Figure 1.--After lunch there is a quiet or rest period in all the schoolsd we visited. Here there were variations from school to school. Most schools require the children to return to their dorms and nap (usually an optimistic goal) or quietly read. Most children used the time to do a little reading. |
After lunch there is a quiet or rest period in all the schools we visited. Here there were variations from school to school. Here there were often variatios between day schools and boarding schools. Some day schools made the lunch period into a free time period. After lunch the children were allowed outside for free time or recreation. Many used the times for a variety of games. Other day schools had a quiet period in which the children were normally expected to read. Most boarding schools requires the children to return to their dorms and nap (usually an optimistic goal) or quietly read. Most children used the time to do a little reading. Not all of the children read, but the vast majority do. Some actually nap, but not very many. Some schools had the children read in groups. This is most common in day schools or the day students at boarding schools. Most part the children returned to their dorms aand layed down on their beds. Some children were allowed to practice their instruments during this period. A few schools permit the children to quietly play in their dorms or even play outside, but this option is much less common than having the children return to their dorms and lay down on their beds. Computer games appeared in the 1980s, but most schools discouraged their use during rest period. Many children are anxious to get on with the day's activities, especially because there often are sports or other activity programs in the afternoon. Other children seem to enjoy the brief pause in the day's actvities and a chance to do a little quiet reading.
Some day schools made the lunch period into a free time period. After lunch the children were allowed outside for free time or recreation. Many used the times for a variety of games. Here there were sports, but in many cases more informal play was often more common with the younger students. Other day schools used the approasch more common at boarding schools. had a quiet period in which the children were normally expected to read. This was especially common at prep day schools. The independent schools or colleges with student bodies including junior and senior (secondary sections) were more varied. Of course the season and the weather were factors here. Arrangements often had to be made inside for the children on cold or imclemnate days. There were also variastions depending on the age of the students. The younger students might be more closely superbised while the older students rather much lefy=t to their own devices for lunch.
Most boarding schools require the children to return to their dorms and nap (usually an optimistic goal) or quietly read. Most children used the time to do a little reading. Not all of the children read, but the vast majority do. Others just lay down and day dream a little. Some actually nap, but not very many. The children are, however, quiet. Rarely do they hsve to be cautioned. Some schools had the children read in groups. This is most common in day schools or the day students at boarding schools. Most part the children returned to their dorms aand layed down on their beds. Some children were allowed to practice their instruments during this period. A few schools permit the children to quietly play in their dorms or even play outside, but this option is much less common than having the children return to their dorms and lay down on their beds. Computer games appeared in the 1980s, but most schools discouraged their use during rest period. Many children are anxious to get on with the day's activities, especially because there often are sports or other activity programs in the afternoon. Other children seem to enjoy the brief pause in the day's actvities and a chance to do a little quiet reading.
Prep schools used to be clearly differentiated between boarding and day schools. Day schools obviously did not take boarders. Many boarding schools did not take day children. Others accepted a few day children. There was a concern that day children would disrupt the program. This has changed significantly. Many parents are increasingly reluctant to board younger children. Urban sprawl and the fmily car now mean that more families can now manage getting the children to and from school. The result is that many boarding schools now have quite a number of say children. Usually it is not really possivle to tell who the dy and boarding hildren are. This is apparant during the rest period. he day children do not have dormotories where they can lay down and or read. Often a clssroom is set aside for them.
