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Most early prep schools were founded as boarding schools. Boarding was seen as an important part of the overall educational program. This was not based on any real educational analysis of the needs of prep-school age children. Rather because the primary purpose of the schools was to care for younger children destined for the public schools, which were mostly boarding schools, the prep schools defacto were largely organized as bording schools. Boarding was, however, expensive, so days schools were also organized in the major cities. Also some parents did not want to send their children to boarding schools. They were at first somewhat looked down on as boarding was considered an important part of the prep school program. In recent years, boarding has declined in importance. Cost is a factor, but the chsanging attitudes of parents is probably more important. Many parents bekievce tht younger children are better off at home. Many boarding schools refused at first to accdpt day children, but most boarding schools now have varying nu,bers of day children.
Most early prep schools were founded as boarding schools. Boarding was seen as an important part of the overall educational program. This was not based on any real educational analysis of the needs of prep-school age children. Rather because the primary purpose of the schools was to care for younger children destined for the public schools, which were mostly boarding schools, the prep schools defacto were largely organized as bording schools. In addition, most early headmasters set out to recreate a public school on a small scale, agian the natural tebdency was to follow the boarding approach of the public schools. Day schools were also created in the larger cities, but thry generally did not have the same cachet as the noarding schools. Some boarding schools accepted a few day boys, but often the location of the schools limited the numbers. Other schools decided not to accept day children, seening it as an uneeded complication or even distrupting the operations of the school. For many children, especially the younger children, boarding was an unpleasant experience. Sone adjusted better than others. The boarding orinentation largely continued until after World War II. By the 1960s parental attitudes began to change. Many parents, especially mothers began to reconsider the almost automatic decession to board younger children. As a result, most boarding schools have either accept an increasing number of day children and devised more flexible boarding arrangements. In addtion improved transportation, especially persnal cars has meant that parental visits to school and flexible boarding is now far more feasible. In addition, the changing character of the schools has meant that boarding has become a more humane experience for the children than was formely the case.
As a result, of changing parental attitudes. most boarding schools now accept an increasing number of day children. Surburbanization has been another factor. The spread of the cities has meant that some prep schools once located in rural areas now have had cities spread out around them. Ths has meant that that more children live near the schools. and as family cars are now common, the children can be driven to school. As a result, Day children now constitute an important element of most boarding schools. A few boarding schools still do not accept day children, but this is not very common. Commonly older day children stay late at school to participate in activities and sports. Some also stay for prep. Often the schools will encourage the parents to board the day children in the last two years, to better prepare them for their public schools where they will probably board.
Boarding was, however, expensive, so days schools were also organized in the major cities. Also some parents did not want to send their children to boarding schools. They were at first somewhat looked down on as boarding was considered an important part of the prep school program. In recent years, boarding has declined in importance. Cost is a factor, but the chsanging attitudes of parents is probably more important. Many parents bekievce tht younger children are better off at home.
