Submitted by korin, Sep 18, 2007 16:22

I'm an alumna of Nightingale-Bamford and the omission of the academic rigor of the lives of these single-sex students in any major-media representation of this world is preposterous. If the drama intends to succeed it will have to diversify its vision of what makes these girls' lives so complicated--socially, sexually, and most important--developmently. These schools are prestigious not because of the cost to attend, but because of what the cost of attendance actually affords--a rigorous, and excellent education which is still the primary indicator of class distinction in our culture. On New York City's upper east side elite educations breed elite citizens.

This is why academic scholarships really do change lives. Scholarship students consequently infuse a class and ethnic diversity to the "prep school" context, adding more fuel to the social fire and enriching the education experience.

These are the reasons why the lives of upper east side youth may intrigue a TV audience. If the show is or ever gets to be good it will be because it keeps in mind this fullness at the core of the dramatic context.

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