The Magic of Boarding Schools
I have a column in Monday's USA Today about boarding education for gifted students. It is available online at:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2005-09-25-vanderkam-edit_x.htm
Welcome to those who saw the URL for this blog in the column!
The gist of the piece is that despite America's love of Harry Potter and Hogwarts, his boarding school, we're not sending our own children to boarding school. There's a wizard's brew of factors at play, including high tuition, and a general lack of awareness. But also, today, more parents who might see boarding education as an option are interested in keeping their kids home and becoming closer to them during their late teen years.
I say this is too bad, because boarding education, done right, can concentrate the brightest kids from a broad geographic area, and create an environment that values learning. This is what I experienced at the Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics and Humanities. To do boarding education right, schools need to provide more scholarships, states need to build more public residential schools for the gifted, and policy makers can recognize that when gifted kids' needs can't be locally met, they may still be entitled to a free and appropriate education elsewhere (governments pay tuition for 17,111 disabled students at private residential schools or facilities around the country when their needs can't be met locally).
But obviously others disagree -- maybe parents can provide the best environment for gifted students. Maybe 15 or 16 is too young to live away from home, even if the educational environment is better. I'm curious to hear what people think- Laura
Welcome to Gifted Exchange, the blog about gifted children, schooling, parenting, education news and changing American education for the better. This blog is supported by the Davidson Institute for Talent Development.
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14 comments:
Erica- glad to hear you enjoyed the experience. My years at boarding school were certainly good for stretching my brain and, despite what our other poster says, my husband seems to think that I'm doing just fine in the "emotional skills to be an effective wife" department. - Laura
Just read the article... I'm an academy senior. I came from a decent high school, but the academy has still given me things that my home school never could have. On the other hand.... everything that this place does to people... its not always good. The stress and the craziness and bad grades sometimes for the first time in our lives---thats all worth it to some people, including me. But I don't think anyone who comes here really knows what they're getting into---and its really horrible what coming here can do to the lives of people who weren't really up for this for one reason or another---whether they go home or stay. Also, we are here to learn, but many of us are still being pushed to get the kinds of grades that we used to---to get into college, to get scholarships---and that isn't always possible here. Grade-focused learning isn't just a problem here---its a problem at most schools now I think, to some extent---- but it is expecially obvious at a school that was created specifically to be DIFFERENT from that.
I love it here... but theres more to this place than all its good qualities.
Nicole- it's hard to know if it's the right thing for any given child or family -- that's something you and your daughter will have to figure out together. One thing you can do is visit boarding schools to see if it's the kind of thing she would like. If you're in Illinois, the Illinois Math and Science Academy is a great option for high school.
She should also participate in the Midwest Talent Search this year, and take the SAT. If she does well enough, she can go to summer programs at Northwestern for gifted students -- the three weeks taking classes there resemble boarding school quite closely! If she likes it a lot -- well, then you know.
Letting go is, as you say, the toughest part. It helps to remember, if your family chooses boarding school, that you'll have to let go eventually when she goes to college or moves out on her own. And second, you can visit and keep in touch! Think phone cards. Lots of phone cards. Keep me updated- Laura
I'm glad to see some current Academy students posting on here!
Yes, it was a difficult experience, academically, at times. However, I feel the Indiana Academy taught me how to work hard and stick with something that was difficult -- something I never learned before -- and has taught me time management skills that I use every day. My first semester there, my grades were atrocious. I came home with a C for the first time in my life! But then I learned how to earn A's. That's a much better feeling than just "getting" A's.
Stormia- I understand what you mean about stress, the rules, the late hours, bad food, workload. If you want to commiserate privately with an alum, my email is lvanderkam@yahoo.com.
Thank you, Laura H. That's very sweet -- I have fond memories of Common Ground, though USA Today and Reader's Digest have beat any wordiness tendencies out of me! I hope all is well for you these days- Laura
Victoria:
Certainly the Indiana Academy, where I went, was pretty small (300 students total). However, it was on the campus of Ball State University, which was huge. You could audit arts/sports/music classes at Ball State, and so get to know students there. We also had classes in the same building as Burris High School, which was a local laboratory school for Ball State's teachers' college. So that added more people in our age group. You might try looking for a boarding school that's in a big city, or on a college campus, in order to ease the transition to a smaller school.
Tanstaafl: You may be on to something with gifted teens preferring to be treated more like adults, since mentally, that's where they are. I'm always a little sad when people say high school was the best time of their lives!
