Boarding Schools

[Buffy]

Well we don't have a Pedagogy forum here, but this is close enough...

I have a friend who's daughter is convinced that she wants to go to boarding school (the kid is 11). One of her friends older siblings goes to one, and having heard some tales, she thinks its the greatest thing since sliced bread. My friend is diplomatically working to disabuse her of this desire, but mostly by deflection rather than actually arguing against it (tweens are on the verge of that state of total wisdom about the world known as teenagerhood, so direct argument is a *bad* approach! ).

Some parents I've met seem to *need* boarding school because they are totally clueless about parenthood. Among the rich, its supposed to give kids an academic and social leg up to go to very exclusive boarding schools, although this is really an "east coast" thing, that you don't see much of here on the Left Coast (although there are many very fine ones, I've been told).

I have a relative who is associated with a top notch boarding school who had kids go there and have a horrible time, leading to interesting arguments between them.

I personally would never even think of sending my kid to boarding school and although she's happily going off for several weeks of summer camp in the wilderness this summer, neither of us could stand the separation.

So, whatta ya all think? Irish homeschools her kids, and that's kinda the polar opposite. Anyone with good/bad/indifferent opinions?

Yearn to Learn,
Buffy

[ronthepon]

Well, I have recently been to boarding school.

All I can say is that though it was a wee bit painful at times, it makes one ready for the world.

It gives a person the required mentality for surviving in a tough social environment.

It is nessecary at times because the child gets too much of protections from his/her guardians and ends up completely unable to take care of the self.

I guess that here I'm applying the philosophy of 'no pain, no gain'

[Buffy]

And there lies one of my primary questions: was it good for *both* your social maturation as well as your education? Do you think you missed anything? Do you think there are any things about it you could get nowhere else?

Cheers,
Buffy

[ronthepon]

Well, defintely helps at a later stage if one goes early to boarding school.

For one thing, if you go to a good boarding school, you get to understand the need to study your self sometimes much better than you do at a day-scholar basis.

But I have got to warn you, this scenario is sometimes not true. Some kids tend to go the wrong way in boarding schools.
However, since you have a daughter I would not worry a lot about that.

And, since yu have specifically asked, I have missed the pampering a child wishes for. I can't say if that is good or bad.

[ughaibu]

I went to state schools until I was thirteen, I then spent two years at two boarding schools, fortunately I was expelled from the first and the second promoted me a year, so I was able to abbreviate my stay. I would class my time at these boarding schools as a social, emotional and educational disaster, not that I regret it now but I wouldn't dream of subjected anyone else to a similar ordeal.

[ronthepon]

Ordeal???

Why do you feel so?!

I had loads of fun in my boarding school!

[InfiniteNow]

Great for learning "book smarts," not so good learning one's social position in the world. I have no personal experience in this regard (although, my older sister did go to one when we lived in Connecticut), however, when I encounter boarding school kids, they're snobby little pricks who need a good ass kicking.

Oh... but they know how to pass a test really well, and have connections.

Two sided coin for sure. Much more like college and dorm life than normal high school. You should check out some movies ('cuz that's where the real information is found...) like:

School Ties
Dead Poet's Society
Rushmore
Toy Soldiers
Boarding School
Cruel Intentions (hey... isn't that buffy?)
Girls Boarding School (although, I'd venture a guess that this isn't what you're after...)

[C1ay]

Boarding school might be a good option considering this news story:

California judge voids school exit exams

A California judge struck down the state's controversial high-school exit exam Friday, potentially clearing the way for thousands of seniors who have failed the test to graduate with their class next month.

Alameda County Superior Court Judge Robert Freedman issued a preliminary injunction against the testing requirement, ruling it places an unfair burden on poor and minority students who attend low-performing schools.

"With the bold stroke of a pen, Judge Freedman has given 47,000 students an opportunity to walk the stage with their classmates and to receive their high-school diplomas," attorney Arturo Gonzalez said. Gonzalez filed the challenge to the exit exam in February on behalf of a group of students and their parents.

More....

If this holds up then a California High School Diploma will no longer be an indicator that one actually has a high school education.

[Freddy]

My old Sociology professor used to say that boarding school would be the only method of child rearing in the future. This would free the parents to persue their careers and visit their children regularly. He felt children would be better behaved and receive a superoir education. The economy would prosper and crime would drop. I doubt it will ever happen.

[ronthepon]

Originally Posted by InfiniteNow

they're snobby little pricks who need a good ass kicking

ahhh... um... ahem... *cough* ...er...

I'm a pretty nice guy, you know...