[nicollo]

The teachers will write negative recommendations for those kids they perceive as troublemakers.

That's so petty, so unprofessional. As a high school teacher I never accepted to write a recommendation letter that I knew would have to be negative.

Then again, so many of the high school teachers I have encountered are that immature and petty, so I don't doubt it.

[ladyjane]

It seems many of your colleagues have written letter with obvious and subtle indications that alert the admission committees.

The same goes for faculty recommendations for graduate school.