Seeing that The Bahamas needs a major boost in the area of education, isn’t it about time we introduced the concept of boarding schools?

While the terminology alone may make some cringe, a brief look at how this society handles (or more accurately, mishandles) its youth shows that educators need to step in with a more holistic approach to the development of this country’s future leaders.

The isolation of our youth from negative influences, which are quite prevalent within the general public, would lead to an overall improvement in their all-around abilities. We thus would be able to more precisely influence their behavior as adults.

Socially, this would be good as many bad habits and behaviors often are picked up by children from adults in homes and communities. Creating a socially sterile environment would eliminate the repetitive cycle of bad behavior we all see happening every day.

Physically, we would be able to monitor the health issues that effect the development of our children. Proper nutrition, diet and exercise are extremely important in the mental and physical growth of a child. In effect, the building blocks of how the body works most efficiently are set in a child’s formative years. These students also would be taught the importance of taking care of themselves and their families throughout their lifetime.

Intellectually, a child would have the opportunity to form a solid knowledge base upon which to determine their path in life. Extended hours of classroom time, combined with the efforts of dedicated professors and tutors would serve to harness and focus a child’s true intellectual potential.

Culturally, events that are important to the past, present and future of this society would be explained in depth and in an interactive way to the students of a boarding school. This area of growth is vital as it fuses their loyalty to this society and the people who live in it.

Emotionally, children who are a part of these boarding schools will learn how to properly communicate and interact with each other, without violence, and in an environment which encourages them to express their individuality within appropriate boundaries.

Spiritually, each child will be encouraged to embrace all faiths without judgment and will be taught the importance of tolerance when looking at the different outlooks on life that have evolved over the past few millennia.

Overall it would be an expensive and extensive project, but the results would speak for themselves. What opinions do the rest of you have regarding such a recommendation?

The best leaders in my mind, are not the leaders with the most education "on paper" or the most bourgeroise type learning.

Good leaders are born out of the ashe. They rise from the bottom like a Phoenix, and take the country and world by storm. For all the obvius reasons, they are in touch with what the issues are and they have had a chance, to develop normative skills of their society.

Boarding schools will only exacerbate this perception of who is right, because he or she went to such and such and that they should be overlord and sole authorities of executing what is right. While I must admit, the appearance of training is vitally important to image, this must be set out AFTER an awakening and subsequent rise to the top.

We need good, hard core leaders. Not some soft, silver spooned namby pamby mama's boy's, who would not know how it is to feel anything that was not born out their lavish lifestyle (because the boardning schools, would be littered with the afluential kids, you know this right?).

Not only is the idea of an aristocratic ruler bad because it deepends the class divide, it handi-caps a ruler who is not well versed on the issues, because he can not easily relate to what the other side is experiencing. So in essence, yes, top class intellectuals are needed, but we also need balance in human experience. The man or woman, from the bottom up, or who has experienced an awakening can relate to this type of sentiment.

We need good, hard core leaders. Not some soft, silver spooned namby pamby mama's boy's, who would not know how it is to feel anything that was not born out their lavish lifestyle (because the boardning schools, would be littered with the afluential kids, you know this right?). Not only is the idea of an aristocratic ruler bad because it deepends the class divide, it handi-caps a ruler who is not well versed on the issues, because he can not easily relate to what the other side is experiencing. So in essence, yes, top class intellect is needed, but we also need balance in human experience. The man or woman, from the bottom up, or who has experienced an awakening can relate to this type of sentiment.

You didn't even think about your response did you?

You just reacted.

And in a negative way. This topic of boarding school is focused towards being implemented across the board, PUBLIC and private, poor and rich.

Typical rush to judgment. What I'm talking about is a return to the type of education that Sir Lynden and those politicians in his set at GHS had, but on an even more focused scale.

Next opinion please.

You didn't even think about your response did you?
You just reacted.
And in a negative way. This topic of boarding school is focused towards being implemented across the board, PUBLIC and private, poor and rich.
Typical rush to judgment. What I'm talking about is a return to the type of education that Sir Lynden and those politicians in his set at GHS had, but on an even more focused scale.
Next opinion please.


Perhaps, if i may, Mr Brown, ask you, what exactly in defined terms, you mean by ''boarding school''? I think it would go a long way in setting the tone.

