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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I taught recently at a small second- or third-tier boarding school in the northeast (think Suffield or Berkshire, not Andover or Lawrenceville). Here are some of my observations:

-The teachers were EXHAUSTED. In addition to teaching full loads of classes, we were coaching, tutoring, staying up late for dorm duty and activity duty, driving teams to away games, etc. Faculty morale was perpetually low and there was a ton of turnover. Students were constantly losing their advisors and mentors, which was sad to see and to be part of.

-The academics weren't stellar. We simply didn't have the time or energy to teach our subjects as well as we would have liked. Many new teachers were just out of college (some hadn't even majored in the subjects they were teaching). There was a wide range of ability and preparedness among the students, especially the ones who'd been recruited for sports. College outcomes were no better than I'd expect from a mid-to-good public school. Overall, the school valued athletics above academics, and artsy, nerdy kids often felt left out.

-I had some absolutely wonderful students. I also had some poorly behaved students who'd been dumped at the school by their negligent parents. The administration was reluctant to discipline the kids for classroom behavior or academic dishonesty. (No, this was not a therapeutic boarding school or "troubled teen" facility.)

-On the question of child abuse, though, I really don't think boarding schools are worse than day schools. I'd say the risk might even be lower at boarding schools, since the adults have relatively little privacy or time to themselves. If I were an abuser, I'd choose an environment with less oversight. (Epstein taught at Dalton, a day school.)

Again, these were my personal experiences at a not-super-prestigious boarding school. Every boarding school is different, though, and some kids really do benefit academically and emotionally from the boarding environment. It's just important to know your child and ask the right questions of the school.[/quote]

I invite you to take a look at St. Paul's, which is a case study. [/quote]

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