The classic struggle between “town” and “gown” has once again reared its ugly head in the town of Andover. Animosity between Phillips Academy students and Andover High School students has reached a dangerous peak and is beginning a perilous journey toward uncharted heights of hatred between the two schools. But even upon only surface-deep inspection, one can find that the differences between the two schools are not as extreme as they may seem. Let us look at the facts: both schools are predominantly white, both are located in upper-class suburban Massachusetts, both have excellent academic records in their own regard, and both schools provide unique educational experiences for the members of their community. If this is the case, then why is there so much hatred between them, and what can be done to resolve the issue? The answer to this question is simple: neither party involved should act as if it is better than the other; rather, a mutual respect needs to be formulated between the two schools. We must recognize that neither school is “better” than the other, but simply different, and I believe this recognition must initially come from the side of the Academy. Far too often, students at Andover are quick to forget that they are mere products of privilege and that there is nothing that any student could have done in his or her short life that might merit his or her acceptance to Andover absolutely. If students at PA truly think that Andover is a breeding-ground for the “best and the brightest,” they are simply mistaken. It is certainly true that we have a rigorous academic curriculum and an excellent student body, but to say that we are in all instances “better” than any other school would be first, incorrect, and second, pompous. Students from the Academy who forget this notion give PA a bad name. I am tired of seeing the horrendous posts on Facebook in regards to AHS. I myself have partaken in such posting, but only to try and point out the absurdity of the situation. I fear that it is forums such as these that allow students at PA to misrepresent their school. Yet we must not forget that there is another party involved in this argument. If students from AHS want to receive any respect from students at PA, they must first act in a manner that warrants any type of respect. Driving around in cars yelling, “Catboner!” at small Junior girls may seem funny at first. However, what moral high ground is really to be gained by such actions? If PA kids are, in their opinions, jerks, it certainly seems hypocritical to claim superiority in the wake of such circumstances. We must realize that we are all but mere high school students. Neither party is definitively better than the other, just as neither party is definitively worse than the other. The only legitimate statement that can be made relating Phillips Academy and Andover High School is that the two schools are different. And the sooner we realize this, the sooner we can join parties to combat the real evil of the situation: the vast and utter mundanities of Andover, Massachusetts. Who knows, I bet we could even throw some sweet joint parties.
