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A boarding school is a school where pupils live within premises while being given formal instruction. The word "boarding" is used in the sense of " room and board", i.e. lodging and meals. As they have existed for many centuries, and now extend across many countries, their functioning, codes of conduct and ethos vary greatly. Children in boarding schools study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers or administrators. Some boarding schools also have day students who attend the institution by day and return off-campus to their families in the evenings. Boarding school pupils are typically referred to as "boarders". Children may be sent for one year to twelve years or more in boarding school, until the age of eighteen. There are several types of boarders depending on the intervals at which they visit their family. Full-term boarders visit their homes at the end of an academic year, semester boarders visit their homes at the end of an academic term, weekly boarders visit their homes at weekends. There are also semi-boarders who attend a boarding school in the school hours for formal instruction and activities but return home by the end of the day. In some cultures, boarders spend the majority of their childhood and adolescent life away from their families. Boarding schools are relatively more prevalent in the United Kingdom (UK), India, China, and parts of Africa. These countries begin boarding schools at a very early age and for a longer span of time. However, boarding schools are relatively less prevalent in Europe and the US where it is mostly seen for grades seven or nine through grade twelve—the high school years. Some are for either boys or girls while others are
co-education Mixed-sex education, also known as mixed-gender education, co-education, or coeducation (abbreviated to co-ed or coed), is a system of education where males and females are educated together. Whereas single-sex education was more common up to ...
al. In the United Kingdom which has a long tradition of classic British boarding schools, many are independent (private) schools that have elite associations. There are also state boarding schools, many of which serve children from remote areas. In some societies and cultures, boarding schools are the most elite educational option (such as Eton and Harrow, which have produced several prime ministers), whereas in other contexts, they serve as places to segregate children deemed a problem to their parents or wider society. Canada and the United States tried to assimilate indigenous children in the Canadian Indian residential school system and American Indian boarding schools respectively. Some function essentially as
orphanage An orphanage is a residential institution, total institution or group home, devoted to the care of orphans and children who, for various reasons, cannot be cared for by their biological families. The parents may be deceased, absent, or a ...
s, e.g. the G.I. Rossolimo Boarding School Number 49 in Russia. Tens of millions of rural children are now educated at
boarding schools in China As of 2015 there were about 100,000 boarding schools in rural areas of Mainland China, with about 33 million children living in them.Roberts, Dexter.China’s Dickensian Boarding SchoolsArchive. ''Bloomberg Businessweek''. April 6, 2015. Retrieve ...
. Therapeutic boarding schools offer treatment for psychological difficulties.
Military academies A military academy or service academy is an educational institution which prepares candidates for service in the officer corps. It normally provides education in a military environment, the exact definition depending on the country concerned. ...
provide strict discipline. Education for children with special needs has a long association with boarding; see, for example, deaf education and Council of Schools and Services for the Blind. Some boarding schools offer an immersion into democratic education, such as Summerhill School. Others are international, such as the
United World Colleges United World Colleges (UWC) is an international network of schools and educational programmes with the shared aim of "making education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future." The organization was founde ...
.


Description


Typical characteristics

The term ''boarding school'' often refers to classic British boarding schools and many boarding schools around the world which are modeled on these.Bamford T.W. (1967) ''Rise of the public schools: a study of boys public boarding schools in England and Wales from 1837 to the present day''. London: Nelson, 1967.


House system

A typical boarding school has several separate residential houses, either within the school grounds or in the surrounding area. A number of senior teaching staff are appointed as housemasters, housemistresses, dorm parents,
prefect Prefect (from the Latin ''praefectus'', substantive adjectival form of ''praeficere'': "put in front", meaning in charge) is a magisterial title of varying definition, but essentially refers to the leader of an administrative area. A prefect's ...
s, or residential advisors, each of whom takes quasi-parental responsibility ('' in loco parentis'') for anywhere from 5 to 50 students resident in their ''house'' or dormitory at all times but particularly outside school hours. Each may be assisted in the domestic management of the house by a housekeeper often known in U.K. or Commonwealth countries as '' matron'', and by a ''house tutor'' for academic matters, often providing staff of each gender. In the U.S., boarding schools often have a resident family that lives in the dorm, known as dorm parents. They often have janitorial staff for maintenance and housekeeping, but typically do not have tutors associated with an individual dorm. Nevertheless, older students are often less supervised by staff, and a system of monitors or prefects gives limited authority to senior students. Houses readily develop distinctive characters, and a healthy rivalry between houses is often encouraged in sport. Houses or dorms usually include study-bedrooms or dormitories, a dining room or refectory where students take meals at fixed times, a library and possibly study carrels where students can do their homework. Houses may also have common rooms for television and relaxation and kitchens for snacks, and occasionally storage facilities for bicycles or other sports equipment. Some facilities may be shared between several houses or dorms. In some schools, each house has students of all ages, in which case there is usually a prefect system, which gives older students some privileges and some responsibility for the welfare of the younger ones. In others, separate houses accommodate the needs of different years or classes. In some schools, day students are assigned to a dorm or house for social activities and sports purposes. Most school dormitories have an "in your room by" and a "lights out" time, depending on their age when the students are required to prepare for bed, after which no talking is permitted. Such rules may be difficult to enforce; students may often try to break them, for example by using their laptop computers or going to another student's room to talk or play computer games. International students may take advantage of the time difference between countries (e.g. 7 hours between UK and China) to contact friends or family. Students sharing study rooms are less likely to disturb others and may be given more latitude.


