Preparing for Power: America's Elite Boarding Schools

by Peter W. Cookson Jr., Caroline Persell, Caroline Hodges Persell

Book Overview

Why do private boarding schools produce such a disproportionate number of leaders in business, government, and the arts? In the most comprehensive study of its kind to date, two sociologists describe the complex ways in which elite schools prepare students for success and power, and they also provide a lively behind-the-scenes look at prep-school life and underlife.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0465062695
• ISBN13: 9780465062690
• Release Date: September 1987
• Publisher: Basic Books
• Length: 260 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.0" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Leadership is an art and honed by practice.

I am person, from the lower-middle class, who went to public school, state universities for my B.S. and my Masters. When I read this book and the book, of The Art of Getting Things Done by Richard Brislin, several years ago, I began to understand the political deftness and self-confidence of people I meet who came from well to do families. From birth, they model the lives of their parents who are highly paid professinals in professional service firms like law or accounting or high-powered exectives in Fortune 500 corporations. As both books point out, then through have these behaviors ingrained until adolescence, where then private education's honing influnce takes shape. The practice of self-government of the schools by the students, a ruthless ethos of performance and results of making the grade, practicing behaviors that are the signals of leadership are honed in the classroom's demanding education and the politcally charged enviornment outside the classroom. It was a huge "AHA" momement about myself. For example politicians, John Kerry and George Bush both went to the same private school. Barrack Obamas went to private schools in Hawii paid for by his grandparents. I better understand my limitations and constraints and why I have hit certain ceilings in my life. The system does reach down and pull in the highly intelligent and promising candidates from the outside to bring in new blood. However, these are the extreme outliers on the bell curve. Throughout history, the rich and powerful have been sought to pass on to their offspring these mindsets and behaviors.

Interesting, Readable Account

I read this book for a class of mine on education. I had never really known much about boarding schools until this book. It is a readable and accessible account of boarding schools; although, this book is slightly out of date as the information was from the 80's. The income and tuitions numbers are completely off by today's standards. Other than that, for us who have gone through public schools and any non-elite schools, it is a glimpse into the world of the elite education. My instructor did e-mail one of the authors, Cookson, and learned more about his background. He was not from any elite boarding school, where Persell did attend a boarding school. Interesting, is that these types of schools produce such outstanding alumni and yet no one really knows about them. I'm sure the information is getting out of date; the copy I had had yellowed pages and was printed in 1985. Yet, it is still interesting for people interesting in educational differences and opportunities. Or just very curious people.

A well thought-out study of the prep school experience.

I enjoyed the anthropological-based approach of this book. The methods and collection of material seemed appropriate and balanced. It also kept my attention with great quotes and inside opinions. A must read for anyone interested in the prep-school experience - just remember that the material is a bit out of date.

Privilege and the Proper Study of a Quality Education

"Democracy is supposed to begin at the schoolhouse door. One has to be blinded by this glowing image of equality, however, not to see that private [boarding] schools, in general, represent an elite alternative to the public educational system in much the same way that private cars are alternatives to public transportation." Even though this book was published in 1985, most of the research and analysis of the elite schools still apply today. The different types of boarding schools across the United States are illuminating. Take the time to know the differences. There is the impression that boarding schools are for delinquents, second-rated and spoiled children. Positively, not the case. Children entering their teenage years must be mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually disciplined for an entirely new experience away from home; or get suspended or expelled quickly. The book gives a fair review about how several public schools are even producing a growing number of eligible candidates for the Ivy League schools, although in many ways, the authors believe they still remain at a significant disadvantage. Although attending a private boarding school is no guarantee for admittance to Harvard, it certainly does provide a "booster shot" for incredible success. Every parent should read this book. For example, Portsmouth Abbey School is located near Newport, Rhode Island. Considerations included: 1) children leaving the nest early; 2) a safe, but not necessarily comfortable learning environment; 3) equality between the boys and girls; 4) the ability of the children to seize opportunities; and get 5) access / exposure to all the information / people / network in the World. Plan accordingly while your child is in kindergarten. Discover how America's elite are bred.

A glimpse into how the social elite inherit privilege.

This book provides an interesting glimpse into the lives of students, teachers, and administrators of elite boarding schools. It describes the costs and benefits to students (and teachers) of an elite boarding school education, and how this "rite of passage" encourages the idea among students that their advantages are earned. It also describes how elite students are socialized for power; and how their social contacts and schools help them gain acceptance to the best colleges and, later, into the best jobs, with the full complicity of the college admissions officers. This is an easy-to-read, well-researched, and interesting book. My only complaint is that it is too short!