THE EXPERIENCE OF BELONGING FROM A SOCIOECONOMIC LENS
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Boarding students have even more to contend with . As a boarding student you have the cost of outfitting your dorm room , you will have to travel to and from school several times a year when dorms close , and even if weekend activities are free , you may not have pocket money for snacks or for a spontaneous outing with your friends . Clearly the reality of non-tuition expenses impacts a student ’ s ability to fully integrate and enjoy the school experience . Beyond offering financial aid for tuition , schools must consider and mitigate the additional non-tuition cost of attending and fully participating in the program to create greater equity for low-income students .
Schools must also examine policies and practices to safeguard for unintended bias . For example , it is a common practice for schools to begin their college counseling process in the 11th grade . While this may be a reasonable practice for students and families who are familiar and have experience with the college process , it may not be adequate for lowincome and first-generation students whose families may not be able to assist . Beginning the college process earlier can help these students anticipate and prepare for a process that may be new to them .
A policy that allows students who drive their own cars to school the freedom to drive off campus at lunchtime , grants that group a privilege that other students who use public transportation to get to and from school do not have . This begins to create two categories : “ the haves and the have nots .” I am not suggesting that schools must do everything
“ It ’ s important for students to understand that their school microcosm includes socioeconomic diversity , and that while the majority of the world is not affluent by American capitalist standards , it is rich in culture , knowledge , and natural resources .”
to attempt to equalize the experience of students . Socioeconomic difference is , after all , a global reality with which we must all contend . However , it is important for schools to explore how these policies and practices impact their students .
Even when the institution accounts for the cost of full participation and examines their policies and practices , there is still institutional culture to consider . Perhaps the most important thing independent schools can do to raise awareness of socioeconomic diversity and create a feeling of belonging and community for all students is to not take affluence and privilege for granted and normalize discussions about socioeconomic class . It ’ s important for students to understand that their school microcosm includes socioeconomic diversity , and that while the majority of the
Page 12 Summer 2023 CSEE Connections