Other facilities

As well as the usual academic facilities such as classrooms, halls, libraries, and laboratories, boarding schools often provide a wide variety of facilities for extracurricular activities such as music rooms, gymnasiums, sports fields and school grounds, boats, squash courts, swimming pools, cinemas, and theaters. A school chapel is often found on site. Day students often stay on after school to use these facilities. Many North American boarding schools are located in beautiful rural environments and have a combination of architectural styles that vary from modern to hundreds of years old. Food quality can vary from school to school, but most boarding schools offer diverse menu choices for many kinds of dietary restrictions and preferences. Some boarding schools have a dress code for specific meals like dinner or for specific days of the week. Students are generally free to eat with friends, teammates, as well as with faculty and coaches. Extra curricular activities groups, e.g. the French Club, may have meetings and meals together. The Dining Hall often serves as a central place where lessons and learning can continue between students and teachers or other faculty mentors or coaches. Some schools welcome day students to attend breakfast and dinner, in addition to the standard lunch, while others charge a fee. Many boarding schools have an on-campus school store or snack hall where additional food and school supplies can be purchased; may also have a student recreational center where food can be purchased during specified hours. Boarding schools also have
infirmary Infirmary may refer to: *Historically, a hospital, especially a small hospital *A first aid room in a school, prison, or other institution *A dispensary (an office that dispenses medications) *A clinic A clinic (or outpatient clinic or ambula ...
, a small room with first aid or other emergencies medical aid.


Time

Students generally need permission to go outside defined school bounds; they may be allowed to travel off-campus at certain times. Depending on country and context, boarding schools generally offer one or more options: full (students stay at the school full-time), weekly (students stay in the school from Monday through Friday, then return home for the weekend), or on a flexible schedule (students choose when to board, e.g. during exam week). Each student has an individual timetable, which in the early years allows little discretion. Boarders and day students are taught together in school hours and in most cases continue beyond the school day to include sports, clubs and societies, or excursions. British boarding schools have three terms a year, approximately twelve weeks each, with a few days' half-term holidays during which students are expected to go home or at least away from school. There may be several
exeat The Latin word ''exeat'' ("he/she may leave") is most commonly used to describe a period of absence from a centre of learning.

Other forms of residential schools

Boarding schools are residential schools; however, not all residential schools are "classic" boarding schools. Other forms of residential schools include: *
Therapeutic boarding schools A therapeutic boarding school is a residential school offering therapy for students with emotional or behavioral issues. Description The National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs listed 140 schools and programs as of 2005. Therapeut ...
are tuition-based, out-of-home placements that combine therapy and education for children, usually teenagers, with emotional, behavioral, substance abuse, or learning disabilities. * Traveling boarding schools, such as
Think Global School THINK Global School (TGS) is an independent high school that travels the world with students studying in ten countries, over the course of three years. The school is a non-profit, co-educational, and non-denominational. Think Global School was f ...
, are four-year high schools that immerse the students in a new city each term. Traveling boarding schools partner with a host school within the city to provide the living and educational facilities. * Sailing boarding schools, such as A+ World Academy, are high schools based on ships that sail around the world and combine high school education with travel, and personal development. Classes typically take place both, onboard and in some of the ports they visit. * Outdoor boarding schools, which teach students independence and self-reliance through survival style camp outs and other
outdoor activities Outdoor recreation or outdoor activity refers to recreation done outside, most commonly in natural settings. The activities that encompass outdoor recreation vary depending on the physical environment they are being carried out in. These activiti ...
. * Residential education programs, which provide a stable and supportive environment for at-risk children to live and learn together. * Residential schools for students with
special educational needs Special educational needs (SEN), also known as special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in the United Kingdom refers to the education of children who require different education provision to the mainstream system. Definition The definiti ...
, who may or may not be disabled *
Semester school A semester school is a school that complements a student's secondary education by providing them with the opportunity to step out of their regular school for half an academic year and step into a uniquely different educational setting while continu ...
s, which complement a student's
secondary education Secondary education or post-primary education covers two phases on the International Standard Classification of Education scale. Level 2 or lower secondary education (less commonly junior secondary education) is considered the second and final ph ...
by providing a one semester residential experience with a central focusing curricular theme—which may appeal to students and families uninterested in a longer residential education experience * Specialist schools focused on a particular academic discipline, such as the public North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics or the private Interlochen Arts Academy. * The Israeli youth villages, where children stay and are educated in a commune, but also have everyday contact with their parents at specified hours. * Public boarding schools, which are operated by public school districts. In the U.S., general-attendance public boarding schools were once numerous in rural areas, but are extremely rare today. As of the 2013–2014 school year, the SEED Foundation administered public charter boarding schools in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Maryland. One rural public boarding school is
Crane Union High School Crane Union High School is a public high school in Crane, Oregon, United States. It is a boarding school that serves students from a large geographic area. Its district is known as the Harney County Union High School District 1J, and covers much ...
in Crane, Oregon. Around two-thirds of its more than 80 students, mostly children from remote
ranch A ranch (from es, rancho/Mexican Spanish) is an area of land, including various structures, given primarily to ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle and sheep. It is a subtype of a farm. These terms are most ofte ...
es, board during the school week in order to save a one-way commute of up to across Harney County. *
Ranch school A ranch school is a type of school used in rural areas of the Western United States. History The ranch school movement began in the Western United States in the early 1900s as a way to educate children who lived on ranches in remote and rural are ...
, once common in the western United States, incorporating aspects of the "dude ranch" ( Guest ranch)


Applicable regulations

In the UK, almost all boarding schools are independent schools, which are not subject to the national curriculum or other educational regulations applicable to state schools. Nevertheless, there are some regulations, primarily for health and safety purposes, as well as the general law. The Department for Children, Schools and Families, in conjunction with the Department of Health of the United Kingdom, has prescribed guidelines for boarding schools, called the National Boarding Standards. One example of regulations covered within the National Boarding Standards are those for the minimum floor area or living space required for each student and other aspects of basic facilities. The minimum floor area of a dormitory accommodating two or more students is defined as the number of students sleeping in the dormitory multiplied by 4.2 m2, plus 1.2 m2. A minimum distance of 0.9 m should also be maintained between any two beds in a dormitory, bedroom, or cubicle. In case students are provided with a cubicle, then each student must be provided with a window and a floor area of 5.0 m2 at the least. A bedroom for a single student should be at least of the floor area of 6.0 m2. Boarding schools must provide a total floor area of at least 2.3 m2 living accommodation for every boarder. This should also be incorporated with at least one
bathtub A bathtub, also known simply as a bath or tub, is a container for holding water in which a person or animal may bathe. Most modern bathtubs are made of thermoformed acrylic, porcelain-enameled steel or cast iron, or fiberglass-reinforced pol ...
or shower for every ten students. These are some of the few guidelines set by the department among many others. It could probably be observed that not all boarding schools around the world meet these minimum basic standards, despite their apparent appeal.


