What are the pros and cons of boarding schools?

Question

I have a 13 year-old daughter. I am divorced. Her Mom wants to send our daughter to a boarding school for her high school years because of the educational opportunites. I am concerned it will separate me from my daughter too much, and that she will be influenced in the wrong way. Also, I'm concerend about unsupervised relationships with boys. If you have a daughter who has gone through a boarding high school in the United
States, please reply. Thanks!

Answer 1

i go to boarding school and honestly it as not as bad as all the horror stories make it out to seem. it's not as if you're sending your daughter out to fend for herself, there are staff and teachers whose job it is to make sure that your child comes to no harm. make sure your daughter is confident enough in herself not to get mixed up in the wrong crowd and definitly talk things through with her about where she personally stands on issues like peer pressure, alcohol, etc. the fact is, boarding school is honestly an amazing oppurtunity but if you feel that she won't adjust to it or is simply not ready for it don't go there because it really is her home away from home and she will be spending a great deal of time there. one plus about boarding school is it really makes you independent and it prepares you so well for university. if you are worried about unsupervised relationships with boys i advise that you do not sent her to an all-girls school because (and i go to a co-ed school) i have seen that kids who go to a single sex school are far more likely to indulge in risky behaviors with those of the opposite sex because they are so seperated from them in their school life. most importantly make sure that's really what she wants because she is the one who is going to have to deal with it.

oh and someone tried to lay a guilt trip on you in an earlier response, don't fall into that. people send their children to boarding school for a variety of reasons, not because they want to get rid of them. and majority of these kids turn out just fine with guidance from their dorm parents and from their real parents. i call my parents and e-mail every day. just because i'm away at school doesn't mean they're not a part of my life!

hope i helped!

Answer 2

The school looks fantastic and for my own children I am very pro private schooling though not to board them. I would have more worries that any child of 5 feels that a school is not 'pushing them'. That is not normal 5 year old reasoning and I'm quite sure she is only copying what an adult has said. At 5 they should be more worried about who they go out and play with at lunchtime and how nice their teacher is. Someone is obviously foisting their opinions onto her - don't let a 5 year old choose whether they board or not or make you need to move home - it is not a suitable thing to make a child that young decide - they ARE NOT OLD ENOUGH to know what they want.

Answer 3

I went away to boarding school and I HATED IT. I felt that my parents were punishing me for something and taking me away from all of my friends during my high school years when it is suppose to be the best time of your life. If your ex wanted your daughter in a boarding school she should have done it along time ago and not wait till high school to do it. Thankfully my father fought back and got me back home by my junior year and I was able to spend it with my life long friends. As far as educational opportunities they are there in a public school as well. I took college prep classes, graduated with honors, went to university with a full scholorship. The biggest thing here is talk to your daughter and see what she wants and if she wants to go then try it on a trial basis.

Answer 4

I went to boarding school and loved it. Some girls love it, others hate it. It really depends on her personality and the school. If she's not much of a social butterfly, she'll despise it. If she's popular, or even just has an easy time making friends, she'll love it.

The education is much better. I'd suggest an All-Girls boarding school if you can find one, as co-ed boarding schools are a breeding ground for trouble.

Answer 5

I went to a school called Thayer Academy, and it really helped prepare me for college. I learned great social skills, and got a better education, today I currently attend Harvard.

Answer 6

i think the rejection of the child that boarding school implies is horrific.

Did your wife raise your daughter or allow day care to raise her? She's so unattached to her, it would seem day care and now she wants to get rid of her again.

HOMESCHOOL YOUR DAUGHTER. That's the best education and she gets to be with her family. Of course she will be poorly influenced at boarding school - there's no parent involved.

Answer 7

I went to boarding school from the age of six here in the UK, and went to Swiss finishing school in Paris loved it.