Another view.

• Author: Kinney, David
• Position: UP FRONT

The letter was anonymous, the writer identifying himself only as "A Southern Prep School Grad." It was in reference to last month's cover story on Woodberry Forest School.

"Yes, the private prep schools have beautiful campuses, dormitories and great academics, sports and facilities. However, they are isolated and protected societies that are not typical of the world at large. Your article failed to report on the inherent sadness in such places. All those young boys, eating three meals a day together, with no parents in sight. Going to bed at night in dormitories filled with other boys and supervised by non-family adult teachers who live in apartments on the ground floor like resident property managers. No 'good nights' or other loving comments from any parent.

"For three or four academic years, these boys live apart from parents--most of whom are at great distance and cannot visit occasionally or at all. Their fathers are captains of industry or other busy professionals. They park their teenage sons in a protected environment to be raised, and nurtured, by others. In some cases, the parents of prep-school boys are in difficult marriages or are divorced and simply cannot deal with having their sons around. For those boys, the isolation of prep school becomes at least a temporary escape from a bad home life ....

"Academics, of course, are excellent at such schools. But bear in mind that many boys are sent there because they were failing in public schools or had discipline problems. While many benefit from taking college-level courses in high school, others bear through it just to pass and then revert to their irresponsible ways as soon as they hit college. Why bother? In many cases, a secure job awaits them at the family business after graduation. Consider this last remark in light of the alumni you have spoken to--how many of them are working at family businesses in jobs from which they cannot or will not be fired? How many...