<p>As I was discussing bs with a co-worker she admitted that she was a “Smithie” (Smith College Graduate-loved her experience) and acknowledged that looking back (out of school 5 years) there is surely the “Smith Bubble”. The idea is just that at her school students loved the school, enjoyed all it had to offer and somewhat closed out the rest of the world, thus creating a “bubble” while on campus. She admitted that many students traveled abroad and loved it, but while on campus they felt they were in their own little world.</p>
<p>My Question: Are bs, by nature, a bubble. Not so much separate schools but the institution? And if so…is that really a bad thing? Are our homes in which are children are leaving themselves a type of bubble?</p>
<p>Just thinking and putting it out there for discussion :-).</p>
<p>Great question, Alex. From what I can see (and I see a lot of schools) these (bs) schools are insular and protective but that can be a good or bad thing. If you’re coming from a rough place where it’s hard to focus and/or get your academic needs met, then the “bubble” is a good thing – a respite where you can focus and thrive. If you already come from a “bubble” (affluent, homogeneous suburb perhaps) then the bubble environment of some of these schools only perpetuates an overprotected perspective.</p>
<p>I think that some of the boarding schools are bubbles, but I think it depends on how the school faculty/staff emphasize the town (where the school is located) and “the real world”. For example, some say Exeter is a bubble, but to me it seems to really meld into the town. The streets ran through the school and students were walking around Exeter (the town) when I went there. Also, the principal always encourages the students to wave to the passing townspeople when crossing the street. However, I won’t be attending PEA until early September so I guess I won’t * really know* till I get there.</p>
<p>I think that most boarding schools are bubbles. Same with most colleges in rural/suburban locations. One can argue about the bubble nature of academia as a whole. I think that the locations of boarding schools (mostly suburbs and rural areas) can be bubbles themselves. In a way boarding schools become bubbles within a bubble.</p>
<p>There are certainly ways to try and see through the bubble. I participated in student orgs that helped me keep in touch with the happenings of the outside world. In a way, I liked the bubble. It helped me focus on my schoolwork and make the most out of my time at boarding school. It definitely helps build the feel and culture of the school.</p>
<p>Wcom-you have helped me see a different viewpoint. We are in the middle of an urban war zone, Chicago. So I think I see why all of us, my daughter, my mother and myself see the rural areas such a welcome change. My d chose the one of the most rural of all schools DA. I made mention that at nite there are no street lights and she said she cant wait until she could look out of her window and see a sky full of stars. </p>
<p>I remember at the first school we visited, we walked passed a building where about 50 girls (Miss Porter’s )where in a meeting and there were book bags laying on the grass, no one “watching” them. The shock on the face of an urban mom must have been frightening for our tour guide. I was almost embarrassed when our guide looked up and said, “people just dont take what isnt theirs.” As we continued our tour I saw bikes not locked up (DA, SPS, etc), and more book bags unattended. In most houses, students dont lock their room doors. One student told me, why would I do that, what happens if someone needs something and I am not there, they go in and get it. Another student told me, "its like home, you have a key to the front door (log in so they know where you are-SPS) but you dont lock your bedroom door, you are at home. WOW I understood by the end of my visit that life was different. In reference to the bubble, I think that is what I was really looking for. A bigger bubble than our home and small family, yet not the major city, i.e. college campus.</p>
<p>Maybe that is why I teach, though it is a commuter school, we are a bubble.</p>
<p>Bubble or no bubble, things do occasionally “go missing” at BS. It may be prudent to keep an eye on that souped up Ipad, if only as a preventative measure.</p>
<p>Nyl…i am impressed but by no means crazy. Bed, Bath and Beyond has a lock box in the latest flier. We will put the most important stuff in it. Not just for safety but so she knows where she places it. The lock box has a combination not a key…we dont need anything else to keep up with. </p>
<p>We are almost full FA, we dont have much to take, but still value our special stuff.</p>
<p>“…i am impressed but by no means crazy…” this statement has me lol :)</p>
<p>Bubbles can be great, as long as you understand that they are, indeed, bubbles. As someone who grew up in cities, I sought bubble environments as an adult. Now I’m a rural academic, which is pretty far from how I started. I think there is a stereotype that is, hopefully, being replaced about boarding schools. The stereotype has been that these schools are dominated by children from bubbles who have and will always only experience life this way. Since these schools have tried to position themselves as creators of the “leaders of tomorrow” it is paramount that their students represent more than bubble elites. On our school visits we ran into all kinds of kids, and luckily there weren’t too many legacy/bubble types. There were definitely still plenty though, but certainly more diverse choices.</p>
<p>such bubbles. We really have our own language, traditions, etc… I love it!</p>
<p>Sorry to divert but -
SNL Bush v Gore anyone? lol</p>
<p>But on the note of ‘bubbles’, I think bubbles are created because of how close the student body and faculty get being in a usually cut off campus and doing all that work, and doing all those sports, etc. i think the bubbles are mainly made oof camraderie.</p>
<p>Rad–I agree. Bubbles are not bad. I think most families are bubbles, if you are lucky. In our family bubble my d was the center of attention for years, the only kid around. It didnt make her a spoiled brat but does not seek attention because she has never had it.</p>