【The Standard:Boarding Insider】Are there such things as cultural ghettos?

Boarding 101

article-no248

“I would not like my daughter to spend all her time with other girls from Hong Kong as her English language skills need to improve. With this in mind, what should we be looking out for when it comes to choosing a school?”

This concern shared by one local parent is a common one.

As a consultant, I can recommend schools to parents which generally have a low number of Chinese-speaking students. Oundle School, Wellington College and St Mary’s Calne, an all- girls’ school, spring to mind.

However, a deeper analysis of the situation is required.

If parents or children have their sights set on a school which may have a relatively high number of students from Hong Kong or China, they should not immediately discount it.

It is in children’s nature to gravitate toward other children who speak their mother tongue.

Therefore, parents should not hold back in asking a school about the way it integrates children to ease their concerns.

It has come to light that teachers and staff do receive training sessions from organizations such as the Boarding Schools Association regarding the integration of foreign children who do not want to mix.

I can also add from my own experience and observations that it would harm a school’s image if “cultural ghettos” surface so they do make sure that English is spoken.

As we live in an era of over-the-top marketing, nothing beats actually visiting a school and seeing for oneself firsthand what kind of interaction patterns are present.

Do all the girls from Hong Kong huddle together in the corner of the playground at break-time? Are after- school activities designed to integrate all pupils?

Is the school genuinely full- boarding or do only Hong Kong and Chinese students seem to remain in the dorms at weekends?

Parents could also look at Independent Schools Inspectorate reports to assess just how much a school is devoted to cross-cultural integration and pastoral care.

Sections such as “The spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of the pupils” and “The Quality of Boarding” often reveal a great deal about the extent to which a school integrates overseas boarders into the life of their houses.

Overall, with patience and understanding, parents’ fears about integration can be alleviated.

At the same time, we need to respect the market – and schools have seen a decline in applications from UK students and even diplomatic families sending pupils to boarding school.

Picture: Concord College

Original Article: http://www.thestandard.com.hk/section-news.php?id=172513&fc=15

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