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Debate On Day School Is Better Than Boarding School

Education plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of our children, and selecting the right schooling environment is a crucial decision for parents and guardians. In this debate, we delve into the age-old question: Is day school better than boarding school, or vice versa? Both educational settings have their own unique advantages and offer distinct experiences for young learners .

On one side of the spectrum, proponents of day schools advocate for the benefits of students returning home after classes, fostering stronger family bonds, and experiencing a diverse range of environments beyond the school premises. Day schools emphasize the significance of active parental involvement and the integration of learning with life experiences.

Conversely, supporters of boarding schools extol the virtues of an immersive educational experience, where students live on campus, away from their families. This environment promotes independence, fosters powerful bonds among students, and nurtures a sense of community akin to a second family. Boarding schools aim to prepare students for university life and adulthood by instilling essential life skills and resilience.

In this debate , we explore both perspectives on day schools and boarding schools, examining their respective advantages. By weighing these arguments, we aim to equip parents and guardians with valuable insights to make informed decisions that align with the unique needs and aspirations of their children.

Join us in this thought-provoking debate as we seek to shed light on the merits of day school and boarding school, ultimately aiming to empower our young learners and pave the way for their educational success and personal growth.

For: Debate On Day School Is Better Than Boarding School

Here are some key reasons why day school is better than boarding school:

  • Cost-Effectiveness

Day schools offer a cost-effective alternative to boarding schools for families looking to provide their children with a quality education without the additional expenses associated with boarding. One of the most significant cost-saving aspects of day schools is that they do not require parents to pay for boarding fees. Boarding fees cover various daily expenses like accommodation, meals, and supervision, which can significantly increase the overall cost of education.

By choosing a day school, parents can save money on these boarding fees, making the cost of education more affordable. This can be especially beneficial for families with limited financial resources or those who prefer to allocate their resources to other essential family needs.

Additionally, when comparing tuition fees between day schools and boarding schools that are part of the same educational institution, the tuition for day schools is typically lower. Day school tuition is often about half the cost of boarding school tuition, further reducing the financial burden on parents.

The cost-effectiveness of day schools can enable families to invest their saved resources in other enriching pursuits for their children, such as extracurricular activities, educational resources, or family experiences, which can complement the child’s education and personal development.

  • Family Involvement

In day schools, students commute to and from school daily, eliminating the need for boarding facilities. This means that parents do not have to deal with the logistical challenges and expenses associated with transportation to and from school. The lack of boarding arrangements allows families to live together, promoting increased family involvement in the child’s life and education.

With day schools, parents typically have the opportunity to be more actively involved in their children’s day-to-day activities. They can participate in school events, parent-teacher meetings, and extracurricular activities more easily because they are in close proximity to the school. This level of engagement fosters a strong parent-child relationship and creates a supportive environment for the child’s academic and personal growth.

Even seemingly mundane tasks like transporting kids to and from school can become valuable bonding experiences for families. The daily commute provides an opportunity for parents and children to talk, share experiences, and connect emotionally. This consistent interaction can lead to better communication and understanding between parents and their children, which can positively impact the child’s overall well-being and development.

Furthermore, the proximity of day schools allows parents to respond promptly to any issues or concerns that their children might have, creating a sense of security and reassurance. Parents can play a more active role in their child’s academic progress and well-being, providing guidance and support as needed throughout their educational journey.

  • Flexibility and Social Diversity

Day schools offer students the flexibility to experience different environments outside of the school setting. Unlike boarding schools, where students are confined to the campus for extended periods, day school students return home after classes, allowing them to interact with their family and engage in activities within their local community. This variety in environments can contribute to a more well-rounded educational experience.

The ability to return home every day enables day school students to connect with their local community and participate in various extracurricular activities outside of school hours. Whether it’s sports, arts, volunteering, or other hobbies, day school students have the freedom to explore a wide range of interests beyond the academic curriculum. This diverse engagement can contribute to the development of a student’s passions, skills, and overall personality.

Day schools often attract students from a more extensive geographical area, which can result in a diverse student body. Students from various neighborhoods and backgrounds come together in day schools, providing an enriching and inclusive environment. Exposure to diverse perspectives and cultures can broaden students’ horizons, foster empathy, and promote a greater understanding of the world around them.

For children from less diverse communities, day schools can serve as a valuable opportunity to interact with peers from different backgrounds. This exposure to diversity can help students develop open-mindedness, tolerance, and appreciation for different cultures, preparing them to be more accepting and inclusive individuals in society.

  • Friendships and Social Bonds

Day schools offer a unique social environment that allows students to maintain and strengthen existing friendships while providing opportunities to make new friends. Since day school students return home after classes, they often live within their local community, making it easier for them to spend time with their friends outside of school hours. This continuous interaction fosters stronger bonds and deeper connections among peers.

Moreover, day schools often have a diverse student population, bringing together children from different backgrounds, interests, and personalities. This diversity provides students with a broader pool of potential friends, creating an environment where they can interact with a wide range of individuals and form meaningful connections with classmates they might not have encountered in a more homogenous setting.

Day schools also offer the freedom for students to vary their social groups. Unlike boarding schools, where students live and interact with the same group of peers continuously, day schools give students the opportunity to engage with different sets of friends within their local community and extracurricular activities. This diversity in social circles can help students develop essential social skills, such as adaptability, empathy, and effective communication.

Forming lasting friendships with schoolmates is particularly advantageous in day schools. These friendships can extend beyond school years and continue into adulthood, providing a strong support network for students as they navigate various life stages. The enduring friendships formed in day schools can be a source of comfort, encouragement, and joy throughout a person’s life.

  • Family Time and Stability

One of the significant benefits of day schools is that students return home after their classes, allowing for more frequent family interactions. Compared to boarding schools where students are away from home for extended periods, day schools provide parents and children with the opportunity to spend quality time together daily. This consistent family interaction fosters a strong family bond and contributes to a nurturing and supportive home environment.

Family time in day schools is not limited to the evenings; mornings and weekends also offer opportunities for parents and siblings to share meals, participate in recreational activities, or engage in discussions. Such interactions allow parents to stay closely involved in their child’s daily experiences, interests, and concerns, contributing to better emotional support and understanding.

Day schools also can be particularly beneficial for families that experience constant relocations due to work or other reasons. In such cases, enrolling children in a day school can provide a sense of stability amidst changing locations. While the family may move to different areas, the child’s schooling remains consistent, providing familiarity and continuity in their education.

Consistency in schooling also helps students maintain a sense of stability and routine, which can positively impact their academic performance and overall well-being. The familiar environment of a day school, along with the support of family members, can provide a stable foundation that helps students adapt more smoothly to changes in other aspects of their lives.

Against: Debate On Day School Is Better Than Boarding School

Here are a few reasons why boarding schools are better than day schools:

  • Immersion and Independence

Boarding schools offer a unique and immersive educational experience where students live on campus away from their families. This setup allows students to be fully immersed in the school community and academic environment. They have access to educational resources, extracurricular activities, and social events, all within close proximity. This level of immersion can lead to a more focused and dedicated approach to academic pursuits.

Living away from home in a boarding school setting fosters a sense of independence in students. They learn to manage their daily routines, organize their schedules, and make decisions without constant parental guidance. Boarding schools often have house parents or dorm supervisors who provide support and guidance, but students still have the opportunity to take responsibility for their daily lives and choices.

Boarding schools usually offer extended study hours and dedicated academic support, creating an environment where students can dedicate more time to their studies and explore their academic interests in depth. The focused and disciplined approach to academics in boarding schools can lead to improved academic performance and better preparation for university-level education.

The boarding school environment encourages students to develop essential life skills, such as time management, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills, which are crucial for success in university and beyond. Being away from home and taking care of themselves in a supervised environment helps students become more self-reliant and responsible.

  • Powerful Bonds and Friendships

One of the defining features of boarding schools is that students live together on campus, sharing dormitories or houses. This residential aspect fosters a close-knit community, and students often refer to their boarding school peers as their “boarding family.” Living in close proximity allows students to spend a significant amount of time together, leading to the formation of strong bonds and meaningful friendships.

The boarding school environment encourages students to rely on and support each other, creating a sense of camaraderie and teamwork. Students often participate in communal activities, share meals, study together, and engage in extracurricular pursuits as a group. These shared experiences create a unique and tight-knit social dynamic that can last well beyond their boarding school years.

Living together 24/7 enables students to truly get to know one another on a deeper level. They learn to appreciate each other’s strengths, understand their challenges, and provide emotional support during times of stress or homesickness. These shared experiences and mutual support foster a sense of belonging and acceptance within the boarding school community.

Still in support of boarding schools, the sense of community and belonging that they offer can positively impact a student’s overall well-being and mental health. The availability of friends and peers at all hours of the day can provide comfort and companionship, helping students navigate the challenges of adolescence with a support system readily available.

Boarding schools also often organize various social and extracurricular activities, which further strengthen the bonds among students. Participating in these activities together fosters a sense of shared interests and passions, leading to long-lasting friendships based on common experiences.

  • Family Dynamics and Friction

Boarding schools can offer a valuable solution for families that may be experiencing friction or challenges in their family dynamics. Adolescence is a period of significant personal growth and development, and sometimes conflicts between parents and teenagers can arise as children seek more independence and autonomy. Boarding schools provide a unique environment where adolescents can gain independence, develop self-reliance, and mature while still receiving the support and guidance of teachers and mentors.

By living away from home, students in boarding schools have the opportunity to make decisions and manage their lives in a supervised setting. This independence allows them to explore their identities, interests, and passions on their terms, which can lead to increased self-confidence and a greater sense of responsibility for their actions.

The boarding school environment encourages students to take ownership of their academic and personal development. They learn to manage their time, prioritize their tasks, and balance academic commitments with extracurricular activities and social interactions. This level of responsibility can accelerate their maturity, preparing them for the challenges they will face in university and adulthood.

The distance created by boarding schools can sometimes alleviate tension between parents and teenagers. With more physical space, both parties have an opportunity to reflect on their relationship and communication patterns, leading to potential improvements in the family dynamic. Students also gain the ability to cope with homesickness and navigate emotional challenges, enhancing their emotional resilience and coping skills.

  • Continuous Feedback and Consistency

Boarding schools often maintain close communication with parents, providing a unique opportunity for continuous feedback and involvement in their child’s educational journey. Since students live on campus, parents and teachers can easily communicate with each other regarding academic progress, behavioral development, and any other concerns that may arise.

The boarding school setting enables teachers to have more in-depth interactions with students on a regular basis. They can observe the students’ progress, strengths, and areas for improvement firsthand, allowing for more personalized feedback. Boarding school teachers often get to know their students on a deeper level, which facilitates a better understanding of each student’s learning style and individual needs.

Boarding schools usually have a structured system for parent-teacher conferences, which provide formal opportunities for parents to discuss their child’s academic and social development with teachers and administrators. These conferences allow parents to gain insights into their child’s progress and receive valuable feedback on areas where their child excels or may require additional support.

Continuous feedback also extends beyond academic matters. Boarding schools often have dorm supervisors or house parents who oversee students’ well-being and daily activities. They act as mentors and provide support to the students, ensuring their physical and emotional needs are met. Parents can communicate with these supervisors to stay informed about their child’s overall well-being and adjustment to the boarding school environment.

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Why Day Schools Are Better Than Boarding: Day vs Boarding School

  • Post author: Edeh Samuel Chukwuemeka ACMC
  • Post published: March 6, 2024
  • Post category: Scholarly Articles

Why day schools are better than boarding schools: Are you still contemplating whether to attend a boarding or day school? If yes, then you are in the right place. This article explicitly explains why day schools are better than boarding schools. It is advisable to read this work till the end as doing so help you see reasons why you should choose a day school over a boarding school.

Also read: Best science courses to study in the university

why day schools are better than Boarding schools

Almost every government in the world today has invested so much into the educational sector. The reason being that, every nation understands the importance and impact of education on its citizens. This impact ranges from enlightenment, being able to read and write and to communicate with one another. Education also washes off the taints of the crude days in the society. The value of education cannot be overemphasized in a nation’s life as is seen in the quote that education is the key to a country’s development.

Furthermore, education is known to be divided into the formal and the informal categories; that is the sector that deals in individuals not attending institutionalized schools where knowledge is imparted. This informal part of it entails the individual staying at home and learning from his immediate environment which includes his natural environment and his parents.

The formal sector has to do with establishing institutions where people attend in order to acquire a form of formal knowledge. In Nigeria this sector is decentralized into three which are: the tertiary, the secondary, and the primary institutions. In most settings, it is usually the secondary and tertiary sectors that make use of boarding facilities as a result of the fair maturity of its students.

However, there has been an ongoing debate on which of the two facilities that is, the boarding or the day format used in the formal sector is better for students. It is a reality that each of the forms has its attendant advantages and disadvantages, but this write-up/exposition is here to take a side and to show reasons why Day schools are better than boarding schools.

I highly recommend you visit the YouTube video above for interesting guide on whether to attend a boarding or a day school

Also read: See tips to become an intelligent student at school

Table of Contents

Reasons Why Day Schools Are Better Than Boarding Schools

1. Less cost: The first reason why day schools are better than boarding schools is because they are less expensive. Findings have shown that day schools are less exorbitant than boarding schools because students concentrate only on their tuition rather paying for accommodation and feeding fees in the school, and even extending it to the purchase of provisions.

why day schools are better than boarding schools

This advantage is very beneficial to the parents in third world countries where resources are limited and cost of living is high, because it limits their spending.

2. Faster response to emergencies: Another important reason why day schools are better than boarding schools is because there is effective and rapid response to emergencies for students that attend day schools. It is natural to human beings that in life, there must be some occasions of unprepared happenings. This can come in the form of injurious accidents, sicknesses, etc.

Boarding vs Day School, which is the better

Day schools give students immediate access to their parents in the case of any of the above happenings, for proper attention and quick recovery which the boarding schools in most cases do not give. In boarding environment, school authorities tend to have formal and less cordial relationships with their students, and this goes on to affect the students even in emergency situation. Also, in recent times, boarding school facilities have shown not to usually be in good conditions or are poorly equipped, one of which could be their clinics.

Also read: Are lawyers liars? See truth as to whether lawyers are liars here

3. Evaluation and guidance: Thirdly, there is the presence of parental evaluation and guidance due to the fact that the students return to their parents after school activities, this gives parents ample opportunity to evaluate and cross-check their children’s school work, making sure that their wards do assimilate what is being taught in school. Parents also help in assisting the students in their assignments of which no one will in boarding schools.

Which is better between a day school and a boarding school

4. The ability to optimize concentration: Day schools offer students the opportunity to focus and concentrate on their studies more than boarding schools will ever grant. This is as a result of the fact that since the students are with their parents after school, the distraction of what to eat or how little the food will be is set aside.

why day schools are better than boarding schools

Also, the distraction of sneaking out of school to party and the distraction of cultism will be removed. Thus, offering the requisite concentration for studying to the students.

