Many parents agonize over sending their teenager to boarding school or keeping them at home and sending them to day school. The issue you really need to address is the quality of supervision you are able to give your children after school and on weekends. Let's face it, modern parents lead very busy professional and social lives. If you aren't around to see what's going on, do you know what your teen is up to?
The advantage of going to boarding school
If you send your child to boarding school, you are buying the whole package: academics, athletics, social life, extracurricular activities and 24/7 supervision all rolled into one. That's just part of the boarding school DNA. It is an incredibly good deal for many thoughtful parents. Of course she will miss her mother and father, her siblings, her own room and all those other special things she knows and loves. But, the truth is that she will be off to college anyway in a few years. Getting a head start on leaving home is not a bad thing. It will pay huge dividends in later years as she has had to learn to cope and adjust to new circumstances at an earlier stage in her life.
Sports practices and games are easier to schedule because the whole school operates on its own self-contained schedule. Holding a drama or choir rehearsal in the early evening won't inconvenience anybody. Study hall and lights out are all part of the rhythm of school life as well.
You also don't have to worry about meals as those are part of the schedule too. So is down time. Teens need time to socialize. Boarding schools help teenagers learn to manage their time. And that is a life skill worth learning.
Besides not having to worry about what your child is doing, the transportation issue is moot. No more driving to and from school. Or worse, no more teens driving between home and school.
Best of all, a boarding school is a self-contained community. Your child will interact with all the members of that community, learning valuable lessons about diversity and tolerance in the process. The teaching, and the learning, never stop just outside the classroom.
A boarding school offers many wonderful advantages for you and your child. Visit
Boarding School Review and find out more.
The Convenience of Day School
If you live in an area which has several private school options AND you have the time to be a full-time parent, then day school is a serious option which you ought to be considering. The two main advantages are that the cost is less than boarding school and you can exercise your parenting skills on a daily basis. If you have a demanding career or perhaps one which requires extensive travel, you ought to think twice before considering day school. Teens need 24/7 supervision or else they will get into mischief.
The disadvantages of day school are twofold: transportation and involvement with the school. Both of these aspects of a day school take time. If you live on one side of Atlanta and have to get your child to his school on the other side of town, that daily commute is going to be a challenge. Many schools offer private transportation service at extra cost. Of course, if you have somebody on your staff who can drive your son to school, that will solve the problem. Think seriously about what you will have to grapple with when he gets his license. He will want to drive to school because all his friends have their own cars and drive to school themselves. You will also have to supply a car for his use.
Your local day school will expect you to be involved with the school. Typically duties would include helping to chaperone a field trip or perhaps baking cookies for a class party. It doesn't sound like much, but if you are a busy professional, fitting all this into your crowded schedule will take some doing.
What are your requirements?
Compare the pros and cons of boarding and day schools carefully before going on to the next step of identifying specific schools. Both types of schools have merits and distinctive features. Which one works best for you is a matter of your requirements.
"The Association of Boarding Schools" available at
http://www.schools.com/
"Boarding Schools in the USA" available at
http://www.boardingschoolsusa.com/
"Choosing the Right School" available at
http://www.nais.org/parents/index.cfm?itemnumber=149254
Previous Article
Which School Is The Best For Your Child?
It depends on your requirements. But in the end only one thing matters most anyway.
Next Article
When Should You Consider a Special Needs School?
Dealing with the reality that your child has a learning difference can be a defining moment for many parents. So much is at stake. Special needs schools offer programs and highly trained faculty.
Marketing the Small Private School
Academic Excellence: Any Future with a C Average and No Skills?
