Why Boarding School?

I did not intend to teach, or houseparent, at a private boarding school. I fully expected to be teaching in the public school system, I believed (and still do believe) in good, well-funded public education, and honestly was only vaguely aware that private schools existed, let alone boarding schools. What little I did know came from old British novels and short stories, which were not very complimentary. It appeared boarding schools were used to "build character", through some sort of deprivation.

So, to say I took a job as a houseparent without really knowing what I was getting into, is a bit of an understatement.

Sending your child to a boarding school is weird. In this country, you'd have to put up with people wondering why you don't like your own children, and other such misconceptions just to consider it, so why would anyone do it in the first place?

Environment. When comparing private schools to public schools, after adjusting for socio-economic status the difference can be slight. Students don't just learn at school, and a supportive home environment is critical. As I often tell my students, we know where you live. Students not only see their teachers in class, but in their house, are overseen doing homework, while they`re hanging out, or just chatting before bedtime. The key difference is, I think, the sheer number of opportunities for learning. Students can ask questions during prep (their assigned homework time), and different teachers are on duty nearly every night. Their houseparents (those of us that live with the students), are often teachers as well. I have often had one of my students drop by my office late at night for some chemistry help.

Much of the debate over teaching, different methods, depth vs. breadth, or the use of technology, all centre on the student and improving their learning environment. There's a lot that goes on in the classroom, but there's even more that goes on in the evening. Whether it's discussing a movie we've just seen, swapping youtube vids & stories, or just hanging out, learning and educational opportunities are embedded throughout their environment. Even describing it makes it sound odd, because it's not "educational opportunities", it's simply people passionate about what they do, and sharing their interests. Students and teachers share a commonality of experience as well as proximity that goes beyond just being 'neighbours'.

To have the classroom end when the bell rings is restricting. While there are a lot of great ideas about technology and techniques to extend the classroom beyond its four walls, only boarding schools actually start out that way.

The question is not why would anyone want to go to boarding school. It`s once you know about it, why would anyone consider anything else?

Cheers,

Ron Neufeld
Canada's Best Boarding School

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