Recommended: Advantages and Disadvantages of attending boarding school 

5. The ability to practice/experiment what is learnt in school: Day schools offer students wider opportunities to practice what has been taught in school. For instance, in colleges or secondary schools where Biology is taught, some plants would be mentioned.

Day school vs boarding school debate

A day student will have the wider chances of finding varieties of plants, thereby having firsthand knowledge about what are being taught, more than a boarder who is confined in a limited environment.

6. The ability to have a balanced social life: Day schools as we know are usually a combination of both sexes, that is, the male and the female child. This combination goes a long way in shaping the lives of the students; it helps the different genders in familiarizing with their differences thus creating a harmonious wider society in the future as against boarding schools where only one gender is confined in an environment at the exclusion of the other.

why day schools are better than boarding schools

Conclusively, day schools have proven over the years to be more beneficial to students than boarding schools as mentioned above and also in the aspect of the adequate care given by parents and other inclusive trainings offered by parents to their children in their formative years.

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7. The importance of family values: The actual definition of a family is when the children experience the affection of their parents and, with any chance, even their grandparents. Parents think that for their kids to adopt family values, they need also to keep in touch with their family.

why day schools are better than boarding schools

Staying at home enables youngsters to form strong bonds with their families if they are in a secure, supportive environment. Only by remaining within the family can the kids learn how to love their younger siblings and respect their elders. A boarding school is never going to be helpful here.

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8. Parental Care and Assessment: Apparently, a child needs to develop his potentials and this is achievable as part of informal trainings. This is because there is no formal education that will concentrate fully on what the potential of a child is, much less developing it.

why day schools are better than boarding schools

These potentials include: creative skills, political skills, artistic skills etc. and they are discoverable by parents and people around them at homes (not in schools). Some parent make out time to porperly examine their children in order to know what they have as potentials and to start working on it even before going to school.

They spend time with their children at galleries and museums during weekend periods and in the evenings so as to discover their personalities and training them in those directions. This is also by way of informal education or training. Today, parents are admonished to do the same and not push everything about the training of their children to the teachers by way of boarding schooling.

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Reasons Why Boarding Schools Are Better Than Day

Aside the benefits of goings to a day school i have already explained above, it should also be noted that boarding school also has its advantages too. As we continue, i will be highlighting some reasons why boarding is better than day school.

1. Independence: One of the major reasons why you should go for a boarding school and not a day school is that fact the it makes students to learn how to be independent from their parents or guidance. What this means is that, students of boarding find it easier to fend for themselves without necessarily contacting their parents and this is a very good thing.

2. More time for study: Today, it is discovered that when children are at home, there are various distractions that will take them away from their studies. So, the extent at which they have learnt in school will not improve while at home. However, it is not so if the children are in a boarding school. They are made to get used to the timetable and give adequate time to their studies without any form of distractions. In boarding schools, there is not interaction with any outsider as they are always focused to what is expected from them per time. The children are continuously supervised throughout the academic session or year.

This adds to the point that boarding school students are better in studies and performs outstandingly in academics. Today, focus is necessary in academics because some students only focus when they are in classrooms and once they are out of school, they direct their minds off their academic activities.

Most recently, it is discovered that focus practices in academics promotes better perspectives, greater self-acceptance, and better emotions to towards issues around people. Again, it has a good impact on health by reducing anxiety, stress and absolute depression. After school, the focus which they have build while in boarding school will keep them going in handling the issues of life.

Boarding vs Day School, which is the best

Also see: Best online universities in the world you should attend

3. Discipline: Boarding school train students to be more disciplined than day school. In boarding schools, students have limited amount of time to do any thing. They are not always given the choice they want as thought they are at home. This makes it easier for them to learn self-discipline and also adapt to situations.

4. Attachment to parents : Research has shown that one of the fastest way to stop children from being to attached to their parents is to take them to a boarding school. On one hand, it will help the students to live without thinking so much about their parents. And on the other, it will also help parents to avoid being attached to their children and to face other things that are important to them.

Why boarding school is better than day school

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5. Personal Development: Boarding school students typically grow more quickly than public school kids in the development of life skills, including time management, work ethic, and independence.

why day schools are better than boarding schools

While they receive much support and direction from their families, professors, administrators, and dorm parents, boarding students also have an additional degree of responsibility for their education. This development contributes to the feeling of readiness that many boarders have for entering college, where these abilities are essential for success.

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Students might receive a thorough education in day schools or residential schools. However, the setting in which this is done is very different. The majority of contemporary boarding schools have a rigorous no-bullying policy and have counselors and aides who are there to take care of the students, even though they may appear to be restricted or separated. From my perspective, boarding schools are preferable. But before making a decision, several considerations must be made.

argumentative essay about day school is better than boarding school

Edeh Samuel Chukwuemeka, ACMC, is a lawyer and a certified mediator/conciliator in Nigeria. He is also a developer with knowledge in various programming languages. Samuel is determined to leverage his skills in technology, SEO, and legal practice to revolutionize the legal profession worldwide by creating web and mobile applications that simplify legal research. Sam is also passionate about educating and providing valuable information to people.

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DEBATE TOPIC: 20 Reasons Boarding School is Better than Day School ( Support and oppose the motion)

Write a debate on boarding school is better than day school.

When it comes to choosing the right educational environment for your child, the debate between boarding schools and day schools is a topic of significant interest.

Both options offer u nique advantages and considerations , and it’s crucial to understand the nuances of each. In this comprehensive article, we’ll delve into the pros and cons of both boarding and day schools, providing insights based on experience and research.

DEBATE TOPIC: Boarding School is Better than Day School

For some families, boarding schools present an appealing choice. They offer an immersive educational experience that goes beyond academics, fostering personal growth and independence. Boarding students are exposed to a diverse community and a structured routine, which can contribute to well-rounded development. Additionally, boarding schools often provide a wide range of extracurricular activities, creating a holistic learning environment.

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Boarding schools have been a popular choice for parents and students for many years. While day schools offer a convenient option for students who want to stay close to home, boarding schools offer a unique experience that can be beneficial in many ways. In this blog post, we will explore 20 reasons why boarding school is better than day school.

Academic Advantages

  • More Prepared for College: Boarding schools typically require more of their students and prepare them better for college.
  • Students are expected to take more challenging courses and are held to higher academic standards, which can help them succeed in college.
  • Motivated Peers: Boarding schools attract motivated students who are serious about their education. This creates a positive learning environment where students can learn from each other and push each other to succeed.
  • Available, Supportive Faculty: Faculty are more available to their students at boarding schools. In some environments, many teachers even live on campus, which allows them to provide more individualized attention and support.
  • Fewer Distractions, More Studying: The boarding school environment provides fewer distractions and helps students focus on their studies. This can lead to better academic performance and more opportunities for success.
  • More Time to be Active and Creative: Because boarding students have fewer distractions, they are also able to spend more time being active and enlarging their creativity. Boarding students spend an average of 12 hours per week exercising and playing sports versus 9 hours for day students.

Personal Development

  • Learn Discipline and Punctuality: Boarding schools teach punctuality and inculcate discipline in students. These schools follow a timetable for every activity students carry out throughout the day. Starting from waking up early for meditation, exercise, lectures to ending the day routine till nap-time, there is time for everything in boarding school cum hostel. These activities make students responsible and active.
  • Become Confident and Independent: Boarding school students learn to be independent and self-reliant. They are responsible for their own schedules, laundry, and other daily tasks, which can help them develop confidence and independence.
  • Develop Strong Relationships: Living on campus as a teen creates deeper relationships between students. Boarding school students often form lifelong friendships with their peers and develop close relationships with faculty members.
  • Learn Time Management: Boarding school students learn how to manage their time effectively. They have to balance their academic work with extracurricular activities, chores, and socializing, which can help them develop strong time management skills.
  • Exposure to Diversity: Boarding schools attract students from all over the world, which creates a diverse and inclusive environment. This exposure to different cultures and perspectives can broaden students’ horizons and help them develop a global perspective.

Health and Safety

  • Better Health and Nutrition: Boarding schools provide healthy meals and snacks to their students, which can help them maintain good health and nutrition. This is especially important for students who may not have access to healthy food at home.
  • Safe and Secure Environment: Boarding schools provide a safe and secure environment for students. They have strict rules and regulations in place to ensure the safety and well-being of their students.
  • Access to Healthcare: Boarding schools often have a nurse or healthcare professional on staff to provide medical care to students. This ensures that students have access to healthcare when they need it.
  • Reduced Risk of Bullying: Boarding schools have a zero-tolerance policy for bullying and harassment. This creates a safe and supportive environment where students can focus on their studies and personal growth

Extracurricular Activities

  • More Opportunities for Extracurricular Activities: Boarding schools offer a wide range of extracurricular activities, including sports, music, drama, and clubs. This provides students with more opportunities to explore their interests and develop their talents.
  • Access to Better Facilities: Boarding schools often have better facilities than day schools, including state-of-the-art sports facilities, music and art studios, and science labs. This provides students with access to better resources and equipment.
  • More Time for Extracurricular Activities: Boarding students have more time for extracurricular activities because they don’t have to commute to and from school. This allows them to participate in more activities and develop their skills and interests.

Career Advantages

  • Better College Placement: Boarding schools have a strong track record of placing their students in top colleges and universities. This is because they prepare their students better for college and provide them with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed
  • Networking Opportunities: Boarding schools provide students with networking opportunities that can be beneficial for their future careers. They often have alumni networks and connections with top companies and organizations
  • Life Skills: Boarding schools teach students important life skills, such as time management, organization, and responsibility. These skills can be beneficial in any career and can help students succeed in their personal and professional lives

Debate on boarding school is better than day school

Benefits of boarding schools, 1. holistic development.

Boarding schools prioritize the overall growth of students. The immersive environment allows for constant learning, not only in classrooms but also through interactions with peers and mentors.

2 . Independence and Responsibility

Living away from home encourages self-reliance and decision-making skills. Boarding students learn to manage their time, organize tasks, and handle challenges independently.

3. Diverse Community

Boarding schools attract students from various backgrounds and cultures, fostering a diverse and inclusive atmosphere that prepares students for a globalized world.

4. Immersive Learning

With extended hours for study and activities, boarding schools provide an environment conducive to deep learning and exploration of interests.

5. Strong Teacher-Student Bonds

The close-knit nature of boarding schools allows students to form strong bonds with teachers, who often act as mentors and guides.

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Advantages of Day Schools

Despite the merits of boarding schools, day schools also offer compelling benefits for families seeking an alternative education approach.

1. Family Proximity

Day schools enable students to remain close to their families, ensuring a strong support system and a sense of belonging.

2. Consistent Routine

Stable routines in day schools can provide a sense of security and stability for students, promoting focus and well-being.

3. Cultural Connection

Students in day schools maintain a direct link with their home environment, which can be beneficial for preserving cultural values and traditions.

4. Flexible After-School Life

Day students have more time for extracurricular activities and hobbies outside of school hours, allowing them to explore diverse interests.

5. Reduced Financial Burden

Day schools generally come with lower tuition fees and fewer expenses associated with boarding, making quality education more accessible.

FAQs about Boarding Schools vs. Day Schools

Q: What is the primary advantage of boarding schools? A: Boarding schools offer holistic development by immersing students in a structured environment that fosters personal growth, independence, and diverse interactions.

Q: How do day schools support cultural connection? A: Day schools allow students to maintain a direct link to their home environment, facilitating the preservation of cultural values and traditions.

Q: Are boarding schools more expensive than day schools? A: Yes, boarding schools tend to be more expensive due to the additional costs associated with accommodation and extended facilities.

Q: Do day schools provide extracurricular activities? A: Yes, day schools often offer extracurricular programs that allow students to explore diverse interests and hobbies after regular school hours.

Q: How do boarding schools promote teacher-student relationships? A: The close-knit nature of boarding schools encourages strong teacher-student bonds, with teachers often acting as mentors and guides.

Q: Can day schools provide an immersive learning experience? A: While day schools may not offer the same level of immersion as boarding schools, they still provide quality education and opportunities for personal growth.

The debate between Boarding School is Better than Day School ultimately hinges on individual preferences, family values, and the specific needs of the child. Boarding schools excel in providing an immersive environment that promotes holistic development and independence, while day schools offer the advantages of family proximity, consistent routines, and cultural connection. It’s essential to consider these factors carefully and make an informed decision that aligns with your child’s growth and well-being.

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Boarding Schools vs. Day Schools: Understanding the Differences

Boarding Schools VS Day Schools

Boarding schools provide a unique educational experience with residential living arrangements, enhanced academic opportunities, holistic development, and a vibrant social environment. Contrasting with day schools, they foster independence, offer a structured routine, and promote cultural diversity. Understanding these distinctions helps individuals make informed decisions about their educational paths.

Introduction, definition and characteristics of boarding schools, holistic development and structure, enhanced academic opportunities, residential life and independence, social and cultural opportunities, considerations and choosing the right fit, latest blogs.

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  • Day School Versus Boarding School – Which Should I Choose?

argumentative essay about day school is better than boarding school

It’s rarely easy to decide on the right educational path for your child, and for many parents there are few decisions bigger than whether to choose a day school or a boarding school.

You should also read…

  • How to Pick a UK Boarding School
  • 11 Easy Ways for Parents to Support Their Children’s Studies

If you’re in the throes of making this decision yourself, you’ll probably find that your instincts ultimately make the decision for you. But you can make a more informed choice by weighing up the pros and cons of both types of school and seeing which comes out on top. This article introduces you to the advantages and disadvantages of both boarding and day schools; you may wish to add your own pros and cons to these lists, as a lot will depend on your own family’s circumstances.

Boarding school pros

Let’s start by looking at the advantages of sending your child to boarding school.

Round-the-clock education and development

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A major advantage of the boarding school experience is the fact that the learning never stops. Your child is immersed in an educational environment, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and even when they’re outside the classroom, they’re still learning important life skills that they wouldn’t learn through sitting at home in the evenings and at weekends. Most boarding schools are very strict about homework, so you can be confident that your child is getting it done in a distraction-free environment – often in designated time slots, so your child has no choice but to do it.

Boarding school offers superb extra-curricular opportunities

There’s no doubt about it: the extra-curricular activities on offer at boarding schools are almost certainly going to be far more extensive than those on offer at a day school. Boarding schools have a responsibility to keep children busy in their downtime, and most of them really go to town on the activities they offer. This means that your children will have numerous opportunities to get involved in new hobbies, thereby developing non-academic skills that will be valuable for the real world. What’s more, they can take part in these new hobbies in the evenings and weekends without inconveniencing anybody, because they take place on site; and you can rest assured that they’re being kept busy and out of trouble.

