Dottie's DD has an excellent point on the anti-bullying. The only private school in our area that we would consider going to uses a conflict resolution program. Kids are allowed to call a conference with an adult mediator if there are problems - and this is from a kindergarten level. So kids meet face to face about whatever is important to them. They say by the time the kids get to 5th or 6th grade, they rarely use this and work out social problems on their own. And because of this, there really is no bullying or cliques at this school to speak of.
I tell you, I could have definitely used some of this type of social skill with my first college roommate or in my first "real" job after college. I think this is a life skill that every school should look at. Imagine if all our world leader's had gone through this!
