Figure 1.--Here we see two friends at a prep school. The boy on the left was appointed a prefect. (Notice his different tie.) The boy on the right was rather disappointed not to be selected, but hope to become a prefect in the Summer Term. One of the benefits in being selected a prefect at this school is the right to wear long trousers. |
Another important aspect of the organization of the school are prefects. Some schools have special names for these older children who are given responsibility to help enforce the school rules. Most schools use a prefect system, although some schools use different terms such as “captains” or “monitors.” One school, Beeston Hall, has both prefects and house captains. Farleigh has leaders and deputies. Malsis has heads of houses and school prefects, house prefects, monitors and junior monitors. Streete Court has monitors and dormitory captains. Selected senior students are chosen by the headmaster after consulting the senior staff. They are given this responsibility after proving themselves in the performance of other duties as they rise through the school. The system was adopted from the system of prefects which developed at the public schools. For prep school age children the system had to be adapted to the different age level.
Another important aspect of the organization of the school are prefects. Some schools have special names for these older children who are given responsibility to help enforce the school rules. Almost all the schools we visited had some form of prefect system. Normally it is a formal, well established system. A few schools have less formal prefect systems. Most schools, however, generally expect the older children to assume responsibilities commensurate with their abilities. As one school explains, “this tends to encourage good manners, courtesy and Consideration for others without excessive reliance on a formal set of rules.”
Most schools use a prefect system, although some schools use different terms such as “captains” or “monitors.” One school, Beeston Hall, has both prefects and house captains. Farleigh has leaders and deputies. Malsis has heads of houses and school prefects, house prefects, monitors and junior monitors. Streete Court has monitors and dormitory captains.
Selected senior students are chosen by the headmaster after consulting the senior staff. The prefects are usually chosen by the headmaster in consultation with his staff. The formality of the process varies from school to school. Moffats provided a good discription of the characteristics they look for in selecting a prefect, “not because of prowess at school work or games but because he or she has learned to apply common sense for the good of the community, to put self last and to act with kindness and discretion towards the younger ones . “ Most prep school headmasters will probably agree with that description.
Older students are given this responsibility after proving themselves in the performance of other duties as they rise through the school. Prefects are given a variety of duties. These duties vary from school to school. They might help manage major movements at school, such as school assemblies where the children file into a hall or other facility from their form rooms. The prefects help to make sure the other children move quickly an=d in good order. Prefects might also help to keep equipment and supplies in good order. At scome schools they help administer the tuck shop. Prefects might be called on to assist with visitors or to conduct school tours. They are expected to look out for the other students, especially the younger students. At many schools a prefect may be assifned to supervise the junior children's dormitories, especially at night after ligts out. Atvsome school a prefect might sllep in the junior dormitories.
The prefect system provides the older children training in accepting responsiblity and under the supervision of the staff share in the discipline and organization of the school. Most schools have periodic meetings, often weekly, with the prefects to discuss a variety of matters concerning the operation of the school. The tenner of these meetings varies widely, depending on the schools general outlook on the purpose of the prefect system. Some headmasters use the prefects primarily to assist the teachers in supervising the children and enforcing the school rules. Other headmasters use the prefects to obtain insigts on the concerns and views of the children. At most schools the prefects play both roles. The importance and responsibities given to the prefects differs substantially from schoo to school. The prefects system can, as one school explained if properly promoted “help maintain a happy community life based on service and personal example can.” Many schools continue to believe that the prefect system is an important part of the school program. The prefects theoretically help the teachers with a variety of tasks and assist in the supervision of the younger children. Glebe House, for example, explains that the system encourages the children to “take responsibility from an early age. However, small this may be at first, it helps to increase their self-confidence and to develop a clear sense of resonsibility to the community in which they live.” Gresham’s Junior School in Norfolk explains that the system gives “the older boys an insight into assuming responsibilities.”
The prefect system is derived from Public Schools in which during the early 18th century the headmasters at the time used the older boys or prefects to virtually ran the school. As explained in a variety of books, from Tom Brown on, the system was much abused and extrance to many early prep schools could in fact be daunting experiences for the younger children. At modern schools the responsibilities are much more limited, especially at prep schools.
The schools vary considerably as to the importance of the prefect system. At most prep schools the prefects are given little real authority, but they are not primarily honorary posts. This varies, however, from school to school. They are often of some assistance to the teachers and do provide a limited leadership oportunity for the older children. Often the prefects help supervise dormitories, changing rooms, keeping day rooms tidy, seeting in assemblies, and similar tasks. Some schools place considerable importance on the prefects. One school, Wells House, for example explains: "The actual running of the School is in the hands of the children to a degree unusual in a Preparatory School. There is a whole-hearted reliance on the honour of the boys and girls, and authority, whenever possible, is delegated to suitable children. Many hold positions of trust, such as Prefects, Heads of Forms and Dormitories, and Chapel Clerks, and a keen sense of responsibility and iniative is thereby engendered. Every pupil shares to a greater or lesser extent in the running of the School.
The job of prefect comes natuarally for some children. It is a real learning experience for many others. For many boys their selection as prefects will give their first experience in leadership. Some headmasters place greater emphasis on working with the prefects than others. The prefects can often be an important source of information to a headmaster as well as assiting with a variety of tasks. Dumpton explains that “when older boys are made prefects, much is expected of them, not just in terms of keeping order but also in concerning themselves with the welfare of the junior boys. Each prefect has a house of some 12 boys under him who are his particular concern. VI Many of the children involved see it as a valuable experience. One boy at Farleigh explained, “ ... to my suprise I became a pack deputy. I changed a great deal. I had to.” A good prefect, according to Moffats “comes midway between the child’s and the adult’s point of view and can play a special part in the management.”
The prefect system can have great bebefits both to the school and to the children appointed as prefects. Here much depends on the extent to which the headmaster and senior staff work with the prefects. We watched one Dorset headmaster, who was particularly interested in ensuring that his prefects did have a valuable leadership experience, meet with his prefects. They discussed a wide range of subjects. He gave them many valuable suggestions about leadership and a pep talk on responsibility. The boys were encouraged to speal freely about matters which concerned them and other pupils. They even discussed some of the staff, including a new teacher who was~having difficulty. Such a discussion could cause difficulties, but we thought he handled it very effectively.
The prefects at many schools give up some of their free time to carry out their responsibilities. They may help with putting the younger boys to bed or supervising lights out. At the schools where the prefects or dorm captains sleep with the younger boys, rather than their form mates. This is a considerable sacrifice for many boys. Most boys are much more interested in sleeping with their friends in a senior dorm and chatting about the days experiences or a host of other topics with their friends. Even so the position of prefect at most schools is a prestigious sought-after post.
There are a variety of rewards afforded the boys chosen to be prefects. There is most importantly the honor and prestige afforded the children selected. This also means the individuals has a chance to be head boy or girl as he or she is normally selected from the prefects. A special benefit is that the prefects are normally given a later bed time. Also at many schools in the 1970s and 80s the prefecyts were allowed to wear long trousers, a coveted honor. This is no longer an important enducement as now the older boys at prep schools almost all wear long trousers.
Schools had several different ways of identifying prefects. Of course these were small schools. All the children knew who the prefects were. The identifying items were more badges of honor, a kind of award for the children involved. We have noted metal badges. These seem particularly common in the 1950s, but we still noticed several schools using them in the 1980s. At some schools prefects wore destinctive ties. A school with a solid-colored tie, might have a stripped tie for the prefects. We also noted embroidered or colored patches that might be worn on jumpers. The head boy or girl was also normally given other destinctive ties or badges to destinguish them from a normal prefect.