My sister and I both have daughters, both aged seven, both Mother's WORST NIGHTMARE. They are out of control! Everything from not listening to lying and stealing. We do not believe in being physical in our form of punishments. But considering the alternatives do not work we have to seek help. To our astonishment- there is no one that will help. Our last resort would be a reform. boarding school. All of the boarding schools in North America do not accept children that young. So we are seriously considering sending them to a boarding school in England. If thats the case, I will probably end up moving there. And I know there are a lot of judgmental parents out there... you can keep it to yourselves. I for one ( my sister for two) agree that there is a problem when a seven year old thinks they are in control and a parent tries to regain that control. I need help and its sad that no one will help me in my own country and I have to resort to this.
It sounds like you and your sister have experienced significant challenges with your daughters. We understand your concerns!
Before taking extreme measures like moving to another country, we encourage you to consider seeking the assistance of a local mental health professional. You may be interested in an informational pamphlet published by SENG (Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted), titled Selecting a Mental Health Professional for your Gifted Child (http://www.sengifted.org/articles_publications.shtml). You can find a list of psychologists familiar with testing gifted students on Hoagies Gifted Page. Although this information relates to testing, the psychologists listed may also offer therapeutic services or would be able to recommend a therapist in your area.
Oftentimes it can be helpful to ask family and friends for recommendations for mental health professionals. This may be a bit uncomfortable, but might be fruitful in turning up good leads. You may also want to check with these websites:
* National Register of Psychologists
* American Psychological Association
As you may know, there are numerous books available for parents raising difficult children. Here are a few we’ve suggested to parents in the past:
* The Difficult Child
* The Explosive Child
* The Out-of-Sync Child
* in Charge: Setting Healthy, Loving Boundaries for You and Your Child
* Children: The Challenge : The Classic Work on Improving Parent-Child Relations--Intelligent, Humane & Eminently Practical Children
* Raising Your Spirited Child: A Guide for Parents Whose Child Is More Intense, Sensitive, Perceptive, Persistent, Energetic
* The Challenging Child: Understanding, Raising, and Enjoying the Five "Difficult" Types of Children
Additionally, there are a few noted publishers that offer books to assist in addressing the needs of exceptionally bright young people. You may wish to explore their websites:
* Great Potential Press (we highly recommend Guiding the Gifted Child)
* Free Spirit Publishing (publisher of Bringing Out the Best: A Guide for Parents of Young Gifted Children)
* Prufrock Press (we also recommend Parenting Gifted Kids: Tips for Raising Happy and Successful Children)
We hope this is helpful and wish you the best!
There are many good boarding schools for gifted students. These schools have their own unique teaching and treatment method which is very beneficial for these students.
I am the mother of a 15-going-on-50-year-old girl, currently going into grade 11 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Last year, she completed her first year in IB (International Baccalaureate) with a mid-high 80's average, didn't try, and was really bored. They recommended a WISC, at which she came out with a 158 score in all 9 testing areas. Then, in order to provide her with enrichment, they let her challenge the grade 11 honours Biology class, completely self-directed, to which she produced an 88%. After exhaustive research, I have come to the conclusion that there are no programs in Western Canada for someone with her abilities, at her age. She loves philosophy, environmental stewardship, sociology, and practically anything that her peers do not relate to.
Does anyone know of any U.S. programs that my daughter may be eligible to enroll in?
Please help,
Desperate in Canada
Hello Michelle,
Thank you for posting.
One option for profoundly gifted students is The Davidson Academy of Nevada (www.DavidsonAcademy.UNR.edu). Applications for the 2010-2011 school year will be posted to the Academy website on Sept. 1, 2009. To attend the Academy, applicants must provide transcripts, grade reports and/or homeschooling records; submit three letters of recommendation, and become a Nevada resident before attending. Please also see the website for public tour dates and more.
Also, you may want to search the Davidson Gifted Database (www.DavidsonGifted.org/DB) filled with resources and articles for and about gifted students.
Thanks again,
Davidson Institute staff
Just wanted to point out, that for many of these poor unfortunate gifted girls, they may never have the opportunity to become a wife (though medical science can assist with the motherhood) without going to boarding school. What better place for a super-intelligent young woman to entrap a mate? If she marries her high school sweet-heart then she will not remain an old maid.
Also, in this day and age, so few children learn the necessary chore skills at home. Boarding school forces skills such as laundry.
No no, just as it was imperative for 19th century women to get an education that they might educate their own small sons, intelligent girls *should* go to boarding school so that they can provide eventual fathers for their boys rather than going it alone.
(Yes, I know this was posted 7 years ago, but in case someone wanders on the thread, people need to know! ;) )
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