Preparing for Power: America's Elite Boarding Schools

by Peter W. Cookson Jr., Caroline Hodges Persell

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.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction, Boarding School, Sociology, History

272 pages, Paperback

First published September 29, 1987

About the author

Peter W. Cookson, Jr. is the author or co-author of over fifteen books about social inequality, education and the American upper class. Currently, he is managing director of Education Sector in Washington, D.C., and teaches at Teachers College, Columbia University and Georgetown University. He is also president of Ideas without Borders, an educational consulting firm specializing in 21st century education, technology and human rights.

Peter's book "Preparing for Power: America’s Elite Boarding Schools" is widely recognized as a sociological classic. His recent book "Sacred Trust: A Children’s Education Bill of Rights" captures his commitment to social equality. His latest book "Class Rules: Exposing Inequality in American High Schools" examines the powerful effects of social class on education.

"The Red Cadillac" is his memoir of the pain and humor of growing up in the topsy-turvy world of show business, poverty and old money.

He holds a Ph.D. in the sociology of education from New York University, a Certificate of Advanced Study from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a Masters Degree in ethics and world religions from the Yale Divinity School.

He writes and blogs regularly, most frequently at http://www.quickanded.com.

Reviews

[Ketelen Lefkovich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for my master's.

[Jackie Fleming · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting sociology read. For the most part, the information was still relevant.

[Kt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting study on the education of the elite. it was shocking to me to see the way priveledge is handed down generation after generation particularly the priveledge of a good education. as a member of the middleclass and a graduate of the public school system i found out that i had been robbed of a quality education.

[Tommy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though the book is a bit dated by now there is still relevant information about America's elite boarding schools, how they came to be, how they operate, and who attends them. I find class privilege infinitely fascinating so to hear the extent of exclusivity and cultural grooming that goes on here is very intriguing.

It does hearken back to an article I've read recently about the difference between US and British politics and the fact that a British politician would be ashamed to send his/her child to private school let alone an elite boarding or prep school because of the public image that presents. In the US we've only had the children of 1 president in recent memory (Jimmy Carter) who sent his child to public school. It seems that America still firmly believes that power and status should still have a price tag and an exclusivity.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting review of boarding schools and how they operate. It compares prep schools to public schools and reveals how prep schools have unfair advantages to students who attend public school before preparing for college.

[Eliezer Sneiderman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The material is over thirty years old, but, it is still relevant in trying to understand boarding school culture. I would like to see new studies. The prime difference, between boarding and day, is the intensity of the friendships.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

a classic study of boarding schools and the mechanisms by which they solidify and pass down upper-class privilege and class consciousness. well-researched, close attention to methods, etc. Claims are nuanced, well-supported, and still relevant with the exception of the book's treatment of gender and race which seems dated.

[Konatsu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for an "Introduction to Sociology" class at university. Very well summarized work of two sociologists on preparatory "prep" schools of America, based on data collected from 50 of those schools. Although some of the information must be outdated, and considering how gender equality has been promoted greatly within the past couple years, how many go into higher education more than they did back when this book was written, I thought that many aspects of the schools are apparent and valid in today's world too, and even in Japan, which is where I live.