Boarding school comes with a built-in social life

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Boarding school comes with a built-in social life, which means that your children will be living with their friends – a recipe for good fun! Many children want to go to boarding school for this very reason (after all, they’ve probably all read Harry Potter and love the idea of roaming around school at all hours, having adventures with their friends). It’s also a good option for only children, who don’t have siblings to play with back home. This lifestyle isn’t just fun, though. It develops your child’s confidence because they’re forced to interact with other children constantly, and they’ll be learning to get on with lots of different personalities, which is a useful skill for life.

Boarding school can improve family relationships

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Contrary to what you might expect, many families find that the quality of their family relationship actually improves when a child goes to boarding school. This is because nobody gets under each other’s feet, and because you see each other less often, the time you do spend together is of a higher quality. What’s more, your child is away from any family tension or stress that may be happening at home, and you miss the teenage angst during term-time, too. You stop being the one nagging your child to do their homework or telling them what they should and shouldn’t do – that’s up to someone else, so they associate time with you with more positive things.

Boarding school fosters independence

Going to boarding school cultivates self-reliance, getting your child used to the idea of being away from home. This makes it easier for them to make the transition from school to life at university, as well as equipping them with the independence they need to succeed when they leave the education system altogether and go out to work.

There’s no school run – which frees up more time for everyone

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The time spent travelling between home and school eats significantly into your child’s day (not to mention yours), and another big advantage of boarding school is that the daily school run is a thing of the past. Without this travel time, children are free to do much more with their day, such as sports or music practice, or extra study. For you, it means that you’re not having to rush about driving your child to and from school.

Boarding school is the perfect solution for busy parents

It’s not just the school run that eats into your day when your children aren’t at boarding school. You’re called upon to make all their meals, supervise homework and ferry them to and from extra-curricular activities. If you both work, there will reach a point when it’s not feasible to do all this. Boarding school provides the ideal solution for career-focused parents who are anxious that their children are adequately supervised at all times and encouraged to participate in a variety of out-of-school activities. It allows you to maintain your career at the same time as ensuring that your children get the best possible start in life.

Boarding school cons

As with any sort of education, the boarding school experience is not without its disadvantages – even in the modern boarding school, which places huge emphasis on the wellbeing of its pupils. The harsh discipline and lack of home comforts associated with boarding school in days gone by are, thankfully, very much a thing of the past, but there are still one or two drawbacks with this style of education. Let’s see what they are.

Parents feel much less involved in their child’s upbringing

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There’s no escaping the fact that when you send your child to boarding school, you’re handing over a major chunk of their upbringing to someone else. When your child goes to boarding school, you’re relinquishing a lot of the decisions you’d normally make about what your child is and isn’t allowed to do, and the responsibility for their upbringing falls temporarily on someone else’s shoulders. They will probably be going to someone else – a school-appointed pastoral carer – with their problems, which may make you feel redundant. Many parents find this idea hard to cope with, and feel a great sense of loss when their children go off to boarding school. You won’t be there to chat to them over breakfast or say goodnight to them when they go to bed, and in these vital years of your child’s life, when they’re growing fast, you’ll inevitably miss out on a lot of their childhood.

Homesickness will strike at some point

Homesickness is likely to rear its ugly head at some point or another, at least in the beginning. Your child will be away from home for the first time, in an unfamiliar environment away from their family and home, and their new way of life will take some getting used to. They will almost certainly get used to it sooner or later – but both you and they might find it difficult when they’re grappling with feelings of homesickness, and it will probably make you wonder whether you’ve done the right thing.

Boarding school costs significantly more

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The other disadvantage of boarding school is that it costs significantly more than day school – you can expect to pay over £30,000 a year at the top boarding schools. There are state boarding schools for those for whom these sorts of costs are unfeasible, but you’re still looking at £10,000 or so a year even for that; only the tuition is paid for by the Government, so you still need to stump up the cash for the boarding costs.

Day school pros

Now let’s turn our attention to day schools. There’s not so much to say on the pros and cons of these, as day school is a much more standard educational model about which few people have strong opinions either way; so although this section will be somewhat shorter than the space we’ve devoted to boarding schools, this doesn’t mean we’re advocating one over the other.

You get to see your children every night

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The primary reason for choosing a day school over a boarding school is that you get to see your children every morning when they wake up and every afternoon when they come home from school. You get to put them to bed at night, make their meals, take responsibility for their homework and generally retain much more control over what happens to them. Any concerns they have can be discussed with you, rather than a school-appointed carer, and you can raise any concerns you have with them and ensure that they’re exposed to your own values (obviously if you did send them to boarding school, you’d pick a school you felt would instil the right values – but it’s still not the same as them learning directly from you).

Day school is much cheaper than boarding school

Another major argument in favour of sending your children to day school rather than boarding school is that it’s considerably cheaper. You’ll have to spend more on food when they’re at home, of course, and you’ll have to spend more on driving them to school and extra-curricular activities. But you’d still save a massive amount of money by having them home each night.

Day school cons

There are very few disadvantages associated with day school, as a good one will give your child the same level of academic education and they’ll have ample opportunities to make friends. The only real disadvantage we could think of is discussed below.

Day school is demanding on your time

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Day school generally places many more demands on your time, so it may not be ideal if you have a busy career that makes it difficult for you to devote the necessary time to taking your children to places, cooking meals or supervising homework. Unless the school is within walking distance, you may have to drive your children to school and pick them up every day, to say nothing of extra-curricular activities, which may not take place at school. Day schools also tend to expect more parental involvement in things like Parent Teacher Associations, which you may not have time to take part in.

So which should I choose?

If money isn’t an object for you, and you want your child to be totally immersed in an educational environment, and/or you have a busy career yourself, boarding school has much to offer and it’s worth seriously considering it. As we’ve seen, there are a great many benefits to a boarding school education that your child won’t receive from a conventional day school education.

Image shows a parent and a child having lunch together.

If, on the other hand, you can’t bear the thought of handing over responsibility for your children to someone else, or not being there to say goodnight to your children each night, boarding school probably isn’t the right decision for you. You may feel that the benefits of a boarding school education don’t outweigh the sense of loss you’d feel on missing out on so much of their childhood. You can, of course, enjoy the best of both worlds: your child could be a day school pupil at a top boarding school and receive many of the benefits of a boarding school education, without the drawbacks outlined above. Ultimately, however, nobody else can make the decision for you. It’s a personal decision, and one that depends very much on your family circumstances and on the personalities involved. Your child’s opinion matters, too, so it’s not a decision you should make without discussing it with them first. Careful consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of boarding school, along with open discussion as a family, will allow you to arrive at a decision you feel is right for everyone.

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Schooloaded Edutainment

Debate: Top Reasons Why Boarding School is Better than Day School

Mr Jeph

Choosing the right school for your child is a crucial decision for pare­nts as many factors need consideration such as the quality of education, the cost, the location, and the environment. A key choice to make­ is between sending your child to a boarding school and a day school.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Boarding stude­nts live at school during term time. The­ir days involve classes, homework, me­als, and activities with peers and te­achers. Day students attend classe­s but return home daily for homework, me­als, and free-time activitie­s with family and friends.

This article argues boarding school offe­rs several advantages ove­r day school. It explores how boarding provides a supe­rior academic setting, fosters inde­pendence and re­sponsibility, diverse extracurricular opportunitie­s, preparation for college and be­yond, and personal growth. Evidence supports the­se claims.

Academic Environment

A ke­y boarding school benefit is an enhance­d academic environment compare­d to day schools. Two aspects – academic focus and reduce­d distractions – contribute to this.

Focus on academics

Pupils at boarding institutions have more­ scheduled study periods than day school atte­ndees. Their routine­ incorporates classes, assignments, and re­view sessions. Furthermore­, they enjoy unrestricte­d access to academic resource­s like libraries, laboratories, and tutors at any hour. If ne­eded, they can consult te­achers beyond formal instruction time, re­siding on the same grounds. This setup facilitate­s deepening subje­ct comprehension and boosting academic pe­rformance. Case in point: Rese­arch conducted by the Association of Boarding Schools (TABS) unveile­d that boarding students dedicated more­ time to homework, reading, and writing compare­d to their day school counterparts. They also e­xhibited heightene­d levels of academic motivation, e­ngagement, and intelle­ctual stimulation.

Elimination of distractions

Boarding scholars face fewer disruptions than the­ir day school peers. Their e­xposure to potentially distracting technology like­ phones, televisions, and vide­o games remains restricte­d, preventing interfe­rence with concentration and le­arning. Moreover, they e­ncounter fewer social dive­rsions like parties, dating, and family issues that could affe­ct their mood and hamper performance­. Consequently, they can channe­l their focus solely onto studies, unbothe­red by external e­nticements or interruptions.

Illustrating this, a surve­y by the Independe­nt Schools Council revealed boarding pupils we­re less inclined toward using social me­dia, watching TV, or playing video games in contrast to day students. Additionally, the­y reported lower stre­ss, anxiety, and depression le­vels.

Being Autonomous and Accountable­

Boarding schools nurture independe­nce and responsibility within students – the­se invaluable traits deve­lop here. Responsibility arise­s from making personal choices, and indepe­ndence stems from se­lf-reliance.

Cultivating Self-Sufficie­ncy

From an early age, boarders le­arn to manage their schedule­s and lives without relying on parents. The­y wake up, dress, attend classe­s, study, and sleep indepe­ndently. They maintain their posse­ssions: garments, books, toiletries. Living away from home­, they overcome se­lf-sufficiency’s challenges.

For instance­, Sutton Trust research reve­aled boarders display greate­r confidence, maturity, and self-re­liance than day students. Their se­lf-esteem, se­lf-control, and self-regulation leve­ls surpassed day pupils.

Facing Decisions’ Conseque­nces

Boarders are re­sponsible for their choices, uninflue­nced by parents. What to eat, we­ar, do, who to befriend – these­ decisions are theirs. The­y experience­ both positive and negative outcome­s, learning from mistakes. Respe­cting school rules and others’ rights is paramount. Their be­havior and attitude hold them accountable.

Studies show boarding school pupils te­nd to display pro-social traits like cooperation, altruism, and empathy more­ than day students. They also exhibit lowe­r anti-social behaviors such as aggression, delinque­ncy, and substance abuse compared to day school pe­ers.

Extracurricular Opportunities

A key be­nefit of boarding school is the diverse­ extracurricular activities available to stude­nts, fostering both skill developme­nt and a strong sense of community.

Diverse­ activities

Boarding students can explore­ myriad interests from music and drama to chess and robotics. The­y discover new passions, hone tale­nts, and foster creativity and innovation. Competing and collaborating build skills furthe­r. For instance, the Good Schools Guide found boarde­rs participate in and derive gre­ater satisfaction from extracurriculars versus day stude­nts.

Strong sense of community

Through shared e­xperiences, boarde­rs forge lifelong bonds with pee­rs and faculty. This supportive, inclusive environme­nt nurtures mutual respect, trust, and appre­ciation for diversity. Encouraged academically and pe­rsonally, students feel value­d and accepted.

A study discovere­d boarding school students boast increased social capital: conne­ctions, norms, trust. They’re more civically e­ngaged, like voluntee­ring, voting, and donating. Surprisingly, day school students lag.

Preparing for Colle­ge, Life Ahead

Boarding schools re­ady kids two-fold for college, and adult life. First is colle­ge prep, and second is e­ssential life skills.

College­ Readiness Soars

Boarding students are­ primed for collegiate de­mands, tackling AP, IB classes stretching them acade­mically. Dorm living eases university transition. The­y grasp expectations like workload manage­ment, deadline adhe­rence, indepe­ndent study. Confidence, motivation prope­l scholarly ambitions, performance.

Data illustrates the­ edge. A report by NAIS showe­d boarders are likelier to atte­nd and finish college versus day stude­nts. Across satisfaction, engagement, acade­mic performance, borders e­xcelled.

Gaining Important Life Skills

At boarding schools, stude­nts develop crucial abilities for future­ success. They practice managing time­ and organizing tasks – key for productivity, and efficiency. Adapting to change­ builds flexibility, resilience­. Communicating, and collaborating hones interpersonal, and te­amwork talents. Critical, creative thinking foste­rs problem-solving and innovation prowess. Leading and following cultivate­ leadership, followership capacitie­s.

An International Baccalaureate Organization surve­y found boarding pupils more likely than day students to e­mbody IB learner profile traits: knowle­dgeable, inquiring, thinking, communicating, principled, ope­n-minded, caring, risk-taking, balanced, refle­ctive. They reporte­d higher employability, entre­preneurship, and citizenship le­vels too.

Personal Growth, Deve­lopment Nurtured

Boarding schools promote stude­nts’ personal growth and developme­nt through two aspects: exposure to dive­rsity, and character building.

Diversity Exposure Broade­ns Perspectives

Boarding pupils inte­ract with diverse backgrounds, cultures, re­ligions, nationalities – learning differe­nt perspectives, be­liefs, values. They de­velop cultural awareness, se­nsitivity, tolerance, respe­ct. Appreciating world richness, and complexity alongside­ their identity, and role.

Rese­archers from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education discovere­d boarding students formed friendships across diffe­rent backgrounds. They gained abilitie­s to effectively inte­ract with diverse cultures and de­veloped a global perspe­ctive. In comparison to day students, boarding pupils showed he­ightened curiosity about other socie­ties and openness to le­arn from them.

Building of character

Through boarding, students face­ difficulties like homesickne­ss, loneliness, and setbacks, allowing pe­rsonal growth. They develop important traits like­ self-confidence, se­lf-respect, and self-motivation. Ove­rcoming such challenges builds strong character within the­se young individuals.

Top 50 Reasons Why Boarding School Be­ats Day School

There are­ many advantages to studying and living at a boarding school rather than just attending during the­ day. We’ll explore the­ top 50 advantages.

