Educational Psychologist Talks About The Psychology of Co-Ed Boarding | AEM #88 Morag Edwards | Isobel Ross

An Evolving Man Podcast

What does an educational psychologist who has spent 30 years in this profession feel about boarding schools?

And what were her own experiences of boarding school like?

Today my guest shares her personal and professional experiences of boarding especially co-educational boarding.

What does attachment theory think of residential institutions?

And have boarding schools changed? Are children getting good educations in these institutions?

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Morag Edwards has spent over 30 years as an educational psychologist and uses her knowledge of child development to shape fictional characters in both historical and contemporary fiction. She is the best-selling author of several books including her recent autobiography about her boarding school upbringing called, Almost Boys which is published under her pen name, Isobel Ross.

Questions for Morag:

1. I would love for you to share a little of your journey. How did you get into the work you now do?
2. What drew you to writing your experiences of boarding school down? How has it been for you once the book was released?
3. Some areas I would love to explore (we will not be able to get round to all the topics...):
   1. How parents of boarding school children might “be uncomfortable living with a child's emotions.” (P.17)
   2. Neglect – “no one had responsibility for us apart from each other.”the lack (P.28)
   3. Boarding school and broken attachments (P32-36) (P.129)
   4. “No matter how securely attached to their parents, all children will feel homesick when they arrive at BS and must grieve according to their pre-existing attachment style.” (P.38)
   5. We are told that more securely attached children fair better at boarding school. Do you feel this is the case? (P.38)
   6. The separation between home and school and how that was for you. (P.43) (P.72?
   7. Crushing our feelings/ dissociation (P.46)(P.69) (P.75)
   8. Being told: “The only reason you're here is because your parents don't love you.” (P.48)
   9. Petty rules (P.50)
   10. The missing element of child development: “I propose that the missing element is a parent's capacity to know the child's mind.” (P.54-55) Please expand.
   11. Neglect: “Neglect of indifference in our earliest years can mean a child remains stuck with a developmentally young way of expressing emotions.” (P.57)
   12. “Our 'home' could never be a place of safety or relaxation.” (P.74)
   13. Bullying (P.82) (P.116)
   14. How the system has not changed (P.96) (P.107) (P.241)
   15. Sexual bullying and Fisherman (P.115-130)

#boardingschool #coedboarding #boardingschoolsyndrome #attachmenttheory #trauma

To purchase Morag's book please visit: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Almost-Boys-Psychology-Co-ed-Boarding-ebook/dp/B0CRLF8M6L/ref=sr_1_fkmr3_1?crid=29V35KQ0GWY2Z&keywords=isabel+ross+almost+boys&qid=1706967306&sprefix=isabel+ross+almost+boys%2Caps%2C85&sr=8-1-fkmr3

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Piers is an author and a men's transformational coach and therapist who works mainly with trauma, boarding school issues, addictions and relationship problems.

He also runs online men's groups for ex-boarders, retreats and a podcast called An Evolving Man.

He is also the author of How to Survive and Thrive in Challenging Times. To purchase Piers first book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Survive-Thrive-Challenging-Times/dp/B088T5L251/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=piers+cross&qid=1609869608&sr=8-1

For more videos please visit: http://youtube.com/pierscross

For FB: https://www.facebook.com/pierscrosspublic

For Piers' website and a free training How To Find Peace In Everyday Life: https://www.piers-cross.com/community

Many blessings,
Piers Cross
http://piers-cross.com/