Boarding School

[Fiction]

So one of my friends has recently moved to a boarding school, and while stalking the school's website it made me think about a few things.

On the website it said that "No normal parent or family could ever hope to keep up with what we can offer." To be honest I found that quite sickening, how can a boarding school give a child the same care, affection and attention that their own family can give them?

The other thing that shocked me is that you could board from year 1. For people who don't know what that is, that's from the age of 5. I honestly think that is terrible. At that age you need your parents, and without them I think your headed for problems later in life.

I've decided I don't agree with boarding schools at all, and the younger you are the worse it is.

What I want to know is what is your opinion on boarding schools? What sort of effect do you think it will have on children who goes to boarding schools?

[UnknownError]

I dont think children should be forced into them. If they want to go, thats their choice and who am I to disagree with them. But yeh unless they're as awesome as Hogwarts I dont think I'd ever go to a boarding school.

[Fiction]

I dont think children should be forced into them. If they want to go, thats their choice and who am I to disagree with them. But yeh unless they're as awesome as Hogwarts I dont think I'd ever go to a boarding school.

I didn't think of that, about children wanting to go I mean. If they want to go then they want to go, but at 5 years old they don't really know what they want.

[Tristin.]

kathy, i must say i disagree with you quite a bit on this.
From what you said, the boarding school your friend is attending is putting out the wrong message (more than likely a 'new money' school)

However, you can not brand all boarding schools with the same judgement as not all boarding schools are like this. the school i attend would never dream of putting such a line on their site for the simple fact, its absurd.

On the idea of boarding as a rule, it has its ups and downs, my brother and i have been at boarding school since we were 9 and it has shaped who we are today, we are able to be away from our families for a long period of time, we are able to form friendships easily due to the constant change of people in the boarding house.
My brother and i have had a few problems concerning our parents, but this is only partially effected by being at school. My brother and i live at school all year, except christmas and summer. the rest of the time we live at school.

I love being at boarding school, i wouldnt change that fact for the world.

[SosbanFach]

Year ones in a boarding school? The only 'local' boarding school where I am which I know of would be Durham, where it is optional (except in sixth form, I think) and only for year 7(?) and above. That seems reasonable enough, provided children aren't forced into it by parents or guardians, although boarding doesn't really appeal to me. Maybe I just don't get on with people, antisocial git that I am :P

[embers]

My mother used to scare us into not doing silly things by threatening us with boarding school. I knew she wasn't serious, but there was still a part of me that went "Oh, shit." Anyway, I think boarding schools are okay as long as they aren't forced on a child. Year ones in boarding school, however... that kind of stuff is just plain bad.

[Neptune]

I didn't think of that, about children wanting to go I mean. If they want to go then they want to go, but at 5 years old they don't really know what they want.

Another thing to think about is this: If your parents are the type who are always gone, wouldn't you rather be in a boarding schools with other kids or at home with a nanny or someone taking care of you but no other kids? I think for the most part, the only people who use the year 1 boarding schools are children with parents who travel around a lot (businessmen/woman, journalist, etc.)

[Tristin.]

Another thing to think about is this: If your parents are the type who are always gone, wouldn't you rather be in a boarding schools with other kids or at home with a nanny or someone taking care of you but no other kids? I think for the most part, the only people who use the year 1 boarding schools are children with parents who travel around a lot (businessmen/woman, journalist, etc.)

nick does have a point, we had a nanny, and as nice as she was, it was so very boring. if i had the choice when i was 5, i probaly would have chosen school.

[Kaius]

kathy, i must say i disagree with you quite a bit on this.
From what you said, the boarding school your friend is attending is putting out the wrong message (more than likely a 'new money' school)

However, you can not brand all boarding schools with the same judgement as not all boarding schools are like this. the school i attend would never dream of putting such a line on their site for the simple fact, its absurd.

On the idea of boarding as a rule, it has its ups and downs, my brother and i have been at boarding school since we were 9 and it has shaped who we are today, we are able to be away from our families for a long period of time, we are able to form friendships easily due to the constant change of people in the boarding house.
My brother and i have had a few problems concerning our parents, but this is only partially effected by being at school. My brother and i live at school all year, except christmas and summer. the rest of the time we live at school.

I love being at boarding school, i wouldnt change that fact for the world.

She wasn't grouping them all in one category she was talking about this one in particular.

I agree about the young age part. I used to go to a private school which doubled as a boarding school although I never boarded there and I don't believe they would be able to give the same things a parent could however there are things that could change that. Why the kids there for example, parents could be abusive or never have enough time for the kid which means the kid might get more out of being at the school where it would get regular necessities like someone to talk to, company and things.

[Amaryllis]

I don't think "love and affection" from your family is necessarily better for you than boarding schools are. Some kids have abusive parents or parents who just don't give a damn or can't find the time. For them, boarding schools may be better for them. Especially when there's domestic violence. Imagine the physical and emotional trauma you would save the child.

