If you ask different people about what they think about residential boarding schools for teenagers, you’ll probably get mixed opinions about it. Some have a favorable opinion of boarding schools, maintaining that they are very successful in giving high quality education while also providing students the chance to gain a sense of independence. Some have their fears and misgivings about sending children to boarding school, away from home. Here are a few of the myths and facts about these residential boarding schools for teens that may be helpful when forming your own opinion about them:

Myth #1: Parents who send their children off to residential boarding schools for teenagers do so because they are tired of raising their children and do not want to be burdened by them anymore. In effect, parents are giving up their right to become authority figures in their children’s lives when they send them away from home.

Truth: Many parents who send their children away to residential schools realize that when their children come home, they have a better relationship because they are less tense, stressed out and edgy. There are no more fights about doing homework, playing too much video games, watching too much TV or staying up too late. Parents and their teens enjoy a more relaxed relationship when they come home. Teens also flourish and become better adjusted when they enjoy some measure of independence. They become happier, and more confident.

Myth #2: Boarding schools aren’t very successful in preparing teens for college.

Truth: Compared with day schools, boarding schools are more successful in preparing children for college because they are given an opportunity to earn some degree of independence while at an early age. There is something important about living with people who aren’t your family members and learning to pick up after yourself, to fend for yourself, and to adapt to a new environment. College is definitely very different from high school but children who study away from home have an easier time adjusting to life away from home when they reach college. Not to mention that when it comes to academic preparedness, these schools set the bar.

Myth #3: Residential boarding schools stifle individuality

Truth: Some schools do require students to wear uniforms to class, some don’t. All have staff that are available 24/7 to make sure that teens stay out of trouble. Teens are not completely left alone to their own devices after school hours, but it doesn’t mean that these schools stifle the individuality of students. As a matter of fact, most of these schools have an impressive number of extracurricular programs that are available for students. There are a lot of activities to explore and help teens to get to know themselves and what other interests they can cultivate. Students of these schools also often come from different parts of the country and even include students from the international community. Students become aware at an early age of cultural diversity and learn how to appreciate and respect this. Many schools also make it a point to hire teachers that are from different cultural backgrounds as well as different fields of studies in order to provide students with a richer experience.