History

Boarding schools manifest themselves in different ways in different societies. For example, in some societies children enter at an earlier age than in others. In some societies, a tradition has developed in which families send their children to the same boarding school for generations. One observation that appears to apply globally is that a significantly larger number of boys than girls attend boarding school and for a longer span of time. The practice of sending children, particularly boys, to other families or to schools so that they could learn together is of very long-standing, recorded in classical literature and in UK records going back over 1,000 years. In Europe, a practice developed by early medieval times of sending boys to be taught by literate clergymen, either in monasteries or as
pages Page most commonly refers to: * Page (paper), one side of a leaf of paper, as in a book Page, PAGE, pages, or paging may also refer to: Roles * Page (assistance occupation), a professional occupation * Page (servant), traditionally a young mal ...
in great households. The King's School, Canterbury, arguably the world's oldest boarding school, dates its foundation from the development of the monastery school in around 597 AD. The author of the '' Croyland Chronicle'' recalls being tested on his grammar by Edward the Confessor's wife Queen Editha in the abbey cloisters as a Westminster schoolboy, in around the 1050s. Monastic schools as such were generally dissolved with the monasteries themselves under Henry VIII, although Westminster School was specifically preserved by the King's letters patent, and it seems likely that most schools were immediately replaced.
Winchester College Winchester College is a public school (fee-charging independent day and boarding school) in Winchester, Hampshire, England. It was founded by William of Wykeham in 1382 and has existed in its present location ever since. It is the oldest of ...
founded by Bishop William of Wykeham in 1382 and Oswestry School founded by David Holbache in 1407 are the oldest boarding schools in continuous operation.


United Kingdom

Boarding schools in Britain started in medieval times when boys were sent to be educated by literate clerics at a monastery or noble household. In the 12th century, the Pope ordered all
Benedictine , image = Medalla San Benito.PNG , caption = Design on the obverse side of the Saint Benedict Medal , abbreviation = OSB , formation = , motto = (English: 'Pray and Work') , foun ...
monasteries such as
Westminster Westminster is an area of Central London, part of the wider City of Westminster. The area, which extends from the River Thames to Oxford Street, has many visitor attractions and historic landmarks, including the Palace of Westminster, B ...
to provide charity schools, and many public schools started when such schools attracted paying students. These public schools reflected the collegiate universities of
Oxford and Cambridge Oxbridge is a portmanteau of Oxford and Cambridge, the two oldest, wealthiest, and most famous universities in the United Kingdom. The term is used to refer to them collectively, in contrast to other British universities, and more broadly to de ...
, as in many ways they still do, and were accordingly staffed almost entirely by clergymen until the 19th century. Private tuition at home remained the norm for aristocratic families, and for girls in particular, but after the 16th century, it was increasingly accepted that adolescents of any rank might best be educated collectively. The institution has thus adapted itself to changing social circumstances over 1,000 years. Boarding preparatory schools tend to reflect the public schools they feed. They often have a more or less official tie to particular schools. The classic British boarding school became highly popular during the colonial expansion of the British Empire. British colonial administrators abroad could ensure that their children were brought up in British culture at public schools at home in the UK, and local rulers were offered the same education for their sons. More junior expatriates would send their children to local British-run schools, which would also admit selected local children who might travel from considerable distances. The boarding schools, which inculcated their own values, became an effective way to encourage local people to share British ideals, and so help the British achieve their imperial goals. One of the reasons sometimes stated for sending children to boarding schools is to develop wider horizons than their family can provide. A boarding school a family has attended for generations may define the culture parents aspire to for their children. Equally, by choosing a fashionable boarding school, parents may aspire to better their children by enabling them to mix on equal terms with children of the upper classes. However, such stated reasons may conceal other reasons for sending a child away from home.CWAB – Session 6.2 – Reasons for displacement
European Union – Canada project Child welfare across borders (2003)
Duffell, N. "The Making of Them. The British Attitude to Children and the Boarding School System". (London: Lone Arrow Press, 2000).Schaverien, J. (2004) Boarding School: The Trauma of the Privileged Child, in Journal of Analytical Psychology, vol 49, 683–705 These might apply to children who are considered too disobedient or underachieving, children from families with divorced spouses, and children to whom the parents do not much relate. These reasons are rarely explicitly stated, though the child might be aware of them. In 1998, there were 772 private-sector boarding schools in the United Kingdom with over 100,000 children attending them all across the country. They are an important factor in the British class system. About one percent of British children are sent to boarding schools.Dansokho, S., Little, M., & Thomas, B. (2003). ''Residential services for children: definitions, numbers, and classifications''. Chicago: Chapin Hall Center for Children.Department of Health. (1998). Caring for Children away from Home. Chichester: Wiley and SonLittle, M. Kohm, A. Thompson, R. (2005). "The impact of residential placement on child development: research and policy implications". ''International Journal of Social Welfare''; 14, 200–209. Also in Britain children as young as 5 to 9 years of age are sent to boarding schools.Power A (2007) "Discussion of Trauma at the Threshold: The Impact of Boarding School on Attachment in Young Children", in ''ATTACHMENT: New Directions in Psychotherapy and Relational Psychoanalysis''; Vol. 1, November 2007: pp. 313–320


United States

In the United States, boarding schools for students below the age of 13 are called ''junior boarding schools'', and are relatively uncommon. The oldest junior boarding school is the Fay School in Southborough, Massachusetts, established in 1866. Other boarding schools are intended for high school age students, generally of ages 14–18. Some of the oldest of these boarding schools include West Nottingham Academy (est. 1744), Linden Hall (school) (est. 1756), The Governor's Academy (est. 1763), Phillips Academy Andover (est. 1778), and Phillips Exeter Academy (est. 1781). Boarding schools for this age group are often referred to as prep schools. About half of one percent or (.5%) of school children attend boarding schools, about half the percentage of British children.


