To think that the majority of teenagers would benefit from going away to boarding school

[Covidisstillanissue]

I’m just musing based off those who I know personally. Clearly, this is unlikely to ever become a widespread idea but thinking hypothetically. Also, while I think for the majority of teenagers this would be beneficial it wouldn’t be for everyone.
First off, I think it would massively benefit them in terms of independence. So many times nowadays teenagers (especially younger teens) are unable to even do the most basic things and are often very infantilised. I think with boarding often you become far more independent than your peers who live at home and go to day school.
Secondly, socially I think it would be beneficial as they live with their friends and often form far stronger friendships and (tied in with independence) a bit more maturity in terms of how they deal with their friendships. In schools nowadays it feels like parents and pastoral staff are constantly dragged in to even the most minor disputes between friends, sometimes with kids age 15/16 - an age you would expect them to be gearing up to be behaving more like adults.
To be clear, I do not think that boarding school is good for children under the age of about 13 (year 9) however, for teenagers I do think they would benefit.
There’s other things I could say but overall Aibu to think that for most teenagers boarding school would be beneficial?

Far from being more independent, my cousins (five of them) who all boarded were less independent. Three failed at university, and either dropped out and never returned or dropped out for a bit and had to restart.
It was because school was organised. They got homework but there was designated ‘prep time’ when not much else was happening. They were expected to be working. When they got to uni they struggled because they weren’t used to organising their own time. They found it really, really hard to do their own time management.

And for one in particular, there was no escape from the low level bullying that was a feature of her life for 3 years.

Did you go to boarding school, OP? No.
Unless you have lived experience of it, then you don't have a clue what you are talking about.
I was at boarding school 13-18 and there is no reality in which I'd send my daughters to a boarding school (or private school, for that matter).

You have your opinion, Mine is different, I went to a boarding school, on a council scholarship. The teaching was a step up, there were more subjects taught, and there was a massive difference in expectation of performance. There was NO kind feedback; it was all about what you should have done better. Not all kids respond well to robust responses.

So in essence have children and then send them away for other people to install independence, life skills and discipline. Oh let’s not forget the abuse that has gone on for years in boarding schools.
eh no thanks I’ll raise my children myself.

EffortlessDesmond · Today 21:03The importance of training the next generation is a skill much missed IMHO.”

Training the next generation? For what? What the fuck are you talking about? What young people need is a loving family that wants them. That’s “training” enough.

And what about those who don't survive and thrive at boarding school?

I'm not in the UK and while of course we have boarding schools here it doesn't seem quite as common to send kids away to school. People seem to "do well in life" whatever school they went to.

Actually no, I meant the supervised gap year element of it (with frequent visits home) because despite what I said below, I do think teens benefit from periodic time spent together unsupervised or partially supervised by adults, especially when it involves some sort of physical challenge.

I only really know about Danish nursery school education which is meant to be some of the best in the world.

But I’ve just googled Danish boarding schools and there seem to be have been quite a few horrific bullying incidents of a sexual nature, so again, so I take back what I said and again, it’s a no from me.

YABU. It's completely abnormal to be sent away from your family.

Of course not. What a stupid idea.

Oops! Excuse the typos there, I had half an eye on An Officer and A Gentleman while posting! 😁

Thedogscollar · Today 22:10YABU. It's completely abnormal to be sent away from your family.”

This is all that needs to be said, really.

Having worked at three boarding schools, I don’t think they are more independent necessarily than kids who live at home. Teenagers who live at home can have a part-time job, for example. Although boarders are more emotionally independent because they don’t have parents around, they’re quite sheltered in a lot of respects. All their meals are served in a canteen, so no participation in preparing family meals. Don’t clean bathrooms etc, which teenagers at home should be learning to do.

The OP is talking about teens though, and probably means from 14 or 16.

I don’t think it’s for all teens, but a good chunk do better in a peer group environment at that age I’d agree.

It’s totally different from Prep school, which is a shockingly bad idea except when there really is no alternative. I’m sorry your DP had a bad time of it.

Boarding schools, such wonderful havens of bullying, physical, emotional and sexual abuse by both students and teachers.

Why not military school? Or perhaps we could re-purpose some of the old style communist ideas of taking kids away, and making them more independent.?