In some families, especially a lotta asian ones, parents basically raise their kids to be a certain type of "person". If they say "you're going to be a gymnast." They will dump their kids in boarding camps to train with a slight focus on schoolwork but most, gymnastics. Same for violin or whatever. Now, I think that's wrong. Not giving your child a say in what he/she wants to do with with his/her life.

Boarding schools? Not so much. They will learn to be responsible and they'll grow up faster. Now, I'm a little bias. All my cousins and I have cooked, cleaned, washed, ran errands, babysat and for my cousins, help with their parents' jobs since we were 5. Our mama's aren't gonna just baby us and tuck us in or cook for us. If you wanna eat, cook your own food. Want that barbie doll? Get your own money.

A lot of my friends went to boarding schools overseas since they were in year 1 as well. They love it. They absolutely despise visiting their parents. And hey, their parents are pretty happy with it. They get their freedom and they get rich, smart kids.

Then again, I'm in asia. That's how things work here. Not in my school though, I go to an aussie school and the asians here are all spoiled rich kids with billionaires for dads. If you said "My mother beat me till I bled" it would be like... Gasp! Child abuse!

My relatives attend boarding school to get away from their abusive parents. I guess if you have a kind, loving family, it would be sad to go to boarding school. But you'll grow up sooner or later and you'll have to leave them.

On that note, I think it would be wonderful to have an affectionate, caring family. Unfortunately, that's not available everywhere. And it does mess up the kids a bit, sending them to fend for themselves at such an early age. But for some families and for parents like my mum who is mentally unstable, it's the better alternative.

In fact, I'm dying to go to boarding school next year. The abuse, arguments, sex vids are proving too much for me to handle. Soooo, really hope I can get out of here soon ^_^

[Fiction]

I see what you're all saying but when I said that I don't agree with boarding schools, I sort of meant it showed bad parenting. It does often show parents who can't be bothered with their children, but parents who should be bothered about them.

As for the people who where away alot, my dad is pretty much always away and has been since I was born. He's away probably about 30-40% of the time. The rest of the time he wouldn't get home until 7-8pm, and my mum also worked until about 6:30-7pm. I spent the time at a childminder, I would have hated going to a boarding school.

[Neptune]

I see what you're all saying but when I said that I don't agree with boarding schools, I sort of meant it showed bad parenting. It does often show parents who can't be bothered with their children, but parents who should be bothered about them.

As for the people who where away alot, my dad is pretty much always away and has been since I was born. He's away probably about 30-40% of the time. The rest of the time he wouldn't get home until 7-8pm, and my mum also worked until about 6:30-7pm. I spent the time at a childminder, I would have hated going to a boarding school.



What about the kids who have parents that are gone 75 - 100% of the time and there other parent isn't alive or isn't around? I much rather be in a Boarding School then dealing with that.

[DerBear]

I have noticed you used "Bad Parenting" what if the parents are working to secure you a better standard of living and mean while why they do that they cant be around that often to me that sounds like they are trying to help you in life and boarding school helps with this. So I would say boarding schools are Okay and help everyone---Child good education---Parents can work for a better future for kids.

Everything has pros and cons

Derri~SilverWolf

[Short Circuit]

I go to a private school that is also a "boarding school".

The majority of boys that stay in the boarding part, are mainly from Forces Parents, (Army, Navy and Air Force), that are stationed all over the world. They come to boarding school so that thier education is not disrupted by constant moves that happen to people in the Forces.

I agree with another poster, people in these schools makes friends allot easier than people from state schools, and it builds up confidence in individuals.

[Amaryllis]

I see what you're all saying but when I said that I don't agree with boarding schools, I sort of meant it showed bad parenting. It does often show parents who can't be bothered with their children, but parents who should be bothered about them.

As for the people who where away alot, my dad is pretty much always away and has been since I was born. He's away probably about 30-40% of the time. The rest of the time he wouldn't get home until 7-8pm, and my mum also worked until about 6:30-7pm. I spent the time at a childminder, I would have hated going to a boarding school.

My father used to visit a couple'a times each year and during the first couple of years of my life, my mum was only around about once every two weeks. Personally, I would have preferred it if they just dumped me in a boarding school ASAP. It would have saved me the physical/emotional/sexual abuse and whatnot.

I guess it depends on the person and the family :) Some people think boarding schools are good for the child and the parent is doing the right thing. You're teaching your kid to be responsible, independent and able to fend for themselves. They may turn out smarter, anyway. But like I send before, it depends.

[Fiction]

Seems i'm in the minority thinking boarding schools are bad :P

As i said it was mainly the young age that I dissaprove of. My secondary school also had a boarding school, and I know that many of the boarders there hated it too.

I guess it's just my opinion that wherever possible, parents should be around for their children, and by sending a child to a boarding school it means that that won't happen.