Gaming & BS

Prep School Admissions
1

<p>I’d like to hear from other parents—or students—who have kids who are gamers. DC is a confirmed gamer, and balancing that particular hobby with BS is definitely a challenge. I used to be totally old school on this and think that gaming was an utter waste of time (just like my parents probably thought rock n roll was a waste), but recently my son has convinced me that it is an intriguing media paradigm with all kinds of interesting potential. (For one take on this, you could check out the book Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, but there are other considered assessments of gaming culture out there, as well). The only BS that I know has somewhat openly embraced gaming is Pomfret School, which has a sophisticated Digital Arts program as part of the curriculum. Other BS go so far as to outlaw gaming systems from the campus altogether. Most seem to fall in between, either okay in dorm common rooms, or okay for upperclassmen.</p>

<p>I trying to move beyond feeling like this activity is just a waste of time. For instance, in DC’s case, gaming has definitely stimulated in him an interest in history, and his success in history classes suggests some benefit. Also, although it can seem addictive in nature, the “escape” of gaming is NOT drugs & alcohol, which so many teens fall into as “hobbies”.</p>

<p>Does anyone else out there have a child who is a gamer, and working through boarding school? Or, are any of you BS students still committed gamers, and if so, how do you balance your play with your work, and could you make the case for ways in which your gaming habit might positively enhance your education overall?</p>

<p>[Pomfret</a> School ~ Digital Arts](<a href=“http://www.pomfretschool.org/digitalarts]Pomfret”>http://www.pomfretschool.org/digitalarts)</p>

<p>[Book</a> review: Ready Player One | Geek.com](<a href=“http://www.geek.com/articles/geek-pick/book-review-ready-player-one-20110810/]Book”>http://www.geek.com/articles/geek-pick/book-review-ready-player-one-20110810/)</p>

2

<p>My son is a gamer so much so that he finally picked up the phone to call home when one of his newest games came out. Suddenly he wanted to come home for a week end. You may remember me complaining in an earlier thread that DS went for weeks without a phone call to home. Thankfully his school does not allow gaming. It would be too distracting. I will agree that some of the games are educational. My son plays Rome Total War and has become a big history buff.</p>

3

<p>All things considered, gaming does more harm than good to a high schooler. I would discourage doing it, but boys are boys. So many of them are into games that it’s virtually impossible to ban it if their friends are playing it. But don’t worry, if your son is in one of those highly competitive schools, his interest in gaming will eventually be moderated as there are simply not many peers that into gaming.</p>

4

<p>At my son’s school lots of guys (at least in his dorm) are into gaming. But the academic pressures–and maybe the internet going off at 11 at night–seem to keep it to a reasonably limited, free time activity. My kid’s gaming drives me crazy during the summer and on vacations, but his schoolwork, athletics, and other activities seem to always be a priority at school. Maybe this is one of those hidden blessings of bs!</p>

<p>At the two-year college where I teach, way too many kids fail out because they sit in their rooms gaming when they should be in class or doing homework. I try to keep an open mind like other parents here–but any activity that keeps a kid staring at a computer screen for hours on end doesn’t seem completely healthy to me, and I admit I bug my kid about his computer time a lot when he’s home. Time will tell if I’m just being an old fuddy duddy…</p>

5

<p>Ditto, this parent also struggling to see value in gaming. Thankfully, at DS’s BS, internet also cut off at 11p.</p>