The parenting program was difficult for us at first. In my culture, you stay to yourself, you do not share you personal feelings with others. At Hyde, that is one of the first things you do…even in the interview! I thought this was about my kid… I thought.”

–His Excellency Ambassador Andreas Kakouris (Stephen ’09 Bath)

Q. What kind of classes will my student take at Hyde?

A. Hyde Schools are college preparatory boarding schools offering traditional academic content. Students are required to take English, history, math, science, foreign language, and art courses, as well as electives.

Q. Lots of schools teach character. What makes Hyde Schools’ character education unique?
A. Hyde Schools have a three-part focus: character development for all (not just the kids!), family renewal, and college preparatory academics. We are the only schools where a family can get all three of these things. Some schools that do an excellent job with college preparation do little or nothing with character. There are a number of character programs that do not have a true academic component. Furthermore, we know of no schools that involve parents the way we do.

Even the way we perceive character development is unique. Many character programs seem to regard character as an end in itself. They appear motivated by a desire to decrease troubling teen behavior - academic failure, drugs, truancy, disrespect, promiscuity, etc. We view character as a means to an end. If we develop our character then we will connect with our unique purpose and contribution in life.

Q. Character development is important, but will it get my child into Harvard?
A. If your most important goal is truly to get your child into Harvard, then we would probably advise you not to throw your heart into a character program. In our experience, a genuine commitment to character development is invariably accompanied by considerable academic success resulting in favorable college admissions options. (Even Harvard likes to see evidence of character!)

In the past decade, Hyde’s top students have wound up at such schools as Cornell, Duke, Haverford, Kenyon, Mt. Holyoke, NYU, Notre Dame, Oberlin, Occidental, Reed, St. Lawrence, Tulane, Union, Vanderbilt, Wheaton, and the Universities of Arizona, California (Berkeley, UCLA, and Santa Barbara), Colorado, Denver, Miami, Michigan, Oregon, Richmond, Vermont, and Virginia. We ask, would you rather have the assurance of character development with questionable prospects for admission to Harvard OR would you rather have the assurance of admission to Harvard with uncertainty about character development? Hyde would probably not be a good fit for the parents who would choose the latter.

Q. Isn’t Hyde Schools’ program just a variation of “Tough Love?”
A. “Tough Love” is a cure, a problem-solving philosophy and program designed to help parents respond to kids caught in the throes of unacceptable behavior. Once the problem is solved, the philosophy is placed on the shelf until it is needed again. Hyde’s Character Compass is intended to serve as a lifelong guide for anyone. If character development is a lifelong pursuit, programs designed to teach and develop character ought not to be directed solely toward those who are demonstrating lapses in character. Sadly, that is what is happening with far too many character programs.

Q. You claim that Hyde Schools can liberate beleaguered parents. How so?
A. Exceptional parenting is doable. It is also hard. All parents need help to do the job right. Our culture perpetuates a myth that says we are all supposed to know what we are doing. (Furthermore, we’re supposed to be able to do it effortlessly.) Our children are supposed to move along a path where everything falls into place with ease.

Far too many parents do not get help unless situations with their children are almost out of control. Parents who do face issues in a head-on fashion become liberated by getting the help they need for themselves and by learning to let go of the perfect image of children and family. When parents focus on their growth, they can rediscover their parenting instincts and gain the confidence to place themselves above any perceived pressures to keep up with the rest of the pack. When we free ourselves from these pressures ourselves, we inspire our children to be freed from the powerful pull of negative peer influences.

We enjoy hearing from families that are curious about our school. Contact us today.