Boarding school can feel like boot camp – or the best thing since sliced bread. Would your child benefit from the experience? Ray Au takes a look
Finding the right school for your child is as big a job now as it has ever been, with options aplenty and the standard of education at an all-time high. Hong Kong’s international schools are regarded among the world’s best, but many families are excited by the benefits a boarding school education can bring, whether that means basing their children overseas or right here in the territory.
Certainly, what the boarding school system can offer looks good on paper. It provides children with a structured approach to both academic studies and extracurricular activities, with 24/7 access to sports and recreation facilities. There’s also social interaction with friends and peers of all ages, the opportunity to learn personal and social responsibility, zero travel time to school… safety and supervision. But what’s the reality? What are the pros and cons?
HOME OR AWAY?
For many parents, the idea of children boarding in Hong Kong appeals, as it guarantees everyone the best of both worlds – work-orientated weekdays, in which children are cared for 24/7 within the school campus, and family-focused weekends.
Indeed, one of the biggest criticisms that can be made of the boarding school system is that the influence family has on a young person’s life is compromised. Arguably, the best education happens when a student is benefiting from both a close-knit, supportive home environment and also an excellent school environment – and this is where weekly boarders benefit. They have teachers and “house parents” to look to – to help them succeed and to help them thrive – but they also have the constant hands-on support and influence of their own families.
There’s no doubt many families struggle to get quality time during the week. Parents work long hours and are often late home, meaning children are left either to fend for themselves, or in the hands of helpers. Equally, weekly boarding removes the daily commute to and from school many children have to make, meaning they have more time to relax – and do their homework – in the evenings. Living apart during the week, boarders – and their parents – can plan and look forward to dedicated family time at the weekends.
Full-time overseas boarders, meanwhile, get round-the-clock education and a built-in social life, and for expat kids being schooled in their “home country” can be a tremendously grounding experience. For parents who want their children to be totally immersed in an educational environment, and/ or have busy careers themselves, it’s clear that a full-time boarding school has much to offer.
Parents who feel that Hong Kong is a “small pond” in which to grow up are interested in the options that open up to overseas boarders – it’s not just about classroom learning, it’s about resilience skills, leadership skills, and all that comes through the wider experience of sports, outdoor activities and a lot of dynamic social contact with many other schools. Whole person education is not the preserve of the boarding school system but it is a specialty.
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
Living and studying within the school community, whether weekly or full-time, boarders have access to top-notch sports, music and arts facilities, as well as academic societies. Everything on campus is geared to their betterment and/ or enjoyment, and their needs are prioritised. They get to socialise, and learn to cope independently alongside their peers, without leaving the school premises – and all of this is happening under the watchful eye of teachers who are mentors, not helpers or baby-sitters.
Boarding schools tend to have not just great teachers but specialist facilities, meaning they are able to cater to children with abilities that are either above or below average. With small classes, study hall hours, and access to teachers that live on campus, most boarders feel the benefit and find they can excel inside the classroom and out.
Parents who are drawn to the boarding school system value the sheer volume of academics, athletics and extracurricular activities on offer, but there is a potential downside – overworked, overstretched kids. For some children, having such a packed timetable can be too much; the pressure to excel in all aspects of school life can be overwhelming.
SOCIAL ADVANTAGES
Many boarding schools used to be like barracks – complete with lumpy mattresses, cold showers and early-morning-runs – but nowadays, they’re much more luxurious. Boarders get all the fun of living with their friends, sharing a dorm, or a room as they get older. Every night feels like a slumber party, plus they get a built-in social life. Boarders, particularly those without siblings, benefit from the constant companionship; they never have to look far if they need a friend to hang out with or vent to about their stress.
With dozens of mates on tap from the moment they wake up till the second they fall asleep, the bonds of friendship that boarders develop are incredibly strong and often these relationships endure long into adult life. Boarders come to rely heavily on their friends, and they feel secure within such a tight-knit community.
But there’s an obvious disadvantage to all this – boarders have a hard time getting any privacy and, during term time, they seldom get a break from their friends. Living at such close quarters may be tremendous fun when everyone is getting along, but when they’re not, disputes, even serious issues can arise. Equally, many boarders find themselves friendless when they come home for the holidays. They may not know the children in their neighbourhood and they likely won’t have formed any strong ties with them. Boarders mature more quickly than their day-schooled peers, which also sets them apart and can increase their feelings of isolation when they’re away from school.
A TASTE OF FREEDOM
But there’s an obvious disadvantage to all this – boarders have a hard time getting any privacy and, during term time, they seldom get a break from their friends. Living at such close quarters may be tremendous fun when everyone is getting along, but when they’re not, disputes, even serious issues can arise. Equally, many boarders find themselves friendless when they come home for the holidays. They may not know the children in their neighbourhood and they likely won’t have formed any strong ties with them. Boarders mature more quickly than their day-schooled peers, which also sets them apart and can increase their feelings of isolation when they’re away from school.
There’s no doubt that boarders are carefully supervised but at the same time, they are encouraged to be independent and selfsupporting. They are treated like young adults, and most respond well, learning to cope on their own and to enjoy doing so. Living within a community, they find they have to learn to get along with other students and take responsibility for their own actions.
On the other hand, the blessing of being free of parents can also be a kind of curse. It’s unusual for boarders not to suffer from homesickness at least initially, and separation anxiety can resurface at stressful times. Being trusted to make their own decisions is one thing, but boarders may miss having mum and dad around to hold their hands at crucial stages in their school career, for instance when they are choosing which subjects to study at 16 or making college applications.
One thing’s for sure, some children find it easier to leave the nest than others; some are ready to make the transition age 13, while others struggle to do so even at 18. Now that you’ve weighed up the pros and cons, only you can make the decision. Would your child benefit from a boarding school education?