Parents that were hesitant to send kids to BS

Prep School Admissions Prep School Parents
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<p>It is an awful lot to ask of young teens. BS is intense, stressful and no teacher/coach/advisor can replace a parent in advocating or understanding your own kid. In retrospect, I have come to the conclusion that 14 is too young and is really only the best option (at least for 9th grade) for those who have something very significantly lacking or without good options at home</p>

<p>I agree as to the last portion delivering cause for BS. But, be careful. Even though some parents are not necessarily the best and, in turn, BS delivers a long history of success stories surrounding the house parents whose quasi-replacement status for real parents can be a great story for the youngster, those house parents can even help the satisfactory parents. These house parents are very good at what they do, and can be effective in delivering social and other values to ALL students. I think I have met many people who can attest to this on a personal level.</p>

<p>Exeter addressed this well in: <a href=“http://www.exeter.edu/documents/Exeter_Bulletin/exeter_initiatives/Age_of_Influence.pdf[/url]”>http://www.exeter.edu/documents/Exeter_Bulletin/exeter_initiatives/Age_of_Influence.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>I’m surprised how well our son adjusted to BS. It’s clear that it isn’t for everyone though. I can understand now why AOs are just as concerned with maturity as they are with grades/standardized scores. That being said, I have to disagree somewhat with the last poster on house parents.</p>

<p>Some may be like you state above. However, here’s another vignette. After the parents had left after move-in, the house parents called together a meeting in my son’s dorm. My son said these very young parents who either had no children of their own or babies, said, “We’re your parents now.” We will be telling you when you can do this, or that…etc.</p>

<p>Apparently, some kids fled the room crying. Young inexperienced adults though well intenioned aren’t mature, experienced parents of 14 year olds. I would rather they say, “We’re not here to replace your parents, no one can do that, nor do we want to…we’re here to try to help you as responsible adults make good decisions as you need us to.” There is some basis to both sayings, “youth is wasted on the young,” and “wisdom with maturity.”</p>