  • High Academic Standard: School comes first because­ boarding schools emphasize studies more­ than day schools. High academic standards prevail.
  • Immersive Learning Environment: Students are­ immersed in their e­ducation all day without household distractions.
  • Independence: Living away, students become­ independent – managing sche­dules and responsibilities alone­.
  • Time Management: With classes, activities, and personal time­, boarders learn to prioritize tasks e­ffectively.
  • Global Perspective: A diverse­ student body from worldwide expose­s pupils to fresh perspective­s.
  • 24/7 Access to Teachers: Teachers are acce­ssible 24/7, providing continuous academic support beyond class hours.
  • Extracurricular Opportunities: Varie­d extracurriculars allow pursuing new talents and hobbie­s.
  • Community Bonds: Close-knit dorm life fosters life­long bonds between stude­nts.
  • Personal Growth: Personal growth come­s easy at boarding school. It allows self-discovery. Stude­nts face challenges on the­ir own. They overcome obstacle­s.
  • Many boarding schools prepare students we­ll for college life. The­ir curriculum is rigorous. It makes the transition smoother.
  • Boarding schools provide­ a structured, disciplined environme­nt. This boosts academic and personal growth.
  • Leadership Skill: Leade­rship opportunities abound in boarding schools. Students deve­lop important leadership skills here­.
  • Access to Mentorship: Students have access to adult me­ntors and role models. These­ individuals provide guidance and support.
  • Cultural enrichme­nt programs expose students to global art, music, and lite­rature. This happens at boarding schools.
  • Students build strong pe­er and mentor networks he­re. These conne­ctions prove valuable for future care­ers.
  • Career counse­ling and internships are offere­d. Students explore care­er paths through these programs.
  • Boarding schools e­nsure a safe, secure­ environment. Students live­ and learn peacefully he­re.
  • Healthy lifestyle­s are promoted at boarding schools. Students e­at nutritious meals. They exe­rcise regularly. Sports facilities are­ available.
  • Character de­velopment gets a big focus at boarding schools. The­y teach values like inte­grity, being responsible, and fe­eling empathy. Important qualities ge­t instilled.
  • Boarding schools promote being a global citize­n. They encourage stude­nts to become active, engage­d citizens of the world, taking social responsibility.
  • Smalle­r class sizes mean personalize­d attention. Teachers and me­ntors can focus more on individual students.
  • Dedicate­d college placeme­nt services exist. The­y helps navigate applying to college­, and finding the best future education fit.
  • Care­er counseling and guidance ge­ts offered. Students e­xplore interests, tale­nts to find a suitable career path.
  • Strong Alumni Network: Alumni ne­tworks are strong. Valuable support and connections ge­t provided as students ente­r the workforce.
  • Research, inde­pendent study projects allow de­eper academic inte­rest exploration. Students ge­t these opportunities.
  • Critical thinking and proble­m-solving skills are emphasized. Pre­pares for navigating complex academic, and profe­ssional challenges.
  • Creativity and innovation ge­ts fostered. Outside-the­-box thinking, exploring new ideas ge­ts encouraged.
  • Students gain e­motional intellect – skills bene­fiting personal and professional realms – through boarding schools’ inte­rpersonal opportunities.
  • Community service­ and social duty ethics are ingrained; stude­nts give back, and schools foster this mindset.
  • Environme­ntal stewardship and sustainability are emphasize­d – students learn to safeguard our plane­t responsibly.
  • Stellar communication abilities, writte­n and verbal, are nurtured – e­ssential academic and professional asse­ts.
  • Living independently foste­rs resilience, and adaptability as boarde­rs navigate challenges autonomously.
  • Cultural compe­tence deve­lops alongside diverse pe­rspectives – students gain worldly unde­rstandings.
  • Financial literacy programs prepare pupils for mone­tary independence­ through money management te­achings.
  • Global outlooks are promoted via coursework, and activitie­s highlighting cultures, histories, and worldwide issue­s.
  • Schools with boarding options promote we­llness through programs for physical, mental, and emotional he­alth.
  • Internships, job shadowing, and career workshops at boarding schools provide­ professional skills developme­nt.
  • At boarding institutions, students receive­ academic assistance like tutoring and study group acce­ss to boost success.
  • These school e­nvironments integrate cutting-e­dge technology tools and resource­s into learning.
  • Comprehensive­ arts and humanities curricula at boarding schools nurture creativity and pe­rsonal interests.
  • State-of-the­-art facilities enable the e­xploration of science and tech passions at boarding acade­mies.
  • Students can study new language­s and cultural traditions through offered programs.
  • Competitive­ sports teams develop fitne­ss, teamwork, and sportsmanship in boarding school settings.
  • Outdoor education adve­ntures connect pupils with nature, te­aching survival abilities.
  • Schools focused on characte­r often target honesty, re­spect, and being kind. Teaching value­s shapes pupils.
  • Boarding schools seek varie­d students and promote accepting diffe­rences. Learning about culture­s enriches all.
  • Global skills get de­veloped, like communicating across groups and solving issue­s worldwide.
  • Getting involved locally, and globally is e­ncouraged. Students become­ active, engaged citize­ns.
  • Multiple subjects interse­ct, connections drawn. Applying knowledge to re­al situations allows deeper unde­rstanding.
  • Curiosity and love of learning get sparke­d. Commitment to education become­s lifelong.

Boarding school surpasses day school. Academic e­nvironment fosters success. Inde­pendence and re­sponsibility skills develop. Extracurriculars abound. College­ prep and personal growth occur. Living, and learning among pe­ers and mentors create­s unique, enriching expe­riences. Skills, knowledge­, and values prepare stude­nts for future endeavors. Exploring boarding options can unlock imme­nse benefits.

Here­ are responses to commonly aske­d questions regarding boarding schools:

Q: What is a boarding school?

  • A: Boarding schools are e­ducational institutions where pupils reside­ on-campus during academic terms. Students atte­nd classes, study, dine, and partake in e­xtracurricular pursuits alongside peers and instructors. This distinctive­ arrangement fosters an e­nriching educational journey exte­nding beyond classroom walls.

Q: Why choose a boarding school?

  • Exceptional academic e­nvironments boasting small classes, dedicate­d educators, and rigorous curricula.
  • Diverse, supportive­ communities comprising pupils from varied backgrounds, cultures, and nations.
  • Abundant e­xtracurricular offerings, granting access to an array of sports, clubs, and activities.
  • Nurturing inde­pendence and re­sponsibility, imparting skills and values crucial for collegiate succe­ss and beyond.
  • Personal growth stems from e­xposure to novel perspe­ctives, challenges, and passions.

Q: How much doe­s boarding school cost?

  • A: Boarding school tuition varies contingent on the institution, locale, and program. Ne­vertheless, most schools proffe­r financial aid and scholarships for qualified applicants demonstrating fiscal nee­d or academic merit. Some e­stablishments additionally provide payment plans, e­nabling families to distribute tuition across seve­ral months. Further cost and aid details are obtainable­ from the School and Student Service­ for Financial Aid¹ or the admission office of your prefe­rred school.

Q: How do I apply to boarding school?

  • Research boarding schools thoroughly – we­bsites, visits, etc. Find your ideal match.
  • Fill out the­ application with all required info like grade­s, essays, etc.
  • Take e­ntrance exams like SSAT or ISEE to asse­ss academic abilities.
  • Intervie­w with an admissions rep – showcase yourself.
  • Await the­ir decision, usually announced in springtime.

Q: What is boarding school life­ like?

  • A: Boarding life balances acade­mics with social growth. There’s a daily routine: classe­s, homework, meals, sports, free­ time. The campus offers facilities (librarie­s, labs, rec areas). Students room toge­ther, forming close friendships. The­y also explore local culture and trave­l for trips or projects. It’s a fun, enriching expe­rience deve­loping character and preparing for the future­.

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argumentative essay about day school is better than boarding school

5 REASONS WHY BOARDING SCHOOLS ARE BETTER THAN DAY SCHOOLS in 2024

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Best boarding school in dehradun

The concept of boarding school might sound scary at first but this experience shapes the personality of a child and make them learn much more than a normal day scholar.

When a child comes home daily, they are somewhat in the shed of their parents, who take care of all their needs. At boarding schools, students learn to take care of their needs which makes them far more independent than other kids at school. We suggest every student must experience boarding school life once in their school life. You can enrol at the best CBSE boarding school in Dehradun, where your child would reside in the premises with the diverse community. That diverse community will help them grow and groom themselves.

Now, let’s ponder over the reasons why boarding school is better than day school and why you should enrol your child at the top CBSE school .

1- A student learns discipline and punctuality at boarding schools. From the time students wake up till the end of the day, everything is scheduled which makes students very disciplined. Along with that, students learn to value their time from an early age.

2- Students become independent and start exuding confidence. The best CBSE boarding school in Dehradun nurtures smart individuals by challenging tasks and routines that prepare students for tomorrow.

3- Students get more time to spend on co-curricular and sports activities. A day scholar doesn’t get enough time during the day to hone their other talents apart from academics in a 6 hours day school. A boarding school student can play sports after school hours and participate in anything they like. Residing inside the school premises allows access to every facility in the school to the boarders.

4- Boarding school eliminates distractions. With less interaction with the outside world, students focus better and excel in their academics. This is the most common reason parents choose to send their wards to a boarding school in the early years of education.

5- And the last reason on our list is, students, gather a lot of experience while their journey at a school. Residing with a diverse population at your early age of life exposes students to various people from various backgrounds that help them shape their personalities.

We hope you liked this article  and if you think that a boarding school is better than day school and a boarding school education would be best for the growth of your child then enrol your child at the top CBSE school in Dehradun, Saigrace International Academy . We aim to ensure the holistic development of each student and prepare them to become the leaders of tomorrow.

FAQ’s

Why always debate on boarding school is better than day school.

The debate on boarding school is better than day school often arises due to various factors: Supporters of boarding schools argue that the immersive environment fosters a sense of independence, discipline and strong academic focus. Plus, living on campus allows students to engage in a 24/7 learning environment thus building lasting friendships and developing important life skills. However, it’s essential to recognize that the preference for boarding or day schools varies based on individual needs, family dynamics and personal preferences.

Why boarding school is better than day school?

The belief that boarding school is better than day school stems from several perceived advantages. Firstly, the immersive nature of boarding schools provides a structured environment that promotes discipline and academic rigor. Plus, living on campus encourages constant interaction with peers and teachers thus fostering a sense of community and camaraderie. Additionally, the dedicated focus on extracurricular activities and overall development is frequently highlighted as a key strength of boarding schools. While these benefits exist, it’s crucial to acknowledge that the question of whether boarding school is better than day school is subjective and depends on individual circumstances.

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argumentative essay about day school is better than boarding school

argumentative essay about day school is better than boarding school

What Are The Reasons Why Boarding School Is Better Than Day School?

Boarding school and day school are two different types of educational institutions that offer students different experiences. While day school allows students to return home every day, boarding school requires students to live on campus for the duration of the school year. In this blog, we will discuss some of the reasons why boarding school may be a better option than day school for some students.

A boarding school is a kind of school where students reside on campus and study under the supervision of teachers and staff. Unlike day schools, where students go home after classes, students in boarding schools reside in dormitories or other types of housing on the school grounds. 

Boarding schools offer students a unique and intense educational experience, with a strong emphasis on academics, extracurricular activities, and personal development. These schools typically provide students with a structured environment that fosters independence, self-discipline, and a sense of responsibility.

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What is a day school .

A day school, also known as a day school or day high school, is a type of school where students attend classes during the day and return home after classes. These schools do not provide housing or boarding services for students, unlike boarding schools. 

Day schools typically offer students a traditional educational experience with a strong emphasis on academics, extracurricular activities, and personal development. They are usually less expensive than boarding schools, and students are able to live at home with their families. 

Day schools usually provide students with a traditional and structured environment that fosters independence and self-discipline, but without the boarding aspect.

Here Are The Reasons Why a Boarding School is Better Than a Day School :

1.  Academic Environment: Boarding schools often have a more academic environment than day schools. With students living on campus, the focus is on education and there are fewer distractions. This can lead to a more rigorous academic experience and a more significant chance of success.

Academic Environment

2. Sense of Community: Boarding schools promote a feeling of community among students and faculty. Living together in close quarters allows students to develop strong connections with their equivalents and teachers. This sense of community can be beneficial for students who may struggle to make friends or feel isolated in a day school setting.

 Sense of Community

3. Personal Development: A boarding school for boys or girls can provide students with opportunities to develop important life skills such as time management, self-discipline, and independence. Living away from home allows students to take on more accountability and become more self-reliant. These skills can be invaluable as students transition to college and adulthood.

Personal Development

4. Extracurricular Activities: Boarding schools often have a huge array of extracurricular activities for learners to partake in. With students living on campus, they have more time to examine their interests and desires. It can be particularly profitable for children who excel in sports, music, or the arts.

Extracurricular Activities

5. Preparing for College: A boarding school for girls or boys can be a good preparation for college. Many boarding schools offer college-level courses and have a college-like atmosphere. This can help students to adjust to the rigors of college life and make the transition to college easier.

Preparing for College

6. Personal Safety: Boarding schools are generally considered safer than day schools as they have a higher level of security and surveillance. This can give parents peace of mind knowing that their child is in a safe atmosphere.

Personal Safety

7. Specialized Programs: Boarding schools offer a wide range of specialized programs such as sports , arts, and technology. This can be beneficial for students who are particularly interested in these areas and want to pursue them further.

Specialized Programs

While boarding school for girls or boys may not be the right choice for every student, it can offer many benefits. It can provide a more rigid academic environment, a sense of community, and possibilities for personal development. It can also prepare students for college and assist them in formulating essential life skills. If you are considering boarding school, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons and decide if it’s the right choice for you.

Also Read, How Can I Introduce Myself In Boarding School Interview?

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Write a composition (350-400 words). Boarding schools are far better than day schools for the all-round education of a child. Express your views for or against this statement.

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Boarding Schools Are Better Than Day School Argumentative Essay

When it comes to choosing between boarding schools and day schools, there are different opinions. Some people believe that boarding schools are better for children’s education. In this essay, we will look at the reasons behind this belief.

Table of Contents

Boarding Schools Vs Day School | Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages of boarding schools.

1. Learning to be Independent: Children in boarding schools learn to take care of themselves. They have to do things like manage their clothes and beds on their own. This makes them independent and able to solve problems by themselves.

2. Responsibility and Time Management: Students in boarding schools become responsible for their actions. They learn to manage their time for studying and other activities. This helps them become better at making decisions.

3. More Learning Opportunities: Boarding schools offer many chances for learning. Students can use the school’s resources like libraries, labs, and sports facilities. This helps them learn more than just what’s taught in class.

4. Better Facilities: Boarding schools have good facilities like libraries, labs, and sports places. These things help students learn and play better.

Advantages of Day Schools

1. Lower Cost: Day schools are not as expensive as boarding schools. Families only need to pay for the classes, not for staying and eating at the school.

2. Quick Help in Emergencies: Day schools can react quickly in emergencies. If something goes wrong, students can get help fast because they are at home.

3. Learning Discipline: Day schools teach students to be disciplined. They have less time for their work and their parents can help them stay on track.

Disadvantages of Boarding Schools

1. Far from Family: Students in boarding schools are away from their families. They may feel lonely and miss their parents.

2. Lack of Parental Guidance: Students in boarding schools don’t have their parents with them. They might miss out on their parents’ advice and care.

3. Less Time with Family: Boarding school students spend less time with their families. They may miss out on important family moments.

Disadvantages of Day Schools

1. Less Time for Learning: Day school students have less time for learning. After classes, they might have to do chores or help their families.

2. Limited Learning Opportunities: Day schools may not have as many resources as boarding schools. Students might not have access to libraries or labs.

3. Missing Out on Social Skills: Day school students might miss out on learning social skills because they spend less time with other students.

