something that is dangerous to
the goals we desire: the development of
the mind, body, and spirit of the child.
Myth #7
Brookstone is only for really smart kids.
Really smart kids do graduate from Brookstone, but not all of our students come to Brookstone that way. Because of talented teachers who have high expectations and a school culture that encourages students to work hard, Brookstone is able to help good students become better students and great students become excellent students. Our teachers stay after class all across the school to hold "tutorials" for any students who need additional help or want to review for tests. In the upper and middle schools, activities are not allowed to begin until extra help is over.
Brookstone is only for really smart kids.
Really smart kids do graduate from Brookstone, but not all of our students come to Brookstone that way. Because of talented teachers who have high expectations and a school culture that encourages students to work hard, Brookstone is able to help good students become better students and great students become excellent students. Our teachers stay after class all across the school to hold "tutorials" for any students who need additional help or want to review for tests. In the upper and middle schools, activities are not allowed to begin until extra help is over.
It is cool to be smart at Brookstone, and motivated
students who work hard can enjoy great success.
We hope that you
will find this attempt to debunk these myths helpful as you proceed through the
admissions process at Brookstone School.
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