2 Types of Schools
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History of Boarding Schools
On average, the boarding school in America has enjoyed more than a
century of continuous operation, the median founding date being 1890.
The first boarding school in the United states was West Nottingham
Academy, in Maryland. Founded in 1744, the boarding school is still
going strong, as are many other boarding schools of that era. (The
oldest boarding school in the U.S. is the Collegiate School, founded in
1628 by the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, but it is not a boarding
school.)
Earliest American Boarding Schools
- West Nottingham Academy (PA) 1744
- Linden Hall School for Girls 1746
- Governor Drummer Academy 1763
- Salem Academy 1772
- Phillips Academy Andover 1778
- Phillips Exeter Academy 1794
- Fryeburg Academy 1792
- Cheshire Academy 1794
- Deerfield Academy 1797
- Milton Academy 1798
In Great Britain, the oldest boarding schools date back many
centuries, arguably including Oxford University, which in its earliest
years was a loose aggregation of students. With the spread of the
British Empire in the early 19th century, however, the boarding school
concept blossomed. As more and more members of the English upper class
served in the military and government overseas, they wanted their
children educated in England. More and more boarding schools emerged as
a result.
(As you may know, the British term "public school" refers to what
Americans call a private school. The English schools were "public" in
that they attracted students from the entire country, rather than just
serving local youths. For that reason, a British public school is a
boarding school virtually by definition.)
In America, as in England, the earliest schools were almost exclusively finishing
schools for white, wealthy, Christian boys.
But they also existed for other reasons.
In fact, the boarding school as an institution was rooted in
practicality. The country was large, and transportation inadequate for
even the wealthiest of families. Even traveling daily to a local school
house could be difficult or impossible for many good students. Living
at school was a welcome solution. So the earliest boarding schools
answered an additional need for the children of affluent
families. These schools were also attended by children of clergy
and the school's faculty.
Many boarding schools had religious origins. In the 1800s, the Moravian
School for girls and Moravian Preparatory School for Boys were founded
in Pennsylvania. St. Paul's School in Concord, NH, was founded in 1856.
There were also boarding schools specifically for the children of
Native Americans. Sadly, many such schools were established not so much
for education as for the forced assimilation. In some cases, policies
forbidding the speaking of native American languages persisted into the
20th century. These policies began to undergo review in 1906, and
in 1926, federal policy shifted to emphasize local education. For
decades thereafter, very few Native Americans students were enrolled in
boarding schools away from home. (One exemplary contemporary model
which continues to reevaluate itself in terms of student goals and
community needs is Alaska's Mt. Edgecumbe Native Boarding School,
founded in 1948.)
Operationally, American private boarding schools were modeled after the
British public schools. Salem Academy, founded in 1772, was
originally a day school, then added boarding facilities.
With the industrial revolution came enormous redistribution of wealth
and improved transportation. As a result, boarding schools were founded
at an unprecedented rate, serving the upper middle class, and serving
as conduits into the finest colleges. Many of these secondary schools
remain today.
In the 1990's a new boarding school emerged helping educate
societies struggling teens, specialty boarding schools were established
to deal with teens that were struggling in their home, school, or
community. Some of these specialty boarding schools have helped
thousands of teenagers regain their confidence and self-esteem and
reunite with their families. These specialty boarding schools are cost
effective, provide excellent academic opportunities as well as
character building TM, componets. These
specialty boarding schools have educational workshops and seminars for
both parents at home and students at school, support groups, leadership
opportunities, emotional growth aspects. These specialty boarding
schools are designed to help the struggling teens of today to become
the leaders of tomorrow.
For more comprehensive information about specialty boarding schools call 1-800-247-1696
In the past decade, American boarding schools have undergone another transition.
As with other schools, the cost of a private education is rising. (By
some measures, the pre-aid tuition cost of a private school has nearly
tripled vs. 15 years ago.) Simultaneously, declining birth rates and
worldwide demand have led to a shift in demographics. The
proportion of "legacy" students -- from families whose children have
attended a certain school for generations -- is decreasing, while the
numbers of foreign and non-white students are growing. Only 5% of
the foreign students are attending with the benefit of financial aid
(as opposed to 3 out of 10 students overall.)
Clearly, today's boarding schools continue to have tremendous academic
and social appeal, and with this added diversity, they remain faithful
to their goals of preparing students for personal growth and
exceptional achievement in a changing world
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