In the end, both boarding schools and day schools have their good and bad sides. The choice between them depends on what a student and their family need. It’s important to think about the advantages and disadvantages before making a decision. What matters most is making sure that children get a good education and have the chance to grow and learn in the best way possible.

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Why We Chose Boarding Rather than Day School

Deciding whether to send your child to boarding school instead of day school is a decision most of us parents make early on in the private school search process. Here is our story. I had taught in day schools and was a Deputy-Director of one of them. Nancy and I choose to send both daughters to boarding schools for the following reasons. I hope that our experience will help to inform you as you make this critical decision about which kind of private school will be best for your child.

At the time we were considering sending our children to private school we were fortunate to be living in an area which had good schools. My late wife Nancy indeed had graduated from the local high school. In fact, she was chair of the local school board when we decided to explore other options for our daughters' schooling. So it wasn't the schools per se which were the issue. Four factors shaped our decision.

The high school curriculum was solid. The teachers were experienced and competent. The school was small as high schools go, with a student population of 400 students in grades 7 through 12. There were football and basketball teams, a highly-acclaimed marching band and a couple of clubs. That, however, was what made us want more for our daughters. We wanted them to read five Shakespeare plays a year. Not just the one play a year which she learned in her current high school. The same thing was true of other academics. They met the minimum requirements. But we wanted more.

The sports and arts programs were wonderful, but options were extremely limited. The same was true of the extracurricular activities. But the real reason was something every parent of a teenager comes to terms with: who was she hanging around with after school? Who would be driving her back and forth if we couldn't? We were both busy professionals who couldn't always drop everything and drive 30 miles through the Litchfield County hills to pick up and drop off. So, it was for those reasons that we began to consider boarding school very seriously.

Rigorous academics

We always felt that we should stretch our children intellectually. That approach literally started from the earliest months. Nancy read voraciously. She devoured serious fare with a few mysteries thrown in. She was fluent in French and Spanish too. Classical music was my thing. Sp, our children didn't stand a chance against those influences. It also didn't take us long to realize that we had two gifted children on our hands. That is why serious, rigorous academics were simply what we expected.

As mentioned previously, the public school offered basic courses. There simply was not enough depth and breadth for our needs. We had no firm ideas about what the girls should pursue in college. We felt our job was to provide them the best foundation we could. As we explored the curricula at several boarding schools, we realized that our children could build on their existing knowledge base, while having the opportunity to explore more subjects.

Lots of sports

The idea of having athletics twice a week was a huge hit. Boarding schools typically finish classes at lunch on Wednesdays. The afternoon is given over to sports. Same thing on Saturdays. The variety of sports offered as well as the availability of many sports at the varsity level as well as intramurals made this feature of boarding school very attractive. The other feature of boarding school sports programs which appealed to us was the fact that the teachers coached sports. The athletic department staff organized and oversaw everything; however, the children's teachers were actively involved in coaching.

Plenty of extracurricular activities

As with the athletic programs, the schools we looked at offered dozens of clubs and other extracurricular activities. Because all the students were required to take part in one or more activities, there was plenty of talent to make the activity fun and practiced at a high level. We also like the fact that all extracurricular activities were directed and supervised by members of the faculty. That involvement allowed students to experience their teachers in another setting than the classroom. Mr. Smith teaching quadratic equations is one thing.

24/7 supervision

This is not a characteristic of boarding schools which your teenager will consider terribly important. But it was a huge plus for us parents. We had spent many years raising our children according to our personal values and precepts. When it came time for our young adults to begin to leave the nest and fly solo, we still wanted the reassurance of a safety net. 24/7 supervision is something which boarding schools simply do very well. They have looked after teenagers for decades. They are tuned into what goes on in those young minds. They have the safety net at the ready. The net is invisible most of the time. But it is there when needed.

Boarding schools know how to handle the hormone factor before things run amok. They understand bored teenagers. And they do all of this unobtrusively most of the time but conspicuously when that approach is called for. We didn't want to worry about who was driving our daughter home. We didn't want our child going to somebody's home where the parent was either not at home or was disengaged from parenting. Boarding schools' 24/7 supervision was a feature almost as important to us as the impressive academics were.

Finally, I should mention that we were not helicopter parents. We taught our children as best we could and allowed them to get on with living their own lives. We felt that a gentle transition from childhood to adulthood just made a lot of sense. You cannot hover and be over-protective, and then expect your child to develop self-confidence and independence. That's why we were comfortable with letting our children go off to boarding school.

Looking back more than two decades it was probably one of the best decisions we ever made. Both girls excelled in college - Harvard and UMass Amherst - and went on to earn advanced degrees. They have great careers. They are wonderful mothers. What more can a parent ask?

Questions? Contact me on Twitter. @privateschl

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Reasons Why Boarding School is Better Than Day School

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You’re trying to decide whether boarding school or day school is the better option for your child. It’s a tough choice with good arguments on both sides. Boarding school is a transformative experience that shapes students in profound ways. While day school certainly has its benefits, boarding school is an unparalleled opportunity for personal development that pays dividends for life.

In this article, we will go through some of the reasons why boarding school is better than day school.

What is a Boarding School?

A boarding school is a school where students live on campus during the school year, including weekends and holidays. Boarding schools provide housing and meals in addition to education .

Living at school means students are immersed in an educational environment 24 hours a day. They get to participate in both academic and social activities with their peers and have access to campus facilities, even after classes end.

What is a Day School?

A day school, also known as a non-residential school, is a school where students attend classes during the day and then return home in the afternoon. Unlike boarding schools, where students live on campus, day schools do not provide housing or meals for students outside of school hours.

The school day at a day school typically runs from around 8 am to 3 pm, Monday through Friday. Students follow a standard daily schedule of attending multiple classes, with breaks for lunch and recess. After the final bell rings in the afternoon, students go home. Some days, schools offer after-school programs, sports, clubs, and activities that students can participate in on a voluntary basis before heading home.

There are several benefits of attending a day school, which includes the following:

  • Staying at home: Students get to live at home with their families and maintain their normal home routines and relationships. This can help avoid feelings of homesickness that some students experience when first attending a boarding school.
  • Less expensive: Day schools are often more affordable than boarding schools since they do not charge for room and board. Families only pay tuition and fees associated with the academic program.
  • Flexibility: The daily schedule at a day school is less restrictive since students go home in the afternoons and on weekends. They have more flexibility and free time to pursue hobbies, activities, and social events outside of school hours.
  • Safety: Some parents feel that day schools are safer since students do not stay overnight on campus without parental supervision. Bullying and other behavioral issues may also be easier to monitor.
  • Convenience: Day schools are convenient since students do not have to move away from home. They can remain in their local school district and community. This also makes it easy for parents to stay actively involved in their child’s education.

While day schools have their benefits, boarding schools also have a lot to offer in terms of opportunity, independence, and life skills development. The choice between day school and boarding school ultimately comes down to a family’s priorities, needs, and values. Both options can provide students with an excellent education and preparation for college or career.

Why Boarding School Is Better Than Day School

Boarding school offers benefits that day schools can’t match. When you live at school, you get immersed in an environment focused on learning and growth.

Here are some of my reasons why boarding school is better than day school:

Boarding School Offers a More Immersive Education

Boarding school offers an educational experience that extends far beyond the classroom. Living at school provides learning opportunities 24 hours a day, 7 days a week Immersive Learning Environment.

At boarding schools, learning is not confined to scheduled class periods. Your education continues during free time, study periods, and weekends. You can join clubs, sports teams, and activities that match your interests.

Constant Access to Teachers and Peers

In boarding schools, teachers are available outside of regular class hours for extra help or to chat. You can easily schedule time to meet with teachers to go over challenging topics or get guidance. Living together also allows you to form meaningful relationships with teachers as mentors and role models.

You are surrounded by like-minded peers who share your curiosity and dedication to learning.

Escape Distractions

Boarding school provides an ideal learning environment free of many of the distractions of home. There are fewer chores, responsibilities, technology, and social pressures to distract from your education. The boarding environment cultivates focus and discipline since studying, learning, and activities are central to the experience.

Boarding Schools Provide Better Opportunities for Social Development

Boarding school provides opportunities for social development that day schools can’t match. When you live at school, you learn valuable life skills and form close bonds with classmates.

Constant Interaction

At boarding school, you interact constantly with a diverse range of classmates and roommates from different backgrounds. This continuous engagement helps you strengthen your communication and interpersonal skills as you navigate challenges together. You learn empathy, conflict resolution, and teamwork skills that will benefit you for life.

Independence and Responsibility

Living away from home, you gain independence and learn responsibility at an early age. You do your laundry, keep your space tidy, get yourself up and to class on time, and make important life decisions. Boarding school prepares you for college and beyond by teaching skills like time management, self-sufficiency, and accountability.

Lifelong Friendships

The friends you make at boarding school often become life-long relationships. Living together strengthens your bond in a way that day-school friendships can’t replicate. You support each other through ups and downs, share life-changing experiences, and create memories that will stay with you forever. The social connections you form at boarding school enrich your life for years to come.

Extracurricular Opportunities

Boarding schools offer opportunities for students to pursue hobbies and passions outside the classroom. With campus facilities open evenings and weekends, you can join sports teams, clubs, volunteer groups, and more. You have time to immerse yourself in activities and develop new skills and talents. Participating in extracurriculars also allows you to discover and nurture your interests with support from teachers and mentors.

Boarding School Students Benefit From Smaller Class Sizes

Boarding school students benefit greatly from smaller class sizes. With fewer students in each class, teachers can give more individualized attention to each student. This means your questions get answered, you get guidance tailored to your needs, and you build closer relationships with your teachers.

More one-on-one interaction

In a typical boarding school, class sizes are often under 20 students. This allows for more in-depth discussions and meaningful interactions between students and teachers. Teachers get to know their students well and are able to pinpoint specific areas that need improvement or topics a student may need extra help with. Students feel more comfortable asking questions and participating in class discussions in this intimate environment.

Tighter-knit community

The smaller campus community of a boarding school also means students form closer bonds with one another. It’s easier to get to know all of your classmates and build new friendships. Students often keep these relationships for life and refer to their boarding school peers as their “second family.”

Safer environment

With fewer students and more supervision, boarding schools can provide a safer environment. There are fewer opportunities for issues like bullying, violence, or illegal activities. Strict rules and curfews also help ensure students’ security and well-being. For many parents, the safe environment and constant supervision are appealing benefits of boarding school.

More leadership opportunities

In a smaller school, there are more opportunities for leadership roles in sports, clubs, and student government. Students get valuable experience organizing events, mentoring others, and developing skills that will benefit them in college and their careers. Teachers and advisors can give students more attention and guidance to help them succeed in these leadership positions.

The intimate feel of boarding school, with smaller classes and campus community, allows for a tailored experience that focuses on the individual student. Students thrive under this supportive system, developing confidence and life skills that prepare them for success after graduation.

Students Learn Important Life Skills at Boarding School

Boarding school provides opportunities for students to develop important life skills that will benefit them for years to come.

Responsibility

At boarding school, students learn about responsibility at an early age. They are responsible for waking themselves up, doing their laundry, and keeping their living space clean without parental supervision. Students have to budget their time wisely to complete homework and activities on their schedule. These skills translate well to college and career, where time management and self-sufficiency are essential.

Global Citizenship

At boarding school, students are exposed to different cultures and ways of thinking. Both students and faculty come from all over the country and world, providing a multicultural learning environment. Students can take language courses and participate in exchange programs to experience other cultures firsthand. This helps to foster more open, worldly perspectives and a sense of global citizenship in students at an early age.

The boarding school experience creates an opportunity for students to build deep, lifelong friendships. When students live, learn, and grow together, they form meaningful bonds that often last well beyond their school years. Boarding school friends become like a second family, providing social and emotional support to one another. These friendships are a profoundly impactful part of the boarding school experience.

The Boarding School Environment Fosters Independence and Maturity

Boarding school life teaches independence and maturity in a way that day school simply can’t. When you live at school, you learn essential life skills and gain valuable experiences that will benefit you for years to come.

Problem-Solving

Issues pop up when you live in a community, and boarding school is no different. You’ll face conflicts with roommates or teachers and need to navigate them on your own. This fosters resilience, critical thinking, and the ability to resolve problems independently. These soft skills are vital for leadership and success in any career.

Independence

When you live at school, you gain freedom and learn to structure your own time. You’ll have opportunities to pursue hobbies, join clubs, and take part in activities that you choose. Making decisions and following your passions cultivates a strong sense of self that will benefit you for life.

Boarding Schools Offer More Extracurricular Activities

Boarding schools offer students opportunities for extracurricular activities that aren’t available at day schools. When you live on campus, you have more time to participate in sports, clubs, volunteer work, and hobbies.

More Time for Sports and Clubs

Living at school gives you more time for practices, games, meetings, and events. With boarding, you’ll have the chance to fully immerse yourself in several sports teams or clubs, and really improve your skills over time.

Space for Hobbies

Do you have a hobby like robotics, debate, or theater that you’re passionate about? Boarding school provides more opportunities to pursue your interests. You’ll have access to spaces on campus specifically for hobbies and extracurriculars, as well as support from teachers and mentors. With day school, hobbies often get pushed aside due to a lack of time or resources. At boarding school, you can join hobby-based clubs and really dive into learning and improving.

Community Service

Many boarding schools emphasize the importance of community service and volunteering. Students are required to participate in service projects to build character and help the surrounding community. These opportunities aren’t always available with day school due to logistical issues and time constraints. Giving back in this way helps shape students into responsible, civic-minded adults.

Boarding School Cultivates Lasting Friendships and Memories

Boarding school allows you to form meaningful friendships and memories that will last well beyond your school days. Living together in a boarding school environment creates tight bonds between students that are hard to replicate in a day school setting.

You live together. At boarding school, you share living spaces, meals, activities, and free time with the same group of students every day. This constant togetherness speeds up the process of forming close friendships. The people you bond with become like family.

You support each other through challenges. Dealing with homesickness, difficult classes or teachers, relationship issues, and the usual angst of the teenage years creates a sort of “shared trauma” that brings people together. The friends who help you through these formative experiences often remain lifelong friends.

You create cherished memories. The hijinks, adventures, and shenanigans that happen after hours at boarding school create memories and inside jokes that you’ll reminisce about for years to come.

In summary, boarding school is a uniquely formative experience that shapes you in ways that extend far beyond the classroom. The lifelong friendships, cherished memories, and life skills gained during your boarding school years stay with you forever. While day school certainly has its benefits, boarding school offers an unparalleled opportunity for personal growth in your adolescent years.

The Cons of Boarding School

Boarding school isn’t for everyone. While it does have its benefits, there are also some significant downsides to consider before deciding to send your child away to live at school.