Native American schools

In the late 19th century, the United States government undertook a policy of educating Native American youth in the ways of the dominant Western culture so that Native Americans might then be able to assimilate into Western society. At these boarding schools, managed and regulated by the government, Native American students were subjected to a number of tactics to prepare them for life outside their reservation homes.Adams, David Wallace. Education for Extinction: American Indians and the Boarding School Experience, 1875–1928. University of Kansas Press, Lawrence: 1995. In accordance with the assimilation methods used at the boarding schools, the education that the Native American children received at these institutions centered on the dominant society's construction of gender norms and ideals. Thus boys and girls were separated in almost every activity and their interactions were strictly regulated along the lines of Victorian ideals. In addition, the instruction that the children received reflected the roles and duties that they were to assume once outside the reservation. Thus girls were taught skills that could be used in the home, such as "sewing, cooking, canning, ironing, child care, and cleaning" (Adams 150). Native American boys in the boarding schools were taught the importance of an agricultural lifestyle, with an emphasis on raising livestock and agricultural skills like "plowing and planting, field irrigation, the care of stock, and the maintenance of fruit orchards" (Adams 149). These ideas of domesticity were in stark contrast to those existing in native communities and on reservations: many indigenous societies were based on a matrilineal system where the women's lineage was honored and the women's place in society respected in different ways. For example, women in native society held powerful roles in their own communities, undertaking tasks that Western society deemed only appropriate for men: indigenous women could be leaders, healers, and farmers. While the Native American children were exposed to and were likely to adopt some of the ideals set out by the whites operating these boarding schools, many resisted and rejected the gender norms that were being imposed upon them.


Other Commonwealth countries

Most societies around the world decline to make boarding schools the preferred option for the upbringing of their children. However, boarding schools are one of the preferred modes of education in former British colonies or Commonwealth countries like India, Pakistan, Nigeria, and other former
Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...
n
colonies In modern parlance, a colony is a territory subject to a form of foreign rule. Though dominated by the foreign colonizers, colonies remain separate from the administration of the original country of the colonizers, the '' metropolitan state'' ...
of Great Britain. For instance, in
Ghana Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and Tog ...
the majority of the secondary schools are boarding. In China some children are sent to boarding schools at 2 years of age. In some countries, such as New Zealand and
Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...
, a number of state schools have boarding facilities. These state boarding schools are frequently the traditional single-sex state schools, whose ethos is much like that of their independent counterparts. Furthermore, the proportion of boarders at these schools is often much lower than at independent boarding schools, typically around 10%.


Canada

In Canada, the largest independent boarding school is
Columbia International College Columbia International College is a private boarding preparatory school in the Ainslie Wood neighbourhood of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. As of 2014, the school has students from over 70 countries. Columbia is a member of the Independent School ...
, with an enrollment of 1,700 students from all over the world.
Robert Land Academy Robert Land Academy (RLA) is Canada's only non-university level private military academy. Located in the township of West Lincoln on the north shores of the Welland River five kilometres west of the hamlet of Wellandport, the Academy began to a ...
in Wellandport, Ontario is Canada's only private military-style boarding school for boys in Grades 6 through 12.


Russia and former Soviet Union

In the former Soviet Union these schools were sometimes known as Internat-schools (Russian: ''Школа-интернат'') (from Latin: ''internet''). They varied in their organization. Some schools were a type of specialized schools with a specific focus in a particular field or fields such as mathematics, physics, language, science, sports, etc. For example, in the 1960s Soviet official established a new type of boarding school, an AESC - Advanced educational scientific center (Russian: ''СУНЦ - Специализированный учебно-научный центр''). Those schools were parts of some major universities and prepared students to study there. Now, only a few exist in Russia - in Moscow, Novosibirsk, and Yekaterinburg, though several boarding schools still operate in former Soviet republics, and even some new ones are being opened (e.g. MSU Gymnasium in Moscow, Russia, or Nazarbayev schools all over Kazakhstan). Other schools were associated with
orphanage An orphanage is a residential institution, total institution or group home, devoted to the care of orphans and children who, for various reasons, cannot be cared for by their biological families. The parents may be deceased, absent, or a ...
s after which all children enrolled in Internat-school automatically. Also, separate boarding schools were established for children with special needs (schools for the blind, deaf, and others). General schools offered "extended stay" programs (Russian: Группа продленного дня) featuring cheap meals for children and preventing them from coming home too early before parents were back from work (education in the Soviet Union was free). In post-Soviet countries, the concept of boarding school differs from country to country.


Switzerland

The
Swiss Swiss may refer to: * the adjectival form of Switzerland *Swiss people Places * Swiss, Missouri *Swiss, North Carolina * Swiss, West Virginia *Swiss, Wisconsin Other uses * Swiss-system tournament, in various games and sports * Swiss Internation ...
government developed a strategy of fostering private boarding schools for foreign students as a business integral to the country's economy. Their boarding schools offer instruction in several major languages and have a large number of quality facilities organized through the ''Swiss Federation of Private Schools''. In 2015, a Swiss boarding school named A+ World Academy was established on the Norwegian Tall Ship Fullriggeren Sørlandet. Some of the most expensive boarding schools in the world include the Swiss schools
Institut Le Rosey Institut Le Rosey (), commonly referred to as Le Rosey or simply Rosey, is a private boarding school in Rolle, Switzerland. Founded in 1880 by Paul-Émile Carnal on the site of the 14th-century Château du Rosey in the town of Rolle in the cant ...
, Beau Soleil, Collège du Léman, Collège Champittet and
Leysin American School Leysin American School (also referred to as LAS), founded in 1960 by Fred and Sigrid Ott, is a co-educational independent boarding school focusing on university preparation for grades 7–12 (as well as optional PG and 13th grades). Approximately ...
.


