<p>Okay, so I was looking through boarding schools in Europe and noticed that some full time boarding schools accept kids as young as 5 years old or even younger. I have no problem with this, as I went to a Catholic boarding school at a younger age in Europe but what I was wondering was why America doesn't have boarding schools available at that young of age. Junior boarding schools in the U.S. are from 5th to 8th grade or from 6th to 8th grade, I think. Even Le Rosey accepts kids at age 7 and come to think of it, the majority of boarding schools in England accept kids at age 7 too. Like Prince Harry and Prince William both went to Eton when they were 7.</p>
<p>Oh, scratch that. Prince William and Harry both started boarding school at age 8.</p>
<p>I just have to wonder -- why bother having a child if you send them away to boarding school at age 4? Just seems a bit strange.</p>
<p>^ I agree with the above poster</p>
<p>Borders on child cruelty. Even at age 14, most children are too young to be sent away to boarding schools.</p>
<p>in america it's way more popular on the whole "family is unity" thing and well, when a child is 4 the sense of a "united family" is usually very strong, because the child is.. a child. not a teenager who's pretty much an adult. a child. so it feels very familylike, which is why american boarding schools would not attract much popularity. seriously, not too many children actually attend boarding school until maybe 8th or 9th grade.</p>
<p>europe i think is a bit more lenient on the whole family thing. if you have a child it is a decision that is taken with thought, not cold-heartedness. still, i think it's way more accepted (or rather, it is not discriminated against unless you are looking from the outside in) in europe than america.</p>
<p>asia is basically this; if we can afford it, you are smart enough for it, you GO. GO. EARN A'S. YOU BETTER NOT GET AN EFFING B.</p>
<p>Bement for example, a Jr. Prep which generally accepts boarders beginning in 5th grade, will consider younger on a case by case basis. I know that at one point that had first grade twins boarding from another country (something about security/political reasons).</p>
<p>
[quote]
Even at age 14, most children are too young to be sent away to boarding schools.
[/quote]
Wow, I really take exception to that. Since most of the thousands of kids each year who start boarding school are about 14, I'd say the schools and parents think otherwise. And, we don't "send our chldren away," we are giving them the best education we can.</p>
<p>Senay,</p>
<p>I believe Eton starts at age thirteen. The princes would have gone to a preparatory school before that, like Cheam, and I think they did not board there, though I may be wrong.</p>
<p>I've got an 11yo who would leave tomorrow if I'd let her. Not because we don't have a good relationship, she's just thirsty!</p>
<p>Linda S. I have a significant experience with boarding schools. Age 14 is fine for a very mature & independent teenager. Most of the students that I know at New England & Mid-Atlantic boarding schools are within a few hours drive from home. I am also familiar with students from South Korea & Hong Kong who attend boarding school from age 14 thousands of miles from home. Sorry to have offended you--but it is my experienced opinion. P.S. I need to try to avoid boarding school threads as parents seem to get very emotional about these topics.</p>
<p>It's ok ColdWind, just the way you worded it (especially about the "sending away" part). And I think that many 14 year olds are ready...not necessarily the "very mature and independent" ones. But it's ok to disagree.
I know (personally) dozens of the Asian kids you mention that have come half a world away as 5th graders - that is young. And I know some who are coming as 15-17 years old who are having trouble. I also know a girl (American) who boarded at one school from 5th -9th grades and is having trouble at secondary school adjusting.<br>
Not getting emotional, just stating my experience.</p>
<p>Alot of the boarding schools in Europe that accept young kids are for diplomats, expatriats and "single" working folks. Makes more sense when you realize that there are not many other opportunities. A good friend of mine whose father was an ambassador to a non-English country went to a Swiss boarding school when he was young because of above reasons (also safety)</p>
<p>Leanid,</p>
<p>Yes, true but they did go to boarding school at age 8. They went to Ludgrove where the majority graduates go to Marlborough or Eton. </p>
<p>Others,</p>
<p>Again, majority of boarding schools in England accept kids as young as age 7. There are 700 boarding schools in England, so I don't think hundreds of 7 year olds go to boarding school at that young of age just because of security reasons, if they did, WOW there are A LOT of special important kids in England alone.</p>
<p>There are English boarding schools that accept very young students, but the VAST majority nowadays take girls and boys at about age 11-12, what for most U.S. kids would be our 6th grade. And, a large contingent of boarders don't start until age 13. </p>
<p>The schools that take 11-12 year olds are for the most part very, very nurturing, homelike places (at least for girls), where students are treated as the young students that they are. My d attended one of these schools and visited many. It's just a different culture/tradition all the way around. Different than the U.S. boarding school system, that's all.</p>
<p>Jedward,</p>
<p>true true</p>