Less family time

One of the biggest cons of boarding school is less time with family. Your child will only be home during school breaks and holidays, missing out on daily interactions with parents and siblings. For some students, especially younger ones, this can lead to homesickness and difficulty adjusting to life away from home.

Strict rules and less freedom

Boarding schools typically have many rules around behavior, activities, and scheduling that students must follow. There are curfews, dress codes, prohibited items, and less flexibility in their daily routine. Some students struggle with the lack of independence and free time. The increased supervision and regulation of activities may feel restricting.

Bullying and teasing

Living together in a boarding school environment unfortunately increases the opportunity for bullying, teasing, and other harmful behaviors between students. There is less ability to escape social problems and less direct parental support to help deal with them. This can negatively impact a student’s self-esteem, mental health, and school experience.

Limited privacy

Students at boarding schools often share rooms and bathrooms with other students and have less personal space. Their activities and schedules are also closely monitored by school staff. For students used to more privacy at home, this can be an uncomfortable adjustment. Lack of alone time and feeling constantly surrounded by others can lead to stress and anxiety.

The cost of boarding school is a significant downside for many families. Tuition, room and board, and other fees make it a pricey option, often prohibitively expensive. Boarding school typically costs far more than attending a day school.

Challenging academics

Boarding schools are known for high academic standards and rigorous coursework. For some students, the intense focus on studies and demanding workload become overwhelming. Pressure to excel in a competitive environment and achieve high grades in difficult subjects is not ideal for every learning style or skill level.

In summary, while boarding school has many benefits, the lack of family time, strict rules, bullying, lack of privacy, high cost, and demanding academics can be serious downsides for students to consider before choosing to attend. For the right student, however, the pros of boarding school may outweigh these potential cons.

In conclusion, while boarding school is not for everyone, for many students, the benefits of independence, community, and opportunity far outweigh any temporary discomforts of being away from home. The boarding school experience helps shape students into responsible, empathetic, and engaged citizens of the world.

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Essay on Boarding School

Students are often asked to write an essay on Boarding School in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Boarding School

Introduction.

Boarding schools are educational institutions where students live on campus. They offer a unique learning environment.

Academic Excellence

Boarding schools often have rigorous academic programs. Students can focus on their studies without distractions.

Personal Development

Living away from home, students learn independence and responsibility. They grow personally and socially.

Extra-Curricular Activities

Boarding schools provide various extra-curricular activities. This nurtures talents and develops well-rounded individuals.

Boarding schools offer a comprehensive education. They prepare students not just academically, but also for life.

Also check:

  • Advantages and Disadvantages of Boarding School

250 Words Essay on Boarding School

Boarding schools, institutions where students reside within the school premises, have been a part of our educational system for centuries. They are often seen as a means to foster independence, discipline, and a sense of community among students.

Benefits of Boarding Schools

Boarding schools offer a unique environment that encourages personal growth. Students learn to manage their time and responsibilities, preparing them for the rigors of adult life. The close-knit community fosters strong relationships and a sense of belonging. Moreover, these schools often provide superior academic and extracurricular opportunities, enhancing students’ overall development.

Challenges in Boarding Schools

However, boarding schools also present challenges. The separation from family can lead to feelings of homesickness and isolation. Additionally, the pressure to conform to the community can sometimes overshadow individuality.

Boarding Schools in the Modern Context

In the modern context, boarding schools are evolving to meet the needs of today’s students. They are increasingly focusing on providing a balanced environment, where academic rigor is complemented by emotional support and opportunities for self-expression.

In conclusion, while boarding schools have their pros and cons, they undoubtedly offer a unique educational experience. They serve as a platform where students can develop essential life skills, form lifelong friendships, and receive a well-rounded education. As they continue to adapt to the changing societal needs, boarding schools remain a significant aspect of global education.

500 Words Essay on Boarding School

Boarding school, an educational institution where students live on campus, has long been a topic of debate in academic circles. These schools not only provide a unique learning environment but also shape the overall personality of students. However, they also pose challenges and concerns that need to be addressed.

The Advantages of Boarding Schools

The most significant advantage of boarding schools is the immersive educational environment they provide. With access to resources round-the-clock, students can fully engage in their studies, leading to a deep understanding of their subjects. Furthermore, they foster a sense of independence as students manage their schedules, balance their activities, and learn to live away from home.

Boarding schools also offer a rich social environment. They bring together students from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and countries, promoting a global perspective and fostering cultural competency. This diversity can help students develop empathy, understanding, and respect for differences, which are critical skills in today’s globalized world.

The Challenges of Boarding Schools

Despite the benefits, boarding schools have their share of challenges. The most common concern is homesickness, which can impact a student’s emotional well-being and academic performance. Additionally, the rigorous academic and extracurricular schedule can lead to stress and burnout.

Another challenge is the lack of privacy and personal space. Living in shared accommodations can be daunting for some students, especially those who value solitude or come from a background where they had their own space.

The Role of Boarding Schools in Personality Development

Boarding schools play a critical role in shaping a student’s personality. The structured environment helps instill discipline, time management, and responsibility. The opportunities for leadership and teamwork also contribute to developing strong interpersonal and communication skills.

However, it is essential to note that the impact of boarding schools on personality development can be both positive and negative. While some students may thrive in this environment, others may struggle with the pressure and expectations.

In conclusion, boarding schools offer a unique educational experience that can significantly impact a student’s academic and personal development. While they provide an immersive learning environment and foster independence, they also pose challenges such as homesickness and stress. Therefore, the decision to attend a boarding school should be made after careful consideration of the benefits and drawbacks, and the personality and needs of the student. As we move towards a more inclusive and diverse educational landscape, it is crucial to ensure that boarding schools continue to evolve to meet the needs of all students.

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Hollis Nevells through a window.

The Mayday Call: How One Death at Sea Transformed a Fishing Fleet

The opioid epidemic has made a dangerous job even more deadly. And when there’s an overdose at sea, fishermen have to take care of one another.

Hollis Nevells aboard the Karen Nicole, a fishing vessel based in Massachusetts whose owner adopted a Narcan training program because of rising opioid overdoses in the industry. Credit... David Guttenfelder for The New York Times

Supported by

By C.J. Chivers

C.J. Chivers is a staff writer for the magazine. He reported from fishing ports in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Jersey for several months.

  • June 6, 2024 Updated 11:48 a.m. ET

The call from the Atlantic Ocean sounded over VHF radio on a midsummer afternoon. “Mayday, mayday, mayday,” the transmission began, then addressed the nearest U.S. Coast Guard command center. “Sector Delaware Bay, this is the vessel Jersey Pride. Come in.”

Listen to this article, read by James Patrick Cronin

About 40 miles east-southeast of Barnegat Light, N.J., the Jersey Pride, a 116-foot fishing vessel with a distinctive royal blue hull, was towing a harvesting dredge through clam beds 20 fathoms down when its crew found a deckhand unresponsive in a bunk. The captain suspected an overdose. After trying to revive the man, he rushed to the radio. “Yes, Coast Guard, uh, I just tried to wake a guy up and he’s got black blood in his nose,” he said, sounding short of breath on Channel 16, the international hailing and distress frequency for vessels at sea. “I got guys working on him. Come in.”

The seas were gentle, the air hot. In cramped crew quarters in the forepeak, the deckhand, Brian Murphy, was warm but not breathing in a black tee and jeans. He had no discernible pulse. Dark fluid stained his nostrils. A marine welder and father of four, Murphy, 40, had been mostly unemployed for months, spending time caring for his children while his wife worked nights. A few days earlier, while he was on a brief welding gig to repair the Jersey Pride at its dock, the captain groused about being short-handed. Murphy agreed to fill in. Now it was July 20, 2021, the third day of the first commercial fishing trip of his life. Another somber sequence in the opioid epidemic was nearing its end.

“Captain,” a Coast Guard petty officer asked, “is there CPR in progress?”

“Yes, there is,” the captain replied.

About 17 miles to the Jersey Pride’s southeast, the fishing vessel Karen Nicole was hauling back its two scallop dredges and preparing to swing aboard its catch. Through the low rumble of the 78-foot boat’s diesel engine and the high whine of its winches, the mate, Hollis Nevells, listened to the conversation crackling over a wheelhouse radio. Nevells had lost a brother-in-law and about 15 peers to fatal overdoses. When the Jersey Pride’s captain broadcast details of his imperiled deckhand — “His last name is Murphy,” he said — Nevells understood what he heard in human terms. That’s someone’s son or brother, he thought.

Nevells knew the inventory of his own vessel’s trauma kit. It contained bandages, tape, tourniquets, splints, analgesics and balms, but no Narcan, the opioid antidote. Without it, there was little to do beyond hope the Jersey Pride’s captain would announce that the other deckhands successfully revived their co-worker. Only then, Nevells knew, would the Coast Guard send a helicopter.

Murphy remained without vital signs. His pupils, the captain told the Coast Guard, had dilated to “the size of the iris.” The Jersey Pride swung its bow shoreward toward the Manasquan River, where medical examiners would meet the boat at its dock. Another commercial fisherman was gone.

Since the opioid crisis hit the United States in the late 1990s, no community has been spared. First with prescription painkillers, then with heroin after tighter prescription rules pushed people dependent on opioids to underground markets, and more recently with illicitly manufactured fentanyl and its many analogues, the epidemic has killed roughly 800,000 people by overdose since 1999, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With fatalities averaging more than 80,000 a year for three years running, it is the nation’s leading cause of accidental death.

The death toll includes victims from all walks of life, but multiple studies illuminate how fatalities cluster along occupational lines. A 2022 report by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health noted that employees in fishing, forestry, agriculture and hunting had the highest rates of all industries, closely followed by workers in construction trades. The news affirmed what was visible on these jobs. Federal data had long established that such workers — at risk from falls, equipment mishaps or drowning — were the most likely to die in workplace accidents in the United States. Now opioids stalked their ranks disproportionately, too.

In fishing fleets, the reasons are many and clear. First is the grueling nature of the job. “The fishing industry and the relationship to substance use is the story of pain, mental and physical pain, and the lack of access to support,” says J.J. Bartlett, president and founder of Fishing Partnership Support Services, a nonprofit that provides free safety training to fishing communities in the Northeast and the Mid-Atlantic.

The deck of the Karen Nicole at night piled with scallop shells.

The risk is also rooted in how fishery employment is organized. Crew members on fishing vessels are typically independent contractors paid a fraction of the profit (a “share,” in industry jargon) after each trip. They generally lack benefits or support common to full-time employment on land, including health insurance, paid sick time and access to human-resource departments or unions. Physical conditions factor in, too. Offshore fishing boats tend to operate ceaselessly. Captains divide crew work into long, overlapping watches that offer little sleep and require arduous labor on slick, pitching decks, sometimes in extreme weather. The work can assume an ultramarathon character. When a valuable catch is running, as squid do in summer south of Nantucket, many boats will fill holds or freezers over several days, return to port to offload, then immediately take on food, fuel and ice and head back out, a practice known as “turn and burn” that can leave crews haggard. Stress, pain and injuries are inherent in such circumstances, including common musculoskeletal injuries and, on scallop vessels, an unusual and excruciating affliction known as “the grip” — caused by constant shucking — that can make hands curl and seize up for days. No matter the suffering, deckhands are expected to keep pace. Those who can are rewarded with checks, sometimes large checks, and respect, an intangible more elusive than wealth. Those who can’t are not invited back.

Its hardships notwithstanding, the industry is a reservoir of human drive and ocean-roaming talent, providing good wages and meaningful work to the independent-minded, the rugged, the nomadic and the traditionally inclined, along with immigrants and people with criminal records or powerful allergies to the stultifying confines of office life. On the water, pedigree and background checks mean little. Reputation is all. In this way, the vessels preserve a professional culture as old as human civilization and bring to shore immense amounts of healthful food, for which everyone is paid by the pound, not by the hour.

Taken together, these circumstances pressure deckhands to work through fatigue, ailments and injuries. One means is via stimulants or painkillers, or both, making it no surprise that in the fentanyl era fishing crews suffer rates of fatal overdose up to five times that of the general population. “This is an unaddressed public-health crisis,” Bartlett says, “for workers without a safety net.”

Commercial fishing in the United States also operates in a gap in the legal framework governing other industries running vessels at sea. The federal regulations mandating drug-testing for mariners on vessels in commercial service — including ferries, tugs and cargo ships as well as research and charter boats — exempt all fishing boats except the very largest. Some companies screen anyhow. But with no legal requirement, captains and crews are generally tested only after a serious incident, like a sinking, collision or death on deck. Toxicology tests are also performed on fishermen’s corpses, when the authorities manage to recover them. “We always find out too late,” says Jason D. Neubauer, deputy chief of the Coast Guard’s Office of Investigations & Casualty Analysis. One of Neubauer’s uncles, a lumberjack, was addicted to heroin for decades. “I take this personally every time I see a mariner dying from drugs,” he says, “because I have seen the struggle.”

None of these employment factors are new. Working fishermen have always faced pain, exhaustion and incentives to work through both. (A weeklong trip aboard a scalloper, among the most remunerative fishing jobs, can pay $10,000 or more — a check no deckhand wants to miss.) Heroin, cocaine and amphetamines were common in ports a generation ago. Veteran captains say drug use was much more widespread then, before smaller catch limits and tighter regulations forced the industry to trim fleets and sometimes the size of crews. Contraction, employers say, compelled vessels to hire more selectively, reducing the presence of illicit drugs.

If use is down, potency is up. Much of the increased danger is because of fentanyl, which the Drug Enforcement Administration considers 50 times stronger than heroin. Fentanyl suppresses respiration and can kill quickly, challenging the industry’s spirit of self-reliance. When offshore, laboring between heaving seas and endless sky, fishermen cook for themselves, repair damaged equipment themselves and rely on one another for first aid. Everything depends on a few sets of able hands. Barring calamity, there exists no expectation of further help. The ethos — simultaneously celebrated and unsettling — is largely the same over the horizon off the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf coasts, in fisheries bringing billions of pounds of seafood to consumers each year. When the severity of an ailment or injury is beyond what crews can manage alone, a baked-in math restricts access to trauma care. Fishing vessels routinely operate eight hours or more from land, putting employees in circumstances utterly different from those of most workers in the United States, where response times for E.M.T.s are measured in minutes. The Coast Guard runs a highly regarded search-and-rescue service, but when a vessel’s location is remote or a storm howling, Coast Guard aircraft might require hours to arrive. Urgency does not eliminate distance and weather. A fentanyl overdose can kill in minutes, a timeline no Coast Guard asset can beat.

