History of Boarding High Schools
Boarding schools have been catering to the requirements of children the world over for several centuries. Many parents consider a senior boarding school to be an ideal educational establishment that stresses on the scholastic, extracurricular and psychological development of the child. Many boarding schools still rely on the principles set during their genesis to maintain high standards of education. So, if you are in search of a Canadian private boarding school, here is a brief history of independent schools that will help you to choose an establishment that befits your specific requirements.
Minimal home education was the only recourse in the fledging colonies. In the colonial era, the culture of education was rarely structured or formal. The desire for rapid development meant that most parents were content teaching their children the occupational skills needed to make a living over imparting formal education. Although boarding schools were thriving across the Atlantic, they had yet to reach the North American shores at this point. The responsibility for the academic progress of a child lay solely in the hands of the family, community and the church. However, as the population of these colonies increased, rudimentary home schooling made way for old agrarian schools which were established with the primary purpose of teaching children the skills needed in land cultivation. These schools were seasonal in nature, seldom concentrating on any other curricular subject other than farming.
The English grammar schools changed the academic equation. The increased European influence and the constant influx of immigrants from the continent led to the establishment of the first English grammar schools that aimed to offer broader curriculum. Operated privately, these schools only thrived in areas with a significant English speaking populace often struggling financially in other cities. The growth of American cities presented the need for a safe educational abode for children. The burgeoning population of American cities and the resultant increase in crime, made many urban dwellers vie for establishments that would help their children to escape from the city environment and reside in an academically influenced surrounding. This led to the birth of the modern day boarding school. These establishments were known to encourage participation in a range of curricular practices and extracurricular activities including sports and arts. In fact, most modern day boarding schools still follow these principles.
There are many advantages of sending your child to a boarding high school many parents believe that the public education system has failed to provide their children with a nurturing and encouraging environment to pursue their scholastic goals. If you concur with them, you will find that there are certain advantages to sending your child to a boarding school, like a healthy atmosphere to reside in with limited exposure to negative influences, a strong academic program, caring adults who model good learning habits and life skills, and ethos that was built on practical, modern and timeless values.
Other benefits of choosing a Canadian private boarding school for your child include: small class sizes which enable greater individual attention and an increased use of technology in the classroom. Teaching methods used are often specific to every child’s individual requirements and learning style and teaching staff frequently hold advanced degrees in education or other specialties. Students usually achieve higher academic standards within an environment which instils a sense of responsibility and independence in the child. Since the inception of the first boarding schools in North America, the only barrier related to this educational approach seems to be the higher cost involved. Fortunately, most boarding schools today offer financial aid in the form of bursaries or scholarships that often allow your child to attend a boarding school that best suits him or her and offers a quality education.