China

there were about 100,000 boarding schools in rural areas of
Mainland China "Mainland China" is a geopolitical term defined as the territory governed by the China, People's Republic of China (including islands like Hainan or Chongming Island, Chongming), excluding dependent territories of the PRC, and other territorie ...
, with about 33 million children living in them.Roberts, Dexter.
China's Dickensian Boarding Schools

Archive
. ''
Bloomberg Businessweek ''Bloomberg Businessweek'', previously known as ''BusinessWeek'', is an American weekly business magazine published fifty times a year. Since 2009, the magazine is owned by New York City-based Bloomberg L.P. The magazine debuted in New York City ...
''. 6 April 2015. Retrieved on 13 July 2015.
The majority of these boarding schools are in western China, which generally is not as wealthy as eastern and central China.Zhao, Zhenzhou, p. 238 Many migrant workers and farmers send their children to boarding schools.


Malaysia

The history of the boarding School in Malaysia start since the British Administration in Malay States. The purpose of the establishment in earlier to train the elite children especially from the royal family and British Officer, later after the independence of Malaysia, it provided learning facilities for the brilliant students especially to the less affluent families. This Schools also produce the leaders and professionals inside the country. Usually, this schools mostly administered by the government and it also known as: • Sekolah Berasrama Penuh that administered by Ministry of Education (Malaysia) under Fully Residential and Excellent Schools Management Division. • MARA Junior Science College (Maktab Rendah Sains MARA) that administered by Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) under MARA education division. • Several Government Aid Religious School (Sekolah Agama Bantuan Kerajaan) or State-owned Religious School (Sekolah Agama Kerajaan Negeri). • Private Boarding Schools. Today, around 60 Sekolah Berasrama Penuh and 54 MARA junior Science College that have being built around Malaysia.


Sociological issues

Some elite university-preparatory boarding schools for students from age 13 to 18 are seen by sociologists as centers of socialization for the next generation of the political upper class and reproduces an elitist
class system A social class is a grouping of people into a set of hierarchical social categories, the most common being the upper, middle and lower classes. Membership in a social class can for example be dependent on education, wealth, occupation, incom ...
. This attracts families who value power and hierarchy for the socialization of their family members. These families share a sense of entitlement to social class or hierarchy and power. Boarding schools are seen by certain families as centres of socialization where students mingle with others of similar social hierarchy to form what is called an old boy network. Elite boarding school students are brought up with the assumption that they are meant to control society. Significant numbers of them enter the political upper class of society or join the financial elite in fields such as
international banking A bank is a financial institution that accepts deposits from the public and creates a demand deposit while simultaneously making loans. Lending activities can be directly performed by the bank or indirectly through capital markets. Because ...
and
venture capital Venture capital (often abbreviated as VC) is a form of private equity financing that is provided by venture capital firms or funds to startups, early-stage, and emerging companies that have been deemed to have high growth potential or which h ...
. Elite boarding school socialization causes students to internalize a strong sense of entitlement and social control or hierarchy. This form of socialization is called "deep structure socialization" by Peter Cookson & Caroline Hodges (1985). This refers to the way in which boarding schools not only manage to control the students' physical lives but also their emotional lives. Boarding school establishment involves control of behavior regarding several aspects of life including what is appropriate and/or acceptable which adolescents would consider as intrusive. This boarding school socialization is carried over well after leaving school and into their dealings with the social world. Thus it causes boarding school students to adhere to the values of the elite social class which they come from or which they aspire to be part of. Nick Duffell, author of ''Wounded Leaders: British elitism and the Entitlement Illusion – A Psychohistory'', states that the education of the elite in the British boarding school system leaves the nation with "a cadre of leaders who perpetuate a culture of elitism, bullying and misogyny affecting the whole of society". According to Peter W Cookson Jr (2009) the elitist tradition of preparatory boarding schools has declined due to the development of modern economy and the political rise of the liberal west coast of the United States of America.


Socialization of role control and gender stratification

The boarding school socialization of control and hierarchy develops deep rooted and strong adherence to social roles and rigid gender stratification. In one studied school the social pressure for conformity was so severe that several students abused performance drugs like Adderall and
Ritalin Methylphenidate, sold under the brand names Ritalin and Concerta among others, is the most widely prescribed central nervous system (CNS) stimulant medication used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and, to a lesser extent ...
for both academic performance and to lose weight. The distinct and hierarchical nature of socialization in boarding school culture becomes very obvious in the manner students sit together and form cliques, especially in the refectory, or dining hall. This leads to pervasive form of explicit and implicit bullying, and excessive competition between cliques and between individuals. The rigid gender stratification and role control is displayed in the boys forming cliques on the basis of wealth and social background, and the girls overtly accepting that they would marry only for money, while choosing only rich or affluent males as boyfriends. Students are not able to display much sensitivity and emotional response and are unable to have closer relationships except on a superficial and politically correct level, engaging in social behaviour that would make them seem appropriate and rank high in social hierarchy. This affects their perceptions of gender and social roles later in life.


Psychological issues

The aspect of boarding school life with its round the clock habitation of students with each other in the same environment, involved in studying, sleeping, and socializing can lead to pressures and stress in boarding school life. This is manifested in the form of hypercompetitiveness, use of recreational or illegal drugs and psychological depression that at times may manifest in
suicide Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Mental disorders (including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, anxiety disorders), physical disorders (such as chronic fatigue syndrome), and ...
or its attempt. Studies show that about 90% of boarding school students acknowledge that living in a total institution like boarding school has a significant impact and changed their perception and interaction with social relationships.