Seeing that The Bahamas needs a major boost in the area of education, isn’t it about time we introduced the concept of boarding schools?.........

I went to boarding school. It worked for me. Not only did we learn our A-B-C's but we learned everything you mentioned - social skills of all kinds everything form table manners to learning how to speak properly.

Seeing that The Bahamas needs a major boost in the area of education, isn’t it about time we introduced the concept of boarding schools?
While the terminology alone may make some cringe, a brief look at how this society handles (or more accurately, mishandles) its youth shows that educators need to step in with a more holistic approach to the development of this country’s future leaders.
The isolation of our youth from negative influences, which are quite prevalent within the general public, would lead to an overall improvement in their all-around abilities. We thus would be able to more precisely influence their behavior as adults.
Socially, this would be good as many bad habits and behaviors often are picked up by children from adults in homes and communities. Creating a socially sterile environment would eliminate the repetitive cycle of bad behavior we all see happening every day.
Physically, we would be able to monitor the health issues that effect the development of our children. Proper nutrition, diet and exercise are extremely important in the mental and physical growth of a child. In effect, the building blocks of how the body works most efficiently are set in a child’s formative years. These students also would be taught the importance of taking care of themselves and their families throughout their lifetime.
Intellectually, a child would have the opportunity to form a solid knowledge base upon which to determine their path in life. Extended hours of classroom time, combined with the efforts of dedicated professors and tutors would serve to harness and focus a child’s true intellectual potential.
Culturally, events that are important to the past, present and future of this society would be explained in depth and in an interactive way to the students of a boarding school. This area of growth is vital as it fuses their loyalty to this society and the people who live in it.
Emotionally, children who are a part of these boarding schools will learn how to properly communicate and interact with each other, without violence, and in an environment which encourages them to express their individuality within appropriate boundaries.
Spiritually, each child will be encouraged to embrace all faiths without judgment and will be taught the importance of tolerance when looking at the different outlooks on life that have evolved over the past few millennia.
Overall it would be an expensive and extensive project, but the results would speak for themselves. What opinions do the rest of you have regarding such a recommendation?

I’m not sure if boarding schools are the answer or not. In some cases it might be a disadvantage…like for example my own family (and most of yours) was motivated enough and able enough to push and cut @$$ if necessary to make sure everyone took education seriously…I don’t think a school …any school is able to provide the lessons my parents did. On the other hand we have these parents who are unwilling or unable to provide the proper environment and motivation to teach their kids about life’s lessons while also making sure they are sitting and listening in class everyday. Boarding school would do a lot for those in this second group while possibly hindering those in the first?

I think your focus is dead on. Our failing youth is the root of the problem and we must seek solutions now. Maybe providing for some to attend boarding schools is a part of a solution.

Perhaps, if i may, Mr Brown, ask you, what exactly in defined terms, you mean by ''boarding school''? I think it would go a long way in setting the tone.

Traditional boarding schools which focus on making all of its pupils better citizens, are what I'm talking about. Schools which promote discipline, focus and a proper outlook regarding the type of information our children will be armed with to face the world.

What I'm encouraging is a return to the styles of teaching in all of our schools where intellect is respected and honor is simultaneously instilled in the pupils of an institution.

I am NOT talking about having creme-de-la-creme, oh-look-at-me schools; That would be one-dimensional thinking.

Changing our schools, especially the public ones, to the boarding school style of education would be a task of epic proportions and would take a drastic revamp of the way we look at preparing our kids to handle the challenges which society throws at them. It also will solve a few societal problems along the way, might I add, for family values are NOT the same as they were in the 70's and 80's. This country has to face this fact and evolve accordingly.

You didn't even think about your response did you?
You just reacted.
And in a negative way. This topic of boarding school is focused towards being implemented across the board, PUBLIC and private, poor and rich.
Typical rush to judgment. What I'm talking about is a return to the type of education that Sir Lynden and those politicians in his set at GHS had, but on an even more focused scale.
Next opinion please.


Shoot first and ask questions later. That's me to a core.

GHS could have hardly been called a true boarding school and with that, Sir Lynden was a common man, from common people, his subsequent arrival to GHS was after the fact and his immersion into the Bahamian culture, as back then, he had no choice. Also he lived on the same island that his school was. Hardly removed from anything.