As the epidemic has claimed crew member after crew member, the death toll has been behind a push to bring harm-reduction strategies out onto the ocean. Chief among them are efforts to train crews to identify and treat an overdose and a push to saturate fleets with naloxone, the opioid antagonist, commonly administered as a nasal spray under the trade name Narcan, that can reverse overdoses and retrieve a fading patient from a mortal slide. The initiatives have made some inroads. But in a proud industry where names are made on punishing work and high-seas savvy, naloxone distribution has also faced resistance from vessel owners or captains concerned about the message carrying Narcan might send. Where proponents have succeeded, they have done so in part by demonstrating that harm reduction isn’t an abdication of fishermen’s responsibility — but a natural extension of it.

Before venturing into commercial fishing, Brian Murphy endured a run of difficult years. He separated from his wife in 2015 and moved to Florida, where he found, then lost, employment before running low on cash during the pandemic. He returned in late 2020 to his wife’s home in Vineland, reuniting their children with both parents and putting himself within an hour or so of commercial fishing docks along the shore. He hoped to find work welding for the fleet as he co-parented and put his life in order. “He was getting there,” his wife, Christina, says. “All he needed was a job.”

The deckhand position looked like the break he sought. It paid roughly $1,000 for three days at sea. The captain, Rodney Bart, seemed more than accommodating. Though he lived about 70 miles away, he agreed to pick up Murphy before the trip. Murphy told his wife he might put his wages toward a car, which could help him find a land job. Christina had reservations. She had heard stories of captains’ working crews past exhaustion and tolerating drugs on board. But she understood that her husband needed work. The back of his neck bore a small tattoo of the letter M adorned with a crown. “King Murph,” he called himself. He longed for that old stride.

What his family did not know was that the Jersey Pride, a boat that formerly enjoyed an excellent reputation, was in decline. Its hull and bulkheads were thick with rust. Its big gray-bearded captain, Bart, struggled with addiction to opioids and meth. A friend warned Murphy the vessel was “bad news,” says Murphy’s father, Brian Haferl. Murphy took the job anyhow.

On July 17, 2021, the evening before Murphy departed, he stayed up playing Call of Duty with a younger brother, Doug Haferl. Christina worked the night shift at a trucking firm. She returned home in the darkness and gave Brian a bag of bedding and clean clothes. When Bart showed up before dawn, Murphy dipped into the bedroom to say goodbye. Christina shared what cash she had — about $15 — to put toward cigarettes. “I didn’t have much else to give him,” she says. Then her husband left, off to make a check.

For two days Christina wondered how Brian was doing and whether he was getting sleep. I hope that blanket was enough, she thought. On the third day, a friend from a boatyard called. He said that Murphy was unconscious on the boat and that the Coast Guard might be flying out to help. Christina chose hope. “I figured they’d probably get the helicopter out there and revive him,” she says. About a half-hour later, a Coast Guard captain arrived at her home to inform her Brian was dead.

The captain shared what investigators gleaned at the dock: Murphy hurt his back, was pacing back and forth and had been in an argument with another deckhand. He got into a bunk to rest, and was soon found lifeless. “They just said he was acting really weird,” she says. The Coast Guard captain also said a small plastic bag had been found with him that appeared to contain drug residue. Christina was suspicious. Her husband had no money to buy drugs, and though he occasionally used Percocet pills and meth in the past, had not been using since returning home.

The same night, a police officer called Murphy’s father to notify him. Haferl was enraged. He told the officer that someone on the vessel must have given his son drugs and that he was heading to the dock with a rifle. “The guys on that boat better duck,” he said. The officer advised against this. If he caused a disturbance boatside, Haferl recalls him saying, “We’re going to be fishing you out of the river.”

Haferl could not rush to the Jersey Pride anyhow. Fishermen are paid by what they catch. Once medical examiners took custody of Murphy’s body, the vessel slipped back out the inlet to continue clamming. Murphy had boarded the boat with a duffel from home. He was carried off in jeans, socks and a T-shirt. Not even his shoes came back. When the Jersey Pride completed its trip, his family started calling Bart, the captain, seeking answers and Brian’s personal effects. Bart did not return calls. Neither did the owner, Doug Stocker. Eventually, Christina said, the friend from the boatyard dropped off her husband’s wallet and a phone. Both were sealed in plastic bags. Silence draped over the case. “No one was telling anyone anything,” Murphy’s father said.

Stocker, the Jersey Pride’s owner, relieved Bart of his position in fall 2021, then died that December. Bart died in 2023. Murphy’s family learned little beyond the contents of the autopsy report from the Ocean County Medical Examiner’s office. Its toxicology results were definitive. They showed the presence of fentanyl, methamphetamine and the animal tranquilizer xylazine in Murphy’s cardiac blood, leading the examiner to rule his death a result of “acute toxic effects” of three drugs. (Xylazine is another recent adulterant in black-market drug supplies.)

The report also revealed a surprise: Murphy’s blood contained traces of naloxone. Why he died nonetheless raised more unanswered questions. There were possible explanations. The crew may have administered naloxone perimortem, at the moment of death, too late to save his life but in time to show up in his blood. Alternately, the fentanyl may have been too potent for the amount of naloxone on board and failed to revive Murphy at all. A more disturbing possibility, which suggested a potential lapse in training, was that after Murphy received Narcan, Bart opted to let him rest and recover, and either the naloxone wore off or the other drugs proved lethal without intervention.

The last possibility was both maddening to consider and hard to fathom, given Bart’s personal experience with the sorrows of the epidemic. His adult daughter, Maureen, became dependent on prescription painkillers after a hip injury, completed rehab and relapsed fatally in 2018. Wracked with grief, Bart, who in 2017 completed an outpatient detox program for his own addiction, resumed use, one relative said. In March 2018 he overdosed aboard the Jersey Pride while it was alongside an Atlantic City dock. Narcan saved the captain that day. His pain deepened. His son, Rodney Bart Jr., followed him into clamming as a teenager and rose to become a mate on another clamming vessel, the John N. In 2020, about a year before Murphy died, Bart’s son fatally overdosed on fentanyl and heroin while towing a dredge off the Jersey Shore.

A federal wrongful-death lawsuit filed by Rodney Jr.’s family in early 2023 sketched a work force in addiction’s grip. It claimed that for more than six months before Rodney Jr.’s overdose, he complained that “the entire crew including the captain were using heroin during fishing operations”; that the captain supplied heroin to the crew, including to Rodney Jr.; that another crew member almost died by overdose on board in 2019; that Rodney Jr. nearly stepped on a needle on the boat; and that he saw “the captain nodded out” in the wheelhouse several times. Immediately after Rodney Jr.’s death, the suit claimed, the captain discussed with the crew “fabricating a story to the United States Coast Guard that decedent had died at the dock.” That night, the suit claimed, the captain falsely told the authorities that Rodney Jr. suffered a heart attack.

The parties settled early this year for an undisclosed sum. In telephone interviews, an owner of the vessel, John Kelleher, said he had zero tolerance for drug use and was not aware his crew was injecting heroin. After the death, he said, “I fired everybody that was on that boat.” Kelleher’s vessels now carry Narcan, though he was ambivalent about its presence. “It says it’s OK to have a heroin addict on the boat?” he asked. “I don’t want to promote that on the boat. We owe millions of dollars to the bank. You can’t have crews out there to catch clams driving around in circles.”

Hours after Murphy died, the Karen Nicole’s mate, Hollis Nevells, used a satellite phone to call his wife, Stacy Alexander-Nevells, in Fairhaven, Mass. The Karen Nicole is part of a large family-run enterprise in greater New Bedford, the most lucrative fishing port in the United States. Alexander-Nevells, a daughter of the business’s founder, grew up in commercial fishing. She sensed something was wrong. “Is everyone OK?” she asked.

“I just heard someone die on the radio,” Nevells said. “It was so close, so close, and I couldn’t help.”

Hearing strain in his voice, Alexander-Nevells was swept with pain. Her brother Warren Jr., a shore worker in the family business, died of a prescription-opioid overdose in 2009. She lived quietly in that shadow. Thinking of Murphy’s fellow crew members, and of other boats listening as the captain publicly broadcast Murphy’s deathbed symptoms, she felt an inner wall fall. “That was the first time I started processing how far-reaching one death could be, especially a preventable one,” she says. “For days I couldn’t stop thinking about it.”

In a conversation with a girlfriend, her friend mentioned Narcan. Alexander-Nevells knew of the drug, but thought of it as something administered only by emergency medical workers. That was no longer true. In 2018 Massachusetts authorized pharmacies to dispense Narcan without a prescription to opioid users, their families and “persons in a position to assist individuals at risk of experiencing an opioid-related overdose.” The Alexander fleet, employing more than 100 people in a high-risk industry, qualified. (Last year the Food and Drug Administration approved Narcan for over-the-counter sales, removing more barriers to distribution.) Had the Karen Nicole carried naloxone, Alexander-Nevells thought, Murphy might still be alive. Still she balked. She realized she knew almost nothing about the drug. “I didn’t know dose,” she says. “I didn’t know how to use it.”

All around the harbor there were signs of need. For as long as any commercial fisherman could remember, greater New Bedford suffered from widespread substance use. Before recent pockets of shoreline gentrification appeared, some of the city’s former bars, notably the National Club, were the stuff of coastal legend. Older fishermen say there was little in the 1990s like the National during nor’easters and hurricanes, when scores of boats lashed together in port, rain and gales blasted the streets and crews rode out the weather at the bar. Booze flowed. Drugs were easy to find. And fishermen between trips often had wads of cash. “We were basically pirates back then,” one older scalloper says. “The way we lived, the way we fished. It was a free-for-all.” The scalloper, later incarcerated in Maine for heroin possession, says he stopped using opioids before fentanyl tainted the heroin supply. “I got out just in time,” he says. “It’s the only reason I’m still alive.” (His girlfriend’s son, a young fisherman, overdosed fatally the week before; to protect his household’s privacy, he asked that his name be withheld.) Capt. Clint Prindle, who commands the Coast Guard sector in southeastern New England, also recalls the era. As a young officer he was stationed in New Bedford on the cutter Campbell. The tour, he says, “was the only time in my career I was issued puncture-resistant gloves” — a precaution against loose syringes on fishing vessels.

For all these stories, the fishing industry was hardly the sole driver of the city’s underground trade, and drug use there remains widespread independent of the fleet. An investigation by The New Bedford Light, a nonprofit news site, found that one in every 1,250 city residents died of an overdose in 2022, more than twice the rate statewide. (Nationally, about one in 4,070 people died of opioid overdoses in 2022.) The report also found that about one out of eight New Bedford residents had enrolled in drug- or alcohol-addiction treatment since 2012. Such data aligns with the experience of Tyler Miranda, a scallop-vessel captain who grew up in the city. “The people who had money were drug dealers or fishermen,” he says. “When I was young, I knew a few fishermen, but most of my friends were in the other business.” These conditions helped make overdoses part of the local medical routine, prompting the city, with help from organizations like Fishing Partnership, to distribute free Narcan.

The movement has still not been fully embraced. A survey of commercial fishing captains published last year in The American Journal of Industrial Medicine suggested that skepticism about stocking Narcan persisted. Of 61 captains, 10 had undergone naloxone training, and only five said their vessels carried the drug. The survey’s data ended in 2020, and Fishing Partnership says the numbers have risen. Since 2016, the partnership’s opioid-education and Narcan-distribution program has trained about 2,500 people in the industry from Maine to North Carolina, about 80 percent of them in the last three years, says Dan Orchard, the partnership’s executive vice president. But with resistance lingering, Alexander-Nevells was unsure whether she could get Narcan on her family’s fleet. That would depend on her father, Warren J. Alexander.

Alexander is a tall, reserved man with neatly combed white hair who entered commercial fishing in the 1960s at age 13 by packing herring on weekends at Cape May. As a young man he lobstered, potted sea bass and worked on trawlers and clammers before setting out on his own with the purchase of a decades-old wooden schooner. The boat sank near Cape May while returning in a storm; Alexander tells the story of hearing its propeller still turning as he treaded water above the descending hull. Undeterred, he gambled big, having steel clamming vessels built in shipyards in the Gulf of Mexico and bringing them north. By the 1990s he was one of New Jersey’s most successful clam harvesters, and odds were good that any can of clam chowder in the United States contained shellfish scraped from the sea floor by an Alexander dredge. He moved the business to New England in 1993, weathering two more sinkings and a pair of fatal accidents as it continued to grow. In the ensuing years, he left clamming and largely switched to scalloping, and now owns more than 20 steel vessels, which he watches over from a waterfront warehouse, greeting captains and crews with the soft-spoken self-assurance of a man who has seen it all.

His daughter knew him as more than a fleet manager. He was a father who lost his son, Warren Jr., to opioids. He lived the torturous contours of the epidemic firsthand. She pitched her idea with shared loss in mind. Warren listened and ruled. “I’m not going to mandate it,” he said. “But if you can get captains to agree to it, you can give it a try.”

The Fishing Partnership’s program to put naloxone on boats and provide crews with overdose first-aid training began after Debra Kelsey, a community health worker, met a grieving fisherman at an event of the Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association in 2015. The man’s son fatally overdosed about six months before. “He told me his ex-wife had been instrumental in getting Narcan into the hands of the police in Quincy, where he was from,” she says. Kelsey was intrigued — first by the lifesaving value of naloxone, but also by who was trained and designated to carry it.

She lived with a fisherman. She knew the industry and admired its inviolable code: Out on the ocean, fishing boats rushed to help each other. Whether flooding, fire or medical emergency, they came to one another’s aid, and in many cases were first on the scene. “In a mayday call,” she says, “a fishing vessel will often get there before the Coast Guard.” In the particular conditions of work on the water, fishermen functioned as first responders. Kelsey wondered if this ancient trait could be harnessed to save lives in new ways. Naloxone dispensers felt like a suddenly necessary component in vessel safety kits — just like fire extinguishers and throwable lifesaving rings.

In 2017, in part at her urging, Fishing Partnership introduced overdose education and naloxone distribution into the free first-aid classes it offered to captains and crews. Buoyed by a federal grant to New Bedford, the program expanded in 2019 and found an ally in the Coast Guard, which often hosted the partnership’s training sessions at its stations in fishing ports. Its officers echoed Kelsey’s view that naloxone dispensers had become essential onboard equipment.

Naloxone still faced barriers, often from fishermen themselves. Many captains insisted that they forbade illicit drugs and that carrying naloxone functioned as a hypocritical wink, a suggestion that drugs were allowed. Stigma, too, played a role. “People were like, ‘These fishermen are drunks, they’re addicts, they’re living the wild life,’” Kelsey says. She disagreed — addiction isn’t a moral failure, she’d say, it’s a disease — and pressed her message. Stocking naloxone did not mean condoning drug use. It meant a vessel was more fully aligned with the mariner’s code.

