General Chat

no, Had a wonderful home life as well !! Only child...

the local prep school that i work at 'feeds' many good boarding schools - Oundle and Rugby being two. i think to transfer from state to private is hard, but a huge percentage of prep school children do go on and board and love it. I think it does depend on the child and if it is a 'specialist school' - I well remember being terribly upset when a 6 year old called Ed left to board, but it was at a cathederal school, which totally fufills his love of singing. Jess x

Definitely depends on the individual child and parents' circumstances and it's a matter of personal choice. I have friends who were boarders and would never consider it for their own children and others who loved it and have continued the tradition with their children. A couple of friends chose it because of their husband's jobs which were in Eastern Europe and they didn't like the international schools there so elected for a boarding school here. However, it wouldn't have been my choice because I'd have missed the children too much so in their position I'd have come back to England with the children, sent them to day school and then visited hubby as often as possible. Daisy

My sister and I went to boarding school. I have had the experience.... and wish I hadn't! I would never have sent mine to one. I would send them to a private school if I had the money... But was never able to. Deanna X

I went to a covent boarding school when my Father's job sent him abroad. I have nothing but good memories of my time there and I most certainly didn't have an unhappy home life. It's like with everything else, you can't make sweeping statements about the people who send their children to boarding school nor about the children who go there :o) Helenxxx

i dont agree with it just one way to get rid of your kids in my eyes

I used to read Malory Towers books and wish I was at boarding school lol :-) I think it's more related to the child than the school but it's a personal choice. I knew someone who went to a public school which had boarding and really enjoyed it.

No,I dont agree with it, I think they grow up completely CUCKOO!! Ive seen it with friends children,FRIGHTENING!!

*cancels Hogwarts application*

Because there was no school for 11-17 year olds where we were stationed in Germany whilst Father was in the forces me and my sister both went to boarding school in Germany. Glad to report that we enjoyed the experience , and neither me or my sis appear to be cuckoo's or any other type of weird person , and we never blamed our father for sending us there cos there was no choice . Oh yeah Danial my father was'nt rich either :-)))))))))))))))))

Cuckoo.....! Not me...Nuts but not cuckoo......!!

Yeah well! I still know probably a hundred people, going back to the 1950's, who went to public school and none of them are damaged in any way. Guess it's a case of 'chacun a son gout'. Bit like religion and politics ain't it? Cherry, who despite the fact that she's now boracic lint is extremely puffed up 'cos her boy earns 140K, wouldn't have happened in the state system, the scholarship did that for him. Sending children to public school is all about sacrifice, not wiping them out of the way. I also think there are a few misconceptions here. I could visit my boys at any time but it was a bit infra dig to have your Mum turning up if it wasn't an exeat! Cherryxx

Today's state system does farm out rich earners. Today, things are more equal, and rightly so. Money doesn't talk as loud as it used to.

I agree with Daniel. I don't think state education rules out high paying jobs. A child that can succeed will succeed no matter what school they go to - our Daniel being a case in point I believe :o) Helenxxx Not that Daniel's a child as such :os lol!

You believe wrong. Mum with 3 jobs, cleaning and dinner lady Dad a a basic nurse in a hospital, cleaning trollys and stuff. He works 12 hour days most. I've just been fortunate in having a skill which I have learnt to exploit. I dont believe for one second State or Private would have made the least bit of difference. It's down to my parents the way I am. (blame them ;-)

Oopps! Sorry Daniel :os I think you miss understood me. I meant you've succeeded from going to an ordinary school. That's all, I was just agreeing with you. Sorry if it came across wrong :o( Helenxx *crawling away to eat worms*

Yeah I know that bit, just if you think I'm rolling in it as I type - no chance! :-)

Phew! That's a relief! No, I don't mean you're rolling in it :o) Success is not just measured in bank notes. Helenxx

Oh I do agree! I just think it was quite pertinent that when the high earning child almost electrocuted his pregnant mother by putting wires into the hood hairdryer she was sitting under the headmaster's response was 'well we've obviously got a bit of a wizard here, we'd better see how we can further Master .......efforts' Now if that were the state system, he would have been surrounded by social services et al, whipped into care for trying to 'kill off' his mother. All at the age of 7! Cherryxx

My first husband was sent away to Boarding School at the age of three....his father was a Diplomat in Egypt and the climate there was considered unsuitable for children (erm, what about Egyptian children, how did they survive, then?) By the age of 7, he was getting on planes on his own to visit his parents in the hols. He certainly had a downer on women, and on Boarding Schools too. My daughter's ex also went to Boarding School, his parents were in the Forces. His brother went too, he loved it and has made a great success of his life. Daughter's ex is emotionally frozen and spends every waking moment toadying to his mother. It works for some and it doesnt work for others - trouble is, you dont know till after! OC