Figure 1.-- There dies not seem to be a great difference between boarding and state schools in classroom time--except for the saturday classes. There is a difference in prep (homework) time. This does not mean that there is not ample time for play and other fun activities. In fact,boarding school children tend ti have more play time with friends than children at home. |
The image that many people including the British themselves have of British boarding schools are very unhappy places to which very young people are subjected. The image includes Spartan living quarters in which the children pine away for their parents and the comforts of home. The image of coldwater baths and bare spatan dormitories is held by many. Also many believe that the children are subjected to harsh discipline, including physical punishment. Thereis also the idea that it is all work with little opportunity to have fun. Rather the idea of not only classes, but extended preps (homework assignments) as well a curfews and early bedtimes provides a not very appealing image to many children with no experience at actual boarding schools. Often they are seen as places parents can dump children who are an inconvience. In other words, boarding school was seen as a measure of the lack of parental concern. I know this was the general attitude in Ameruca. I'm less sure about Britain. I suspect this attitude was not as pervasive, but still present go an important degree.