Stigma was not the only obstacle. Fear played a role as well. The Coast Guard, for all its support, is a complicated harm-reduction partner. It operates as both a rescue and law-enforcement agency, which leaves many fishermen with a split-screen perception of the organization — appreciating the former role while bristling at the latter. Worries about inviting police action on a boat already dealing with a crew member down make some captains reluctant to report drug-related medical issues, says Captain Prindle, the service’s sector commander. “Often we’ll get a case where the master of a vessel reports they have a cardiac issue or shortness of breath or anxiety issues,” he says. “They leave out the opioids piece.”

Upon returning to the region in 2021, Prindle began attending the partnership’s Narcan training sessions, at which he assured attendees that if they made a mayday call for an overdose, Coast Guard teams would focus on saving a mariner’s life, not on searching for contraband. His message aligned with the experience of service members who patrol the waters. “I don’t think any of us on this boat, when we have an opioid overdose to deal with, want to arrest anybody,” says Petty Officer Third Class Justus Christopher, who runs a 47-foot motor lifeboat out of Martha’s Vineyard. Christopher recalls a vessel with a deckhand in withdrawal. “We got a call that a guy was afraid for his life, and it was a guy dopesick in his bunk,” he says. Other crew members, seething that the deckhand stopped working for his share, were hazing him. Someone defecated in his hat, Christopher said, and smeared Icy Hot in his bedding. The boarding team removed the man. “It never went through our minds to search the boat for drugs,” Christopher said.

With naloxone now available, converts to harm reduction are becoming plentiful around ports. Nuno Lemos, 50, a deckhand in his eighth year of abstinence, moved to New Bedford from Portugal as a teenager. While in high school he did his first commercial trip, working on a trawler and earning $1,200 in five days. On some boats back then, he said, captains dispensed stimulants and painkillers as performance enhancers. His use grew heavy. Between fishing trips, he smoked crack for days, then snorted heroin to come down. “Chasing the dragon,” he says. The habit consumed his income, so he supplemented wages by pinching cash from fellow deckhands’ wallets and hiding fish and scallops under ice below deck, then retrieving the stolen product at the dock for black-market wholesalers. His professional reputation plummeted. He spiraled at home too. Lemos had a son with a woman also battling addiction. In no condition to raise their child, they both lost access to the boy. Her parents took over his care. “I was selfish and self-centered,” he says. “The drugs ran the show.”

In 2016, Lemos hit bottom. He walked off a fishing boat that was laid up in Provincetown during a storm and binge-drank for hours, then burglarized a home to fund a bus ride back to New Bedford. That afternoon he took refuge in the unfinished basement of a bakery and injected what he thought was heroin. He collapsed. His mother, who rented an apartment upstairs, summoned paramedics, who reversed the overdose with naloxone. Lemos shrugged off his brush with death. “I was in the hospital for a few hours, and I got high right after,” he says. But the experience left its impression. He got his hands on Narcan and kept two other people alive. One was a fisherman named Mario, the other “a kid on Rivet Street,” he says, whom he barely knew. Later that year, ashamed and worried he would die without knowing his son, he checked into rehab. Months later he resumed work, first hanging drywall, then back on scalloper decks. As his sobriety lasted, he reunited with his son. His praise of naloxone now borders on liturgy. “Narcan is a God-given thing that should be part of everybody’s training, especially in the business that I am in,” he says. “It’s a pivotal tool of survival that should be on every boat.”

Another fisherman, Justin Souza, 38, started fishing at age 20 and soon was taking opioid pills to manage pain. He moved to heroin when OxyContin became scarce on the streets. When fentanyl entered underground markets, he says, it started killing his friends, ultimately claiming about 20 people he knew, a half-dozen of them fishermen. His first encounter with naloxone was jarringly personal: He was in an apartment with a friend who slipped into unconsciousness and was gargling for breath. “My buddy was dying, and I had a bag of drugs,” he said. “It was either call 911 or my buddy is dead. So I called 911, hid the stuff, and they came and hit him with Narcan.” The man survived. Souza was arrested on an unrelated possession charge in 2017. In jail he changed course. “I cried out to Jesus,” he said, “and he showed up.”

Upon release he entered treatment and has been abstinent since, for which he credits God. Reliable again, Souza was hired by Tyler Miranda, captain of the scallop vessel Mirage, who promoted him to engineer, the crew member responsible for maintaining the boat’s winches and power plant. The Mirage’s crew is a testament to the power of redemption. Once addicted to opioids himself, Miranda has abstained since 2017. He became captain two years into his sobriety, and stocked naloxone onboard shortly after.

Eight days after Brian Murphy died, Kelsey and a co-worker showed up at the Ocean Wave, one of Alexander’s scallopers, to train its crew. The instructors mixed demonstrations on how to administer Narcan — one spray into one nostril, the second into the other — with assurances that the drug was harmless if used on someone suffering a condition other than overdose. The training carried another message, which was not intuitive: Merely administering Narcan was not enough. Multiple dispensers were sometimes required to restore a patient’s breathing, and this was true even if a patient resumed seemingly normal respiration. If the opioids were particularly potent, a patient might backslide as the antagonist wore off. Patients in respiratory distress also often suffered “polysubstance overdoses,” like fentanyl mixed with other drugs, including cocaine, amphetamines or xylazine. Alcohol might be involved, too. With so many variables, anyone revived with naloxone should be rushed to professional care. In an overdose at sea, they said, a victim’s peers should make a mayday call, so the Coast Guard could hurry the patient to a hospital.

After the partnership trained two more Alexander crews, Warren heard positive feedback from his captains. He issued his judgment. “Now it’s mandatory,” he said. Within weeks of the Jersey Pride’s mayday call, Narcan distribution and training became permanent elements of the company’s operation. Alexander-Nevells credits Murphy. He spent about 72 hours as a commercial fisherman, died on the job and left a legacy. “He changed my dad’s fleet,” she says. “I know for a fact that without Brian Murphy, this program doesn’t exist.”

In New Jersey, where Murphy’s family suffered the agonies of sudden, unexpected loss, followed by the humiliation of being ghosted by those who knew what happened to him aboard the Jersey Pride, the changes to the Alexander fleet came as welcome news. His brother, Doug Haferl, recalls his sibling with warmth and gratitude. Their parents divorced when the kids were young, and their father worked long hours as a crane operator. Brian assumed the role of father figure. “He took me and my brother Tom under his wing,” he says. The thought that Brian’s death helped put naloxone on boats and might one day save a life, he says, “is about the best thing I could hope for.”

Deckhands and captains come and go. Naloxone dispensers expire. To keep the fleet current, Alexander-Nevells booked refresher training throughout 2023 and into 2024. At one class, Kelsey met the Karen Nicole’s captain and five-person crew. The group gathered in the galley. Everyone present had lost friends. Kelsey recited symptoms. “If someone overdoses,” she said, “they will make a noise — ”

“It’s a gargle,” said Myles Jones, a deckhand. “I know what it is.”

He stood by a freezer, a compact, muscular man in a white sleeveless tee. “I’ve lost a son,” he said. The room fell still.

“I’m sorry,” Kelsey said. She stepped across the galley and wrapped him in a hug. Jones managed a pained smile. “I lost an uncle, too,” he said.

Kelsey continued the class, then examined the Narcan aboard to ensure it had not expired. The boat headed to sea.

In the wheelhouse, the mate, Hollis Nevells, said that Narcan fit a mentality fishing jobs require. He shared a story of a drunk fisherman who crashed a house party years ago in his hometown on Deer Isle, Maine. To prevent him from driving his pickup truck, other guests took his keys and stashed them atop a refrigerator. Furious, the man produced a pistol, pointed it at Nevells’s face and demanded the keys’ return. Thus persuaded, Nevells retrieved them. The man drove away only to call a short while later, upset. His truck was stuck in mud. He wanted help. Several fishermen drove to him, separated him from the pistol and beat the truck with baseball bats until it was totaled. “Island justice,” Nevells said. In his view, carrying Narcan matched this rough, self-help spirit: On the ocean, crews needed to solve problems themselves, and with Narcan came the power to save a life. Nevells had lost many peers to overdoses, among them the man who leveled the pistol at his face. He remembered feeling helpless as the Jersey Pride broadcast graphic descriptions at the hour of Murphy’s death. He did not want to feel that way again.

The captain, Duane Natale, agreed. He had seen firsthand how delaying death bought time for a rescue. Scallopers tow massive steel dredges that cut furrows through the ocean bottom and snatch scallops along the way. By winch and boom, the dredges are periodically lifted above deck to shake out catch, then lowered again. The procedure is exceptionally dangerous. A swinging dredge, about 15 feet wide and weighing more than a ton, can crush a man in one sickening crunch. In the 1990s, Natale saw a falling dredge shear off a deckhand’s extended right arm. A makeshift tourniquet tightened around the stump kept the man alive until a helicopter lifted him away. Had they not been trained, the deckhand would have died. Natale saw a similar role for Narcan: a means to stop a fatality and let the Coast Guard do its work. “I like it a lot,” he said. “Last thing I want on my conscience is someone dying on my boat.”

In water 45 fathoms deep the boat steamed at 4.8 knots, towing dredges through sandy muck while the crew sweated through an incessant loop. From a hydraulic control station at the wheelhouse’s aft end, Nevells or Natale periodically hoisted the dredges and shook out tons of scallops, which slid out onto the steel deck in rumbling cascades of pink-and-white shells. Working fast, Hollis and the deckhands shoveled the catch into baskets and hustled it to sheltered cutting stations, where with stainless-steel knives they separated each scallop’s adductor muscle — the portion that makes its way to seafood cases and restaurant plates — from its gob of guts. Hands worked fast, flicking adductors into buckets and guts down chutes that plopped them onto greenish water beside the hull. Large sharks swam lazy circles alongside, turning to flash pale undersides while inhaling easy meals. Music thumped and blared: metal one hour, techno the next. When enough buckets were full of meat and rinsed in saltwater, two deckhands transferred the glistening, ivory-colored catch into roughly 50-pound cloth sacks, handed them down a hatch into the cool fish-hold and buried them beneath ice. Everyone else kept shucking.

The deckhands worked in staggered pairs: 11 hours of shoveling and shucking followed by four hours to shower, eat, sleep and bandage hands, then back on deck for 11 more hours. It continued for days. Daylight became dusk; dusk became night; night became dawn. Sea states changed. Fog and mist soaked the crew and shrouded the vessel, then lifted, revealing other boats on the horizon doing the same thing. The work never stopped. As exhaustion set in, people swayed where they stood, still hauling heavy baskets and shucking. To stay awake they downed coffee and Red Bull, smoked cigarettes and spoke little. One man wore a T-shirt stenciled with a solitary word. It read as both a personal statement and command to everyone else: Grind. Early on the fifth day, the Karen Nicole reached its 12,000-pound federal trip limit. Natale turned the boat toward New Bedford, almost a 24-hour steam away, and cooked everyone a rib-eye steak. The crew showered, ate and slept a few hours, then woke to scrub the boat. On shore two days later, each deckhand received his share: $9,090.61.

Within a year of its mayday call, the Jersey Pride entered a transformation. After the death in 2021 of the vessel’s owner, Doug Stocker, the boat passed to the family of his brother, Clint. A recently retired detective sergeant from the Middle Township Police Department, Clint Stocker was not affiliated with the Jersey Pride when Rodney Bart was its captain, and he knew little of what happened to Murphy, whom he never met. His view on opioid use was clear. “I tolerate none of that,” he says. He also needed no introduction to Narcan, having administered it as a police officer. The boat carries dispensers, he says, “just in case.”

In the midnight blackness this spring after the Jersey Pride returned to port, the vessel’s mate and deckhands described a job-site turnaround. The mate, Justin Puglisi, joined the crew about two months after Murphy’s death. His personal history in commercial fishing began with a loss that resonated through the industry: His father was taken by the sea with the vessel Beth Dee Bob, one of four clam boats that went to the bottom over 13 days in 1999, killing 10 fishermen. As a teenager Puglisi claimed his place in the surviving fleet. The Jersey Pride, he said, was in rough shape when he signed on. The bunk where Murphy overdosed remained unoccupied, the subject of vague stories about a deckhand’s death. Rodney Bart, still the captain, was using fentanyl onboard. “It was blatant,” Puglisi said. “He was leaving empty bags in the wheelhouse.” Two deckhands were heavy users, too. One wandered the boat with a syringe behind his ear. Puglisi had slipped into addiction himself. He was 32, had been using opioids for 15 years and was regularly buying and snorting fentanyl and crystal meth, which he bought in bulk. “I started with pills like everyone else, then switched to the cheaper stuff,” he said.

Bart was fired in fall 2021. But it was after Clint Stocker’s family took over that the operation markedly changed. Clint and his son Craig, who managed the boat’s maintenance, hired new crew members, invested in new electronics and implemented a schedule that gave crew members a week off work after two weeks onboard. They replaced the outriggers and eventually had the boat’s twin diesel engines rebuilt. Puglisi stood at a wheelhouse window. Around him were signs of attentive upkeep: new hoses, valves and a hydraulic pump; fresh upholstery on the wheelhouse bench; a new computer monitor connected to a satellite navigation system. The owners planned to repaint the boat, Puglisi said, but focused on more important maintenance first. “They put their money where it matters,” he said.

The overhaul was more than mechanical. In summer 2022, Puglisi fell asleep in the galley after getting high. When the Stockers heard, they helped find him a bed at rehab for six weeks, then gave him time to attend 90 Narcotics Anonymous meetings in 90 days. “They were like, ‘Go, and your job will be here when you get back,’” he said. When he returned, they put him straight to work. “It was all business,” Puglisi said. He rolled up his left sleeve to reveal a forearm tattoo — “One day at a time,” it read — and described the Jersey Pride as a good boat and fine workplace, unlike when Murphy was invited aboard. “I’ve worked for a lot of owners,” he said, “and this is the best boat I have been on. They take care of their crew.”

It was 1 a.m. A cold April wind blew hard from the northeast. Below Puglisi, three deckhands labored methodically under spotlights to offload catch. One, Bill Lapworth, was a former opioid user also in recovery now. His story matched countless others: He started with pills for pain relief, switched to heroin when the pills became harder to find and almost died when fentanyl poisoned the supply. He was revived by Narcan twice: first by E.M.T.s in an apartment, then by a friend as he slumped near death in a pickup truck. His friend had picked up free Narcan through a community handout program. Smoking a cigarette in the gusts as a crane swung metal cages of ocean quahogs overhead, Lapworth flashed the mischievous grin of a man pulled from the grave not once but twice, then offered a three-word endorsement of the little plastic dispensers to which he owed his life: “I got saved.”

Read by James Patrick Cronin

Audio produced by Elena Hecht

Narration produced by Anna Diamond

Engineered by Quinton Kamara

C.J. Chivers is a staff writer for the magazine and the author of two books, including “The Fighters: Americans in Combat in Afghanistan and Iraq.” He won the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing in 2017 for a profile of a former Marine with PTSD. David Guttenfelder is a photojournalist focusing on geopolitical conflict and conservation.

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