Sending your child away to boarding school can be a difficult decision, but it is important to know what the common rules are before you make your choice. Boarding schools have different policies when it comes to things like homework, bed times, and clothing. Make sure you are familiar with the rules so that there is no confusion once your child arrives at school. In this blog post, we will discuss the most common rules of boarding schools in India so that you can be prepared before making your decision.
Disciplined time table for the day
One of the most important rules for boarding school is following a schedule. Students must be up and ready for breakfast at a certain time, follow the timetable for the table and go to bed at the scheduled timing. This can be difficult to get used to at first, but it helps students stay on track and makes them disciplined. If your child has never been on a strict schedule before, make sure they are prepared for how their life will be while attending boarding school. Many boarding schools have an early bedtime to instill the habit of being early risers. Time table is made to balance good sleep time, time for academics, extra classes, homework, extra-curricular activities, sports and rest time. It is aimed towards the overall development of the child.
Appropriate dressing
One of the most important rules to know about boarding school is the dress code. Boarding schools often have a strict dress code, which includes no frill dressing. During school hours, students are required to wear proper school uniforms and shoes. After school hours, students dress in smart casuals. Most of the boarding schools also have a sports dress code which is usually the school’s track pants or joggers and sweatshirt. Boarding schools promote a humble dressing and do not encourage high end branded clothes, to make sure that students concentrate more on academics and extracurricular activities.
Respecting teachers, classmates and school workers
This is probably one of the most important things that one will learn while at boarding school. If you show respect to your teachers and other workers of the school such as mess cook, cleaners etc, they will be more likely to help you when you need them. Likewise, if you are respectful to your classmates, everyone will have a better time.
Timely homework and submission of assignments
One of the most common rules of boarding school is that students are expected to do their homework everyday on time without exception. There are teachers who stay inside campus and help weaker students cope up with other students as well for any doubts. Students also help each other in various subjects where one might be weak and other might be good at a particular subject.
No mobile phones except at designated timings
Boarding schools allow the students to use mobile phones only during the designated timings. Since it is important to supervise the content that students are exposed to, especially in their younger days, children are given mobile phones only under the supervision of faculty in-charge. There is a designated timings for making calls to parents or local guardians during which the phone is given for a certain time and children are given a private space so that they can talk freely and openly.
Nutritional and healthy diet
Boarding schools usually have a nutritionist on board who helps design the meals for the students. Meals are wholesome with vegetables, salad, yogurt. Junk food is not promoted. Body needs more than just processed foods, and it is important to teach students this. During the snack time also school provides healthy and tasty options. Fruits and milk are always available in abundance. Students who are overweight are put on a diet by the nutritionist which is also complimented by a regime of physical exercise or sport of child’s choice.
Good etiquettes
Behaving in a civilized manner at all times, inside and outside of the school campus is a must. This means no verbal or physical confrontations with other students or members of the staff. If there is a student that misbehaves, counselling is done in a systematic way to understand the child and if it continues, desired action is taken.
Keeping dorm clean and organized
Keeping one’s bed and dorm clean and tidy at all times is being taught. Boarding schools have regular inspections of students’ dorms to ensure each child is maintaining the expected standards of hygiene and personal care. There is a matron that takes care of really young children and they grow a little older, they are taught how to make their own bed, fold their clothes and organise other belongings.
Bringing only the required essentials
More than a rule, it’s better for students only to bring in what they will need since every child gets only one wardrobe to keep his or her belongings and lock them. Since the laundry for all students goes together, sometimes it is possible that it gets mixed up and hence it’s better not to carry very expensive clothing. Carrying sports shoes, sports attire such as joggers, tracks, night suits and warm clothes as per the weather at the school location are some of the must haves. When the clothes are worn off, one can replace them in the vacations when the child goes back to his or her home. And if something is urgently required, there is usually a basic store around or the child can order online.
One should carry essentials like a toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, moisturizer, face wash, sunscreen to immediately settle down and then there is always a convenience store that is around for anything and everything to be replenished.
If you are considering sending your child to a best residential school in India, it is important to be aware of the common rules that these schools follow. These are some basic standards that all residential schools in India adhere to, and knowing what they are can help you make an informed decision about whether or not this type of schooling is right for your child.