Total institution and child displacement

It is claimed that children may be sent to boarding schools to be given more opportunities than their families can provide. However, that involves spending significant parts of one's early life in what may be seen as a total institutionGoffman, Erving (1961) ''Asylums: Essays on the Social Situation of Mental Patients and Other Inmates''. (New York: Doubleday Anchor, 1961); (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1968) and possibly experiencing social detachment, as suggested by social-psychologist Erving Goffman. This may involve long-term separation from one's parents and culture, leading to the experience of homesicknessBrewin, C.R., Furnham, A. & Howes, M. (1989). Demographic and psychological determinants of homesickness and confiding among students. ''British Journal of Psychology'', 80, 467–477.Fisher, S., Frazer, N. & Murray, K (1986). Homesickness and health in boarding school children. ''Journal of Environmental Psychology'', 6, 35–47.Thurber A. Christopher (1999) The phenomenology of homesickness in boys, ''Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology'' and emotional abandonment and may give rise to a phenomenon known as the 'TCK' or third culture kid.Pollock DC and Van Reken R (2001). Third Culture Kids. Nicholas Brealey Publishing/Intercultural Press. Yarmouth, Maine. . The celebrated British classicist and poet, Robert Graves (1895–1985), who attended six different preparatory schools at a young age during the early 20th century, wrote: Some modern philosophies of education, such as constructivism and new methods of music training for children including Orff Schulwerk and the Suzuki method, make the everyday interaction of the child and parent an integral part of training and education. In children, separation involves maternal deprivation.Rutter, M (1972) Maternal Deprivation Reassessed. London:Penguin The
European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are located primarily in Europe, Europe. The union has a total area of ...
Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by to ...
project "Child Welfare Across Borders" (2003), an international venture on child development, considers boarding schools as one form of permanent displacement of the child. This view reflects a new outlook towards education and child growth in the wake of more scientific understanding of the
human brain The human brain is the central organ of the human nervous system, and with the spinal cord makes up the central nervous system. The brain consists of the cerebrum, the brainstem and the cerebellum. It controls most of the activities of ...
and cognitive development. Data have not yet been tabulated regarding the
statistical Statistics (from German: '' Statistik'', "description of a state, a country") is the discipline that concerns the collection, organization, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of data. In applying statistics to a scientific, industr ...
ratio of boys to girls that matriculate boarding schools, the total number of children in a given population in boarding schools by country, the average age across populations when children are sent to boarding schools, and the average length of education (in years) for boarding school students. There is also little evidence or research about the complete circumstances or complete set of reasons about sending kids to boarding schools.


Boarding school syndrome

The term ''boarding school syndrome'' was coined by psychotherapist Joy Schaverien in 2011. It is used to identify a set of lasting psychological problems that are observable in adults who, as children, were sent away to boarding schools at an early age. Scharverien's observations are echoed by a boarding schoolboy,
George Monbiot George Joshua Richard Monbiot ( ; born 27 January 1963) is a British writer known for his environmental and political activism. He writes a regular column for ''The Guardian'' and is the author of a number of books. Monbiot grew up in Oxfordsh ...
, who goes so far as to attribute some dysfunctionalities of the UK government to boarding schools. British psychotherapist Nick Duffell refers to adults who have gone through boarding school separation as 'Boarding school survivors'. He has described some of these individuals to exhibit behaviors such as a sense of detachment from any relationships, workaholism, compulsive behavior, and a penchant to control.