What I feel you are talking about is better education, and this is something we all want. But my thing is, you can not confuse the two. Better education does not equate with boarding schools being the answer, and simultaneously leading to the idea that it will produce better leaders when there is no evidence to prove that. Take the criticism of your remarks as they were, as I gave them. If you did not like to have criticisms, then don't post ideas if you do not want an honest response to them.

To be more blunt, the idea of a boarding school, for the sole purpose of producing leaders is stupid and it does not have a sound base. That is your core point, as you would have us understand it. Leaders are not tailor made, they are created through their experiences. If you want to talk about "another" elitist type school, then by all means it is possible. But as we have seen with St. Andrews, elitist type schools do not equate to academic success as they are just about average to any other private school in this country; and in some cases, they are worse.

In addition Mr. Brown, Public boarding schools, sometimes called "Public Academies", have just as much structural problems with education, if they don't focus the teaching methods in a conscise manner. It is not a solve all solution, but they do have their merrit but the merrit has nothing to do with being smarter or more cultured than the average.

So I answered your post, seemingly negatively because I do not agree. Simple. No insulting harsh tones, just do not agree for said reasons. Can't fault me for that aye?
Or is it that only your opinion matters?
:)

I went to boarding school. It worked for me. Not only did we learn our A-B-C's but we learned everything you mentioned - social skills of all kinds everything form table manners to learning how to speak properly.


So this is why you come off as a smug, elitist speaking, liberal talking "average" Bahamian?
:)

For the people who actually understand what I'm talking about, instead of trying to create divisive arguments relating to CLASS and ELITISM as some people are, please focus your attention to the core arguments presented in my initial post as they relate to ALL of society for the purpose of creating better Bahamian CITIZENS

So this is why you come off as a smug, elitist speaking, liberal talking "average" Bahamian?
:)

Guess you have not read yoricks post 10 yet.

Shoot first and ask questions later. That's me to a core.
GHS could have hardly been called a true boarding school and with that, Sir Lynden was a common man, from common people, his subsequent arrival to GHS was after the fact and his immersion into the Bahamian culture, as back then, he had no choice. Also he lived on the same island that his school was. Hardly removed from anything.


ghs was in fact a true boarding school in its time, as was st. augustine's with the monastery for out island boys and queen's college back in the day. i lived at the convent on nassau street as did many other out island gals while we went to different schools in the capitol.

might not have been the ritz, but we had a great time and learned how to share and keep chores and get along with people not like you ... best part of the boarding school environment is that it teaches you (or tries to, anyhow) how to get along with other people.

i think yorick's idea is excellent.

Traditional boarding schools which focus on making all of its pupils better citizens, are what I'm talking about. Schools which promote discipline, focus and a proper outlook regarding the type of information our children will be armed with to face the world.
What I'm encouraging is a return to the styles of teaching in all of our schools where intellect is respected and honor is simultaneously instilled in the pupils of an institution.
I am NOT talking about having creme-de-la-creme, oh-look-at-me schools; That would be one-dimensional thinking.
Changing our schools, especially the public ones, to the boarding school style of education would be a task of epic proportions and would take a drastic revamp of the way we look at preparing our kids to handle the challenges which society throws at them. It also will solve a few societal problems along the way, might I add, for family values are NOT the same as they were in the 70's and 80's. This country has to face this fact and evolve accordingly.

Makes plenty sense. Bend that tree while it's young. Boarding schools truly embodies the whole essence of citizenship and education. For it makes no sense to pump millions of dollars in to education and the needs of societal and community co-habitation is missing. After all not only do we have less educated kids, we have undisciplined and uncouth kids. The true Education is not only reading and writing but also training in citizenship. One without the other will inevitably lead to what we now have.

I went to boarding school. It worked for me. Not only did we learn our A-B-C's but we learned everything you mentioned - social skills of all kinds everything form table manners to learning how to speak properly.

i went to one (mid 80's), but cant say they tought us any table manners ... I think things must have changed since your time .. ;)

i went to one (mid 80's), but cant say they tought us any table manners ... I think things must have changed since your time .. ;)

I am talking about the 1960's In those days "education" was a broader thing. They even taught us how to ride a horse and how to correctly take part in a fox hunt! (I fell off, regularly!!) Lol. Maybe I partook of the stirrup cup to deeply! (A shot of brandy, or port, before one sets off. To brace one against the cold - so I was told!) :friday:

PS Wait til' Y2K reads this one!