luuknam Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 (edited) Apparently my wife doesn't have a clue. So, wondering whether it's common to not have a clue - I'm pretty sure I've known about Eton since I was 9yo or something, but I'm European (albeit not British). Edited October 30, 2016 by luuknam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 (edited) I know Eton as the prep school Prince William went to. So probably not the Eton you meant. ETA: Look further and realised we might be referring to the same Eton. My home country is part of the Commonwealth Nations. Edited October 30, 2016 by Arcadia 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 I know Eton as the prep school Prince William went to. So probably not the Eton you meant. I put yes, but that's what I was thinking of, a well regarded school in England. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nan in Mass Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 I,ve known Eton was a prep school since I was little. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luuknam Posted October 30, 2016 Author Share Posted October 30, 2016 I put yes, but that's what I was thinking of, a well regarded school in England. Yes, I'm talking about the $$$$$ boarding school for teenage boys in England. (which, incidentally, is pretty cheap right now with the current exchange rate - only about $48,000 per year :svengo: ) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Yes, plenty of references in literature. Even in communist East Germany I managed to hear about it. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TranquilMind Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Yes, I'm talking about the $$$$$ boarding school for teenage boys in England. (which, incidentally, is pretty cheap right now with the current exchange rate - only about $48,000 per year :svengo: ) What a bargain! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luuknam Posted October 30, 2016 Author Share Posted October 30, 2016 What a bargain! I know, right! I could even send one of the kids (if the rest of us were to move into a cardboard box). 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Yes, I do - but that's all right, that just makes your wife one of today's lucky 10,000! Okay, admittedly learning about Eton isn't quite as much fun as doing the Mentos + Coca Cola thing, but we take what we can get. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Yes, I'm talking about the $$$$$ boarding school for teenage boys in England. (which, incidentally, is pretty cheap right now with the current exchange rate - only about $48,000 per year :svengo: ) That's how much boarding schools in the Atlanta area cost. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.... Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Even down here in Texas, we've heard of Eton. :tongue_smilie: 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luuknam Posted October 30, 2016 Author Share Posted October 30, 2016 (edited) Yes, I do - but that's all right, that just makes your wife one of today's lucky 10,000! I know. I was just surprised because she's from an upper middle class background and even went to an elementary school for gifted kids. So I was wondering if Americans in general (I know, this board isn't just Americans, and is not very average even wrt the Americans on here) were familiar with Eton. ETA: She's from Texas. Edited October 30, 2016 by luuknam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luuknam Posted October 30, 2016 Author Share Posted October 30, 2016 That's how much boarding schools in the Atlanta area cost. Which is why I said it's cheap right now - the exchange rate a few years ago would've made it over $65k/year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Yep, I knew it. I don't know when I started knowing it, but I imagine it was from reading. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73349 Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Yes, and I'm from the East Coast of the US. I probably read about it in biographical notes about British authors. I have never been to the UK at all. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janeway Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 I voted yes because I thought it was a famous prep school, but, if I am wrong, then I would need to change my vote. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Yes, but I don't recall where I heard about it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Yes, but I grew up in New England in a town where there are "old money" families. I can't think of anyone off the top of my head who went to Eton but it was definitely known of. There was also another one that had the name "Sand" as part of it- Sandhill? Sandhurst? I forget. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawyer&Mom Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Sandhurst. It's a military school of some kind. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Yep, I knew it. I don't know when I started knowing it, but I imagine it was from reading. I think it was mentioned in A Separate Peace. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 I had heard of it as a child or teenager. Don't recall where. ALso have heard of a number of boarding schools in New England too. And some other schools like Boston Latin. I grew up in the DC area so knew about the private schools there too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura in CA Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 (edited) yes, of course. But I am an Anglophile; many of the books I read were written by Brits, before WWII. I'm sure I heard the phrase "Eton collar" from a young age (in children's books). Without ever bothering to wonder what exactly that is :) And it seems I've always known that famous line, "The battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton," which is probably misquoted and possibly apocryphal anyway. ETA: funny coincidence: I just finished the memoirs of Lord Berners (First Childhood and A Distant Prospect); the latter book basically covers his years at Eton. And I've been to Windsor; you can't miss Eton Chapel! Before I visited Windsor I couldn't have told you where Eton is; I lumped it together with Harrow. (And I have no idea where Harrow is.) Edited October 30, 2016 by Laura in CA 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 I can't remember how I learned of Eton but when Justin Finch-Fletchley tells Harry (HP & Chamber of Secrets) his name was down for Eton I knew what he was talking about. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madteaparty Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Damien Lewis went there. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheres Toto Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Yes, plenty of references in literature. Even in communist East Germany I managed to hear about it. This is why I've heard of it, except I'm from the US. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alisoncooks Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 I can't remember how I learned of Eton but when Justin Finch-Fletchley tells Harry (HP & Chamber of Secrets) his name was down for Eton I knew what he was talking about. Haha +1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Common knowledge. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenNC Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Yes, small town Southern US born and bred, in a working class family (so definitely not of the group that even sends its kids to local private schools in general, much less private boarding schools). I have always read a lot of British authors, however. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.... Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 ETA: She's from Texas. Doh! :laugh: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umsami Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Well regarded British prep-school known for educating Royals and such. Also there's Eton's Mess which is yummy.... meringues, whipped cream, berries. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hellen Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 I knew about it. I've read some British books and casually followed British culture. I asked my husband and he had no clue. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK_Mom4 Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Even Dd15 knows because Justin Finch-Fletchly was Down For Eton .......Before he got his Hogwarts letter 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rebcoola Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 I put maybe because I 2nd guessed myself but yes I knew it was a fancy prep school. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassenach Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 I voted no, but then read the comments. I'm not sure I've ever seen it spelled, but I've definitely heard of it. If that was a verbal question, it would have been a quick yes. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 (edited) For the record, in UK terms it's not a prep school. It's a public school. Prep schools run from age 8 to 13 and prepare you for public (posh private) or private school. If you have heard of the Galore Park 'prep' books, they are so called because they cover prep school. Edited October 30, 2016 by Laura Corin 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Yup. I read a lot of British books as a kid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrincessMommy Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 yes, I do. But I'm a bit of an Anglophile too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Yes, I did read a lot of British books so that may be why. I am American. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 (edited) dbl Edited October 30, 2016 by Slartibartfast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaithManor Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Interlochen boarding high school - performing arts school known all over the world - here in Michigan is the same price, well actually $250.00 more, but then when you add fees and such, it comes out well over $50,000.00 I went to the performing arts music camps in the summer a couple of times in high school, Even that was so pricey that I had to win scholarships, beg grandparents, save babysitting money, and my parents probably ate cardboard for weeks in order to manage the cost. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hepatica Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Voted yes. We have lived at New England boarding schools for the past 26 years. That is only a few thousand more than the day student price at our school. Boarding price at top New England schools is around 60,000+. It's crazy, but there is no shortage of people who can pay it. They have a wait list every year. The top 1% of the top 1% are doing well these days. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saw Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 In England it's not a prep but a public school. Preps are junior schools that educate children up to Common Entrance age (seventh grade). We looked at Eton for my son as a number of boys from his prep and friends had recommended it. Great school. DS did not end up there though. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Having spent long periods of time in Europe may have contribute to my identifying it as a boarding school, however, it could have also come through other channels. Simply cannot remember. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janeway Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Having spent long periods of time in Europe may have contribute to my identifying it as a boarding school, however, it could have also come through other channels. Simply cannot remember. Probably came from other channels. I have never ever traveled really. I have definitely not gone overseas. I have never had a passport. But I knew it was that famous school. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hypatia. Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Yes, from reading trashy romance novels when I was a teen. :leaving: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirty ethel rackham Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 I've known what Eton was since I was a kid. Born and raise in the States (Illinois.) Probably from literary references. Oh, and because Prince William went there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsquirrel Posted October 31, 2016 Share Posted October 31, 2016 I have but I can absolutely imagine lots of the smart and informed people I know not knowing. They know a lot that I don't, and what they do know is probably much more impressive than my knowing the name of some school for rich children, lol. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 31, 2016 Share Posted October 31, 2016 I know an Eton graduate! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sk8ermaiden Posted October 31, 2016 Share Posted October 31, 2016 I knew it was a fancy prep school for the moniest of the moneyed. Forgot where it was or who went there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted October 31, 2016 Share Posted October 31, 2016 I'm a midwest redneck American and I knew it, and have known it for many many years. :) I remember reading that Prince William was preparing to be sent to Eton, and I knew what Eton referred to. I am not sure when I first learned - probably from some book or movie. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.