I also went to a British boarding school as a young child and was absolutely miserable particularly in the early years. I am only now, in my late 50s, starting to understand how damaging it was for me. Emma Parsons' bravery in facing her memories and her ability to evoke those memories through vivid and powerful writing brings me comfort. I hope it will do the same for many others
I love your introduction and feel instantly connected to what you're saying. I started boarding school age 10. I was an avid fan of Enid Blyton's 'Mallory Towers' and I was excited to be old enough to join this community of girls having midnight feasts and adventures together. My big sister - 5 years older - was already there and she told me 'you'll learn' but I had no idea what she meant. The whole experience was deeply damaging and of course normalised by everyone in my world. My siblings appear to have lived on unscathed. I know on the inside I haven't. I am very much looking forward to learning more from your experience.
Thank you so much Issy. I can't say I'm glad my words resonate with your experience because I hate the thought of you carrying that damage inside you . But I've certainly found that connecting with others really helps to address that damage.
Thank you for this, Vincent. Interestingly, the term 'boarding school survivor' was coined by Nick Duffell in his book The Making of Them - about the effects of boarding school
Emma, I'm so sorry that you had such a traumatic time at boarding school. Hidden traumas, ones never spoken of or acknowledged, can be the most difficult to face. Thank you for sharing your memories and ruminations. I'm sure they will help many people.
I agree that Emma is brave in confronting her early experience of boarding school. And particularly because a child whose parents are abroad has so little recourse to an evenhanded authority in such an institution.
I also went to a British boarding school as a young child and was absolutely miserable particularly in the early years. I am only now, in my late 50s, starting to understand how damaging it was for me. Emma Parsons' bravery in facing her memories and her ability to evoke those memories through vivid and powerful writing brings me comfort. I hope it will do the same for many others
I love your introduction and feel instantly connected to what you're saying. I started boarding school age 10. I was an avid fan of Enid Blyton's 'Mallory Towers' and I was excited to be old enough to join this community of girls having midnight feasts and adventures together. My big sister - 5 years older - was already there and she told me 'you'll learn' but I had no idea what she meant. The whole experience was deeply damaging and of course normalised by everyone in my world. My siblings appear to have lived on unscathed. I know on the inside I haven't. I am very much looking forward to learning more from your experience.
Thank you so much Issy. I can't say I'm glad my words resonate with your experience because I hate the thought of you carrying that damage inside you . But I've certainly found that connecting with others really helps to address that damage.
It's such a strange thing to do to a precious child - send them away. "That was simply what you did in those days," I've heard said.
Everyone I know who went to boarding school seems to consider themselves a kind of survivor. It sounds like such a dreadful and avoidable trauma.
Thank you for this, Vincent. Interestingly, the term 'boarding school survivor' was coined by Nick Duffell in his book The Making of Them - about the effects of boarding school
Dear Emma, That's brave and impressive. Your revealng authenticty is powerful.
You were a fine writer (I was in the same cohort), you still are. Thank you for sharing.
Best wishes
Thank you so much for this, Christopher. It’s lovely seeing the names of old friends pop into this comments section.
Emma, I'm so sorry that you had such a traumatic time at boarding school. Hidden traumas, ones never spoken of or acknowledged, can be the most difficult to face. Thank you for sharing your memories and ruminations. I'm sure they will help many people.
I agree that Emma is brave in confronting her early experience of boarding school. And particularly because a child whose parents are abroad has so little recourse to an evenhanded authority in such an institution.