Private Tutors @ BS: Do you or know those who use them? Why? Which schools?

Mercersburg was the only BS we visited where ACT/SAT tutoring was included in the tuition.

SPS provides free subscription to Method Test Prep for SAT/ACT to all students, as an equalizer between “haves and have-nots.” My kid did try a couple of sessions with a local SAT tutor back home but found them useless and quit. She then started using Method Test Prep and swears by it.

As for outside tutoring for day-to-day work, the honor code practically rules it out. Students are encouraged to schedule extra help sessions with teachers and use peer tutoring if necessary. I remember a note sent by the school to parents and students a few years ago to remind that outside help on assignments is not permitted. Last time that read the Student Handbook, there was an explicit mention of outside tutors not permitted on school grounds. Of course, nowadays you could do everything remotely, which may have prompted the aforementioned note.

PEA provides free SAT/ACT prep tools at the end of lower year for all students at no cost through Academic Approach. None of ours used it as they at all slackers but luckily great at taking standardized tests.

Wondering if there is more privations tutoring going on at schools with a higher percentage of day students? This is certainly a factor also in private SAT/ACT test prep. Day students have access to help and to going to test prep centers, also more privacy to get help. Maybe there is a private educational/test prep consultant who can help us with this answer?

^I concur with @sgopal2 that based on folks I know (boarding and day), it is prevalent at lawrenceville, so I am not sure that it is driven by day students. With that said, I agree that it would be easier to do, especially if it’s not permitted, at home. But that could include schools where boarders often go home on weekends too. I do agree that students at day schools overall seem to use tutors more. Maybe that’s to help alleviate the embarrassment of the parents when they can’t help with math yet again??!

As for ACT/SAT prep, many kids do this over the summer and I can’t imagine that any school would prefer that students not prep if they want to.
Personally, I would put that in a different category than support for regular schoolwork.

Private tutoring seems to be commonplace for students at day schools so I don’t see why it would be different at BS. We never did it, but from elementary on, kids around us are being tutored to stay in high level math and for just about every other subject. To me, it’s crazy, but I guess if the end goal is an elite college and it works, to each his own. Once they’re in college, presumably these kids will avoid subjects at which they aren’t naturally good.

There is a private faith-based school down here in the swamp that makes SAT/ACT prep part of the curriculum. The students have it every day starting in either their 10th or 11th grade year - it is a year long non-graded elective. Included in tuition. “Shuh Nuff”

I’m confused. Do private tutors help students with their school work? Or to go “beyond” school work, more like advanced or enrichment material?

@havenoidea Outside tutoring is forbidden at some schools. At others, you can only turn to independent tutors with teacher or Dean permission, and sometimes they have a list of approved tutors. Policies vary greatly.

The level of help provided by tutors varies greatly. Some will write entire papers with the student. Others will only help with grammatical/spelling errors.

In the math/science subjects the tutors focus more on homework help, lecture review, and preparation for exams.

@CaliMex It doesn’t end. There are frequent posts on the parent Facebook group for my daughter’s college talking about tutors or asking for help finding tutors for their children for this or that class. And their kids aren’t even freshmen. My tongue has holes in it from being bitten so often.

When will helicopter, drone, and snow plough parents finally realize they are doing their kids more harm than good?
Julie Lythcott-Haim’s book should be mandatory reading for all parents of high schoolers… that and the Frank Bruni book about college!

Agree… doing a disservice to the student. Otherwise in college and upon getting their first job, students will be in for a big shock.

It does not end in college for Zamboni parents. I actually know someone who wrote all of their kid’s papers in college. Seriously. This, while paying a hefty extra fee for an academic support program there. The kid would email the assignment to parent, who had someone on their staff gather all the research, and then parent wrote the paper. How crazy is that??? I really wish I didn’t know this… I have never been able to look at them the same way. Why they felt it was ok to share this info with me, I’ll never know. UGH.

@cameo43 Will the parents do the kids’ work when they start their first professional job, too?

@CaliMex Yes, since they’ll work in daddy’s firm! ?

@cameo43 - Wow. Just wow.

I’ll stop feeling bad about my occasional nagging and prodding.