In popular culture


Books

Boarding schools and their surrounding settings and situations became in the late Victorian period a genre in British literature with its own identifiable conventions. (Typically, protagonists find themselves occasionally having to break school rules for honorable reasons the reader can identify with and might get severely punished when caught – but usually, they do not embark on a total rebellion against the school as a system.) Notable examples of the school story include: *
Sarah Fielding Sarah Fielding (8 November 1710 – 9 April 1768) was an English author and sister of the novelist Henry Fielding. She wrote '' The Governess, or The Little Female Academy'' (1749), thought to be the first novel in English aimed expressly at chi ...
's ''
The Governess, or The Little Female Academy ''The Governess; or, The Little Female Academy'' (published 1749) by Sarah Fielding is the first full-length novel written for children.As such and in itself it is a significant work of 18th-century children's literature.H. Carpenter and M. Pr ...
'' (1749) *
Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian er ...
's serialised novel '' Nicholas Nickleby'' (1838) * Charlotte Brontë's novels ''
Jane Eyre ''Jane Eyre'' ( ; originally published as ''Jane Eyre: An Autobiography'') is a novel by the English writer Charlotte Brontë. It was published under her pen name "Currer Bell" on 19 October 1847 by Smith, Elder & Co. of London. The first ...
'' (1847) and '' Villette'' (1853) * Thomas Hughes's novel '' Tom Brown's Schooldays'' (1857) *
Frederic W. Farrar Frederic William Farrar (Bombay, 7 August 1831 – Canterbury, 22 March 1903) was a cleric of the Church of England (Anglican), schoolteacher and author. He was a pallbearer at the funeral of Charles Darwin in 1882. He was a member of the Cambr ...
's '' Eric, or, Little by Little'' (1858), a particularly religious and moralistic treatment of the theme * L. T. Meade's ''A World of Girls'' (1886) and dozens more girls school stories * '' O Ateneu'' (1888), written by the
Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
ian Raul Pompéia and dealing openly with the issue of
homosexuality Homosexuality is Romance (love), romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or Human sexual activity, sexual behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality is "an enduring pattern of emotional, romant ...
in the boarding school * Frances Hodgson Burnett's serial ''Sara Crewe: or what Happened at Miss Minchin's'' (1887), revised and expanded as '' A Little Princess'' (1905) * Greyfriars School, created by Charles Hamilton (writing as Frank Richards) in 1910 in the first of what became 1,670 stories, many featuring Billy Bunter. * George Orwell's essay " Boys' Weeklies" suggested in 1940 that Frank Richards created a taste for public schools stories in readers who could never have attended public schools * '' Boy'' by Roald Dahl * Dozens of boys' school novels by Gunby Hadath (1871–1954) *
Elinor Brent-Dyer Elinor M. Brent-Dyer (6 April 1894 – 20 September 1969) was an English writer of children's literature who wrote more than one hundred books during her lifetime, the most famous being the ''Chalet School'' series. Early life and education Br ...
's ''
Chalet School The Chalet School is a series of 64 school story novels by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer, initially published between 1925 and 1970. The fictional school was initially located in the Austrian Tyrol, before it was moved to Guernsey in 1939 following the ...
'' series of about sixty children's novels (1925–1970) * Erich Kästner's '' The Flying Classroom'' (''Das Fliegende Klassenzimmer'') (1933) is a conspicuous non-British example. * James Hilton's novel '' Goodbye, Mr. Chips'' (1934) centers on a teacher, rather than on the students *
Ludwig Bemelmans Ludwig Bemelmans (April 27, 1898 – October 1, 1962) was an Austrian-American writer and illustrator of children's books and adult novels. He is known best for the ''Madeline'' picture books. Six were published, the first in 1939. Early life ...
' ''
Madeline ''Madeline'' is a media franchise that originated as a series of children's books written and illustrated by Ludwig Bemelmans, an Austrian-American author. The books have been adapted into numerous formats, spawning telefilms, television series ...
'' series of children's picture books (1939–present) *
Penelope Farmer Penelope Jane Farmer (born 1939) is an English fiction writer well known for children's fantasy novels. Her best-known novel is '' Charlotte Sometimes'' (1969), a boarding-school story that features a multiple time slip. Life Farmer was born a f ...
's '' Charlotte Sometimes'' (1969) * In Jill Murphy's '' The Worst Witch'' stories (from 1974), the traditional boarding school themes are explored in a
fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy literature and d ...
school that teaches magic. * Dianna Wynne Jones's novel ''
Witch Week ''Witch Week'' is a children's fantasy, fantasy novel and school story by the British writer Diana Wynne Jones, published by Macmillan Publishing, Macmillan Children's Books in 1982. It was the third published of seven Chrestomanci, Chrestomanci ...
'' (1982) features Larwood House where magic is not taught —its use is a capital crime— but many students grow into magic powers * J. K. Rowling's '' Harry Potter'' series (1997–2007) features Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry * Jenny Nimmo's '' Children of the Red King'' series (2002–2009) features magically endowed children at Bloor Academy, which most students leave on weekends *
Libba Bray Martha Elizabeth "Libba" Bray (March 11, 1964) is an American writer of young adult novels including the Gemma Doyle Trilogy, '' Going Bovine'', and '' The Diviners''. Early life Martha Elizabeth Bray was born in Montgomery, Alabama. Her fathe ...
's '' Gemma Doyle Trilogy'', volumes one and two (2003, 2006), features a girl's discovery of magical capabilities and realms * Enid Blyton's ''
Malory Towers ''Malory Towers'' is a series of six novels by English children's author Enid Blyton. The series is based on a girls' boarding school that Blyton's daughter attended, Benenden School, which relocated during World War II to the Hotel Bristol ...
'', '' St Clare's'' and '' Naughtiest Girl'' series * John van de Ruit's '' Spud'' book and movie series, that take place at a school based on
Michaelhouse Michaelhouse is a full boarding senior school for boys founded in 1896. It is located in the Balgowan valley in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. History ''St. Michael's Diocesan College'' was founded in Pietermaritzburg in 1896 ...
The setting has also been featured in notable North American fiction: * J.D. Salinger's novel '' The Catcher in the Rye'' (1951) * John Knowles's novels '' A Separate Peace'' (1959) and ''
Peace Breaks Out ''Peace Breaks Out'' (1981) is a novel by American author John Knowles, better known for ''A Separate Peace'' (1959). Both books share the setting of the Devon preparatory school, probably a reference to Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, New Ham ...
'' (1981) * Edward Kay's science fiction novel '' STAR Academy'' (2009) * John Green's 2006 young adult novel '' Looking for Alaska'' There is also a huge boarding-school genre literature, mostly uncollected, in British comics and serials from the 1900s to the 1980s. The subgenre of books and films set in a military or naval academy has many similarities with the above.


