Boarding School

In England there is a long tradition for sending your son to a “prep school” at the age of 6 – 12 years and then at the age of 12 or 13 to a “boarding school”, “public school” or “independent school” as they often are called. At the “prep school”, you prepare for the independent school. This is an essay about independent schools and what it was like to live at one of these schools about eighty years ago.

Back then, the boarding schools in England were very strict. The teachers were usually mean and you would get caned if you didn’t do what you were told. Although parents only wanted the best for their children, and if they could afford it, they would send their son to an independent school. Only seven percent of English pupils attend these independent schools today, but the percentage of people educated at these schools are very high when it comes to high – status jobs in England. So if your parents were rich and sent you to a boarding school, it was your first step for success in England.

One of the negative sides being a pupil at an independent school, was the physical punishment you’d get if you did something you were not supposed to. The pupils got hit over their legs and it would sting very badly. Many fathers also caned their sons when they did something wrong. In one way, this was maybe an effective way to stop bad behavior, but on the other hand the children could get so scared or frightened that it would affect the rest of their life. Many parents wanted to send their son to a boarding school, but only a minority had and still have the money for it.

Most people know that if they send their son to a boarding school, the chance of building a network of friends and contacts is very high and that would help them very much later getting a top job and a high status. Personally I think the boarding schools today are very good actually. You can get a good education, the physical punishment are forbidden so the only negative side is probably the cost of the school. Eighty years ago when Roald Dahl went to a boarding school, things were different. I have chosen an example from a book “Boy” written by Roald Dahl, where Roald Dahl gets caned by the headmaster after he and his friend put a dead mouse in one of the nearby candy stores. The owner of the store, a Mrs. Pratchett got very mad and asked the headmaster of the school Roald attended to punish them with the cane (page 52-54).

Based on what I have written, the boarding schools back in Roald’s youth was rater awful, but these schools were the best way for the children to educate even though it could get tough. For those who can afford it, the independent schools today are some of the best schools in the world and they may be strict, but they’re nothing compared to Roald’s experiences. In England it will cost you if you want a good job and even if you have the potential but not the money you usually wont make it far. Personally I think that this is a bad idea, however it may be a good way to get the land in good shape and they absolutely have many people with high competence.