What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of sending ones child(ren) to boarding school?
i.e. fee paying schools where children stay there during the week and come home on weekends/holidays?
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I know some people (quite well) who have been to boarding schools and I personally don't see any value to them.
I value family time a lot more and things like eating dinner together.
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any advantages you know of/see?
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Not really... unless people think being a stuck up twat is an advantage.
Well... if you go to a very expensive one, I guess you will the possibility of having better connections and a lot of students end up going to oxbridge.
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Just to play devils advocate.........*.( not me trying to provoke) *
Would you say all boarding school kids are 'stuck up twats'.
p.s. I didn't go to a boarding school.
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No, of course I'm generalising (one of my good friend's boarded but he's always kept it real) but most of them are. It's hard to stay grounded when you're parents are shelling out a lot of money for your education (regardless of boarding) but the added problem you have with boarding is that you have less control over the upbrinigng of your children and how they are influenced. I find boarded kids have even* less* knowledge of the world outside their bubble and think too highly of themselves... kind of like our prime minister!
And if you watched the adaptation of Great Expectations... think Pip when he was surrounded by those with money!
My friend sent her 11 yr old son to boarding school in Ooty, India. Her husband and in laws were dead against it but she fought hard. Her reasons were that she wanted him to learn to become self sufficient and toughen up. She thought it would teach him discipline and kind of "cut the apron strings". He lasted a year and some months, before she realized that maybe it wasn't such a good idea after all, and they brought him back to the US. He was fine, no permanent damage or anything, but he's glad to be back with his parents & sister.
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If there was a choice between - school down the road which had kids of the same age hanging out on street corners and knife crime and boarding school if your child was bright enough to get a scholarship, what would the choice be?
Having been to both state school and private school, I much preferred and appreciated my time at private school and can really see some great advantages.
My brother also went to both private and state, and chose to go to a state college for A levels ( although one which is high on the leader board) and he preferred state.
I just really don't know what I think about boarding.
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Yes okay the latter but things aren't so cut and dry are they? We usually have more than two extreme choices.
I lived in an area where the local secondary schools were no good in more respects than just education so my parents sent my to private school although they had to make a lot of sacrifices doing so. But a regular private school and boarding schools and far apart.. as I mentioned, I think it means a lot when you still come home to your parents/family/regular life everyday. One guy I know went to one of the most famous boarding schools here yet has almost zero relationship with his parents now... and his whole life revolves around spending the allowance he gets from his father even though he's earning his own money. I just imagine my kids going to school with people like him and I cringe.
Being the eldest, they didn't know what they were doing with me so for my brother he got a lot of tuition and got scholarships at some very prestigious private schools but they chose to send him to a grammar so that he could get a good education but still be around people who regard a good education above anything else and work hard to achieve it.
Your company does rub off on you.
Re: Boarding Schools.
No, of course I'm generalising (one of my good friend's boarded but he's always kept it real) but most of them are. It's hard to stay grounded when you're parents are shelling out a lot of money for your education (regardless of boarding) but the added problem you have with boarding is that you have less control over the upbrinigng of your children and how they are influenced. I find boarded kids have even* less* knowledge of the world outside their bubble and think too highly of themselves... kind of like our prime minister!
And if you watched the adaptation of Great Expectations... think Pip when he was surrounded by those with money!
HAW! Don't birng poor nittle Pip Pip Pippity Pip into this! He was to become a man of great expectations, Jaggers didn't guide him, he had to do what he had to do ok!
He did good in the end though and went back to wonderful Joe.
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heeeheee.. it's true though.
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I really fancy Pip.
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Have youse never heard or read of what happens in Boarding schools? Harrow Boys stories?
Worrying.
Having worked in a very very middle class suburban school and now in a very very working class school, I can tell you kids ages 3-11 are the same regardless.
They still have the same issues with regards to behaviour and learning. Only difference is accent. :/
I personally believe if someone has the desire and capacity to achieve, they will, regardless of which school.
I've got family friends who all went to private schools and their social skills are zilch. They spent all their time studying cos they had to work SO hard to keep up. Most of them are socially inept and lack basic common sense. An example of two privately educated 28 year old profressionals buying a sports car as a 'family' car in order to transport their 3 month old baby comes to mind. Babies car seat facing airbag at the front. Oh dear.
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I agree Milly that as an individual if you have the desire you can do whatever you want.
My brother achieved alot more than me in a school considered worse.
However, do you think that sometimes kids who are very very bright and able and hold that desire sometimes may lack opportunities/support? and find this frustrating?
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He did good in the end though and went back to wonderful Joe.
Only coz he had no choice.
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I agree Milly that as an individual if you have the desire you can do whatever you want.
My brother achieved alot more than me in a school considered worse.
However, do you think that sometimes kids who are very very bright and able and hold that desire sometimes may lack opportunities/support? and find this frustrating?
I think that depends on the individual and how much they want something and what lengths they go through to get it.
I can only go by my own example, although its not really the same, as I am not very very bright and I didn't really want much in terms of success and education.
I had to leave my first PGCE training due to family complications, against all my family's cultural norms and expectations I left home, started from the bottom working rubbish jobs just to gain experience, got accepted onto another PGCE (which rarely happens) and managed to get to where I wanted to be, 4 years after I was supposed to do it. I financially and emotionally supported myself at the cost of 'disappointing' my family. I am not an outcast though, I still see them and speak to my grandparents on a weekly basis. I just did what I had to do.
I think if you really want something, you make it happen.
I do think that people in different countries and people in other professional may suffer from the lack of opportunies though. I dont need to arse lick anyone in my profession, or have good connections to get a job. It's based on ability, not who you know. It's tricky to apply the lack of opportunities thing to every person and every desired profession.
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Only coz he had no choice.
I knew you would say that! He had to return Joe's shilling (I think) and Joe asked him to stay!
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I was in boarding school from grades 11 through college. My sis...pretty much all through elementary school, college. Great schools, great location, etc etc. reason for this was that the city we lived in was constantly under unrest and terrorism at the time, so this was mainly for purposes of safety. Quality of education was also way better.
Having said that, I did well emotionally as I was older, more emotionally stable, but my sis had a hard time. She would never send her kid to boarding school she says and she feels "detached" and has sour memories. I would never send my kids to boarding school at elementary/middle/high school level either.
Pros for us: extreme discipline.
Cons: miss out on family life.
For me, rolling on the carpet with my kids and walking on the streets looking for dead frogs is way more nurturing than learning how to make your beds without a crease and eating your breakfast within 7 minutes.
I don't have any regrets because like I said, I went at a good age whe I had already experienced great family bonding and love. But when my sis and I all, I can see the hole she has in her life despite having studied at one of the best schools in the country.
Re: Boarding Schools.
I was in boarding school from grades 11 through college. My sis...pretty much all through elementary school, college. Great schools, great location, etc etc. reason for this was that the city we lived in was constantly under unrest and terrorism at the time, so this was mainly for purposes of safety. Quality of education was also way better.
Having said that, I did well emotionally as I was older, more emotionally stable, but my sis had a hard time. She would never send her kid to boarding school she says and she feels "detached" and has sour memories. I would never send my kids to boarding school at elementary/middle/high school level either.
Pros for us: extreme discipline.
Cons: miss out on family life.
For me, rolling on the carpet with my kids and walking on the streets looking for dead frogs is way more nurturing than learning how to make your beds without a crease and eating your breakfast within 7 minutes.
I don't have any regrets because like I said, I went at a good age whe I had already experienced great family bonding and love. But when my sis and I all, I can see the hole she has in her life despite having studied at one of the best schools in the country.
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Well it certainly paid off for Carole Middleton :)