Films and television

* '' Mädchen in Uniform'' (1931) * '' Goodbye, Mr. Chips'' (1939) * '' The Happiest Days of Your Life'' (1950) * '' The Browning Version'' (1951) * '' Tom Brown's Schooldays'' (1951) * ''
The Belles of St. Trinian's ''The Belles of St Trinian's'' is a 1954 British comedy film, directed by Frank Launder, co-written by Launder and Sidney Gilliat, and starring Alastair Sim, Joyce Grenfell, George Cole, Hermione Baddeley. Inspired by British cartoonist R ...
'' (1954) and its five sequels and re-boots * ''
Hasta el viento tiene miedo '' Hasta el viento tiene miedo'', known in English as ''Even the Wind is Afraid'' and ''The Wind of Fear'', is a 1968 (1967 according to the ITESM) Mexican gothic supernatural horror film, written and directed by Carlos Enrique Taboada. It is co ...
'' (1968) * '' If....'' (1968) * '' Tom Brown's Schooldays'' (1971) * '' Pink Floyd – The Wall'' (1982) * ''
Class Class or The Class may refer to: Common uses not otherwise categorized * Class (biology), a taxonomic rank * Class (knowledge representation), a collection of individuals or objects * Class (philosophy), an analytical concept used differently ...
'' (1983) * '' Another Country'' (1984) * '' Dead Poets Society'' (1989) * '' The Power of One'' (1992) * '' Scent of a Woman'' (1992) * '' School Ties'' (1992) * '' The Browning Version'' (1994) * '' A Little Princess'' (1995) * ''
Boys A boy is a young male human. The term is commonly used for a child or an adolescent. When a male human reaches adulthood, he is described as a man. Definition, etymology, and use According to the ''Merriam-Webster Dictionary'', a boy is "a ...
'' (1996) * '' Ponette'' (1996) (French Film) * ''
Madeline ''Madeline'' is a media franchise that originated as a series of children's books written and illustrated by Ludwig Bemelmans, an Austrian-American author. The books have been adapted into numerous formats, spawning telefilms, television series ...
'' (1998) * ''
Young Americans ''Young Americans'' is the ninth studio album by English musician David Bowie, released on 7March 1975 through RCA Records. The album marked a departure from the glam rock style of Bowie's previous albums, showcasing his interest in soul ...
'' (2000) * '' Harry Potter'' series, Hogwarts (2001–2011) * '' Cadet Kelly'' (2002) * '' The Wild Thornberrys Movie'' (2002) * '' The Emperor's Club'' (2002) * '' Rebelde Way'' (2002–2004) * '' Strange Days at Blake Holsey High'' (2002–2006) * ''
That'll Teach 'Em ''That'll Teach 'Em'' is a British historical reality documentary series produced by ''Twenty Twenty Television'' for the Channel 4 network in the United Kingdom. Concept Each series follows around 30 teenage students who have recently complet ...
'' (2003-2006) * '' Winx Club'' (2004–present) * ''
Les Choristes ''Les Choristes'' ("The Chorus" or "The Chorus Singers") is an 1877 pastel on monotype by French artist Edgar Degas. Part of a series of similar works depicting daily public entertainment at the time, it shows a group of singers performing a s ...
'' (2004) *'' La Mala Educación'' (2004) * '' Zoey 101'' (2005-2008) * '' She's the Man'' (2006) * '' St Trinian's'' (2007) * '' Wild Child'' (2008) * ''
Hanazakarino Kimitachihe ''Hanazakarino Kimitachihe'' (), is a 2006 Taiwanese drama starring Ella Chen of S.H.E, Wu Chun and Jiro Wang of Fahrenheit, and Danson Tang. It was based on Japanese ''shōjo'' manga series ''Hana-Kimi'' by Hisaya Nakajo. The series was fir ...
'' (2006) * '' Hanazakari no Kimitachi e'' (2007) * ''
Lost and Delirious ''Lost and Delirious'' is a 2001 Canadian drama film directed by Léa Pool, and based on the novel '' The Wives of Bath'' by Susan Swan. ''Lost and Delirious'' is told from the perspective of Mary ( Mischa Barton), who observes the changing love ...
'' (2001) * '' Archer'' (2009–present) * '' Cracks'' (2009) * ''
Tanner Hall Tanner Hall (born October 26, 1983) is an American freeskier. Biography Hall, nicknamed 'Ski Boss', was born in Kalispell, Montana where he grew up skiing at Big Mountain, now named Whitefish Mountain Resort, starting at age three. He join ...
'' (2009) * ''
Four Eyes! ''Four Eyes!'' is an animated television series created by Darryl Kluskowski and co-produced by PorchLight Entertainment, Pictor Media and Telegael Teoranta for France 3. Plot summary The series centers around a misanthropic alien girl called Emm ...
'' (2006) * ''
Loving Annabelle ''Loving Annabelle'' is a 2006 American romantic drama film written and directed by Katherine Brooks. Inspired by ''Mädchen in Uniform'', it tells the story of a boarding school student who falls in love with her teacher. Plot Annabelle Tillma ...
'' (2006) * '' Spud'' (2010) * '' The Moth Diaries'' (2011) * '' 5ive Girls'' (2006) * '' Barbie: Princess Charm School'' (2011) * '' Prom Wars'' (2008) * '' The Trouble with Angels'' (1966) * '' The Facts of Life'' (1979-1988) * '' You Are Not Alone'' (1978) * '' House of Anubis'' (2011–2013) * '' Ever After High'' (2013–present) * ''Descendants'' (2015 film) (2015–present) * '' Taps'' (1981) * '' Candy Candy'' (1976) * '' My Hero Academia'' (2016) * ''
Our Fires Still Burn ''Our Fires Still Burn'' is a one-hour documentary produced by Audrey Geyer that explores the experiences of contemporary Native Americans through a compilation of first-person narratives ranging from midwestern Native Americans in "Indian boardi ...
'' (2013) * '' DC Super Hero Girls'' (2015-2018) * '' Legacies'' (2018–present) * '' Fate: The Winx Saga'' (2021–present) * '' Taare Zameen Par'' (2007) * '' Young Royals'' (2021-Present)


Video games

* '' Final Fantasy VIII'' (1998) * '' Bully'' (2006) * '' The Sims 3'' (2009) * '' Katawa Shoujo'' (2012) * ''
Life Is Strange ''Life Is Strange'' (abbreviated ''LIS'') is a series of primarily episodic graphic adventure games published by Square Enix's European subsidiary. Created by Dontnod Entertainment, the series debuted with the eponymous first installment, ...
'' (2015) * '' Fire Emblem: Three Houses'' (2019)


See also

* List of boarding schools


References


Further reading

* Cadet, Linton Hall, Linton Hall Military School Memories: One cadet's memoir, Scrounge Press, 2014. Memoir of cadet who attended during the late 1960s, with copies of brochures from the 1940s and 1980s, and photos of the school. * Cookson, Peter W., Jr., and Caroline Hodges Persell.
Preparing for Power: America's Elite Boarding Schools
'. (New York: Basic Books, 1985). * Fisher, S. & Hood, B. (1987). The stress of the transition to university: a longitudinal study of psychological disturbance, absent-mindedness and vulnerability to homesickness. ''British Journal of Psychology'', 78, 425–441 * Hein, David (1991). The High Church origins of the American boarding school. ''Journal of Ecclesiastical History'', 42, 577–95. * Hickson, A. "The Poisoned Bowl: Sex Repression and the Public School System". (London: Constable, 1995). * Johann, Klaus: ''Grenze und Halt: Der Einzelne im "Haus der Regeln". Zur deutschsprachigen Internatsliteratur.'' (Heidelberg: Universitätsverlag Winter 2003, Beiträge zur neueren Literaturgeschichte, 201.),
Review
* Ladenthin, Volker; Fitzek, Herbert; Ley, Michael: Das Internat. Aufgaben, Erwartungen und Evaluationskriterien. Bonn 2006 (7. Aufl.).
Duffel N. (2000) The making of them. London: Lone Arrow Press
* Schaverien, J. (2004) Boarding School: The Trauma of the Privileged Child, in Journal of Analytical Psychology, vol 49, 683–705 * Cookson, P. W., Jr. (2009). "Boarding Schools" in ''The Child: an encyclopedic companion'' (ed.) Richard A Shweder. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. pp. 112–114. {{DEFAULTSORT:Boarding School Education in popular culture School types Total institutions