Figure 1.--All prep schools have a required rest period after lunch. At many schools the children go back to their dormitories where they rest on thei beds. Most use the time to do a little reading. At this school there was a required reading period. This boy had a favorite spot under the billiard table. |
The afternnon program begins with lunch. More classes usually run until about 1:00 pm. Lunch is usually served about 1:00 pm after which there is a quiet or rest period. Some schools require the children to return to their dorms and nap (usually an optimistic goal) or quietly read. Some children practice their instruments during this period. A few schools permit the children to quietly play in their dorms or even play outside. Afternoons are devoted to classes and games. Many schools schedule 2 or 3 afternoons a week entirely for games, either instruction or matches with other schools. If a child is not involved in a school match, he or she may have free time or be able to participate in clubs or activities. Many schools have special afternoon or evening schedules once or twice a week for club and other activities. Some schools provide a light tea (snack) in the afternoon. Some schools schedule prep before dinner and others after dinner. The day boys usually go home after the afternoon prep, although the younger boys go home earlier. At a typical school, for the first two years, the day finishes at about 3:30 pm. For the rest of the school, the day might finish at about 4:00 pm. Here there are variations from school to school. There are also often variations within the week. At one school the children on Monday and Wednesday have extended games go to playing fields for games and are back at School at 3:30 pm or 4:30 pm for the older boys. There are normally days such as Tuesdays and Thursdays where the afternoon after classes is devoted to activities or clubs rather than games. For the older boys, the last class of the day is normally Prep. Here the children can start work on their homework under supervised conditions. There are also normally provision for supervising the younger children who can not be picked up when their classes end. This is especially convenient to parents who both work or who have an older boy at the school. Getting the day boys off used to be a small matter, but as fewer boys board, this has become a major opeation at many schools.
The asfternnon program begins with lunch. More classes usually run until about 1:00 pm. Lunch arrangements varied. Boarding schools had dining rooms and served cooked lunches. Lunch is usually served about 1:00 pm. At most schools the children help with the serving and clean up. Seating arrangement varied, but almost always was determined by the school. Often one of the maters or older boys (prefects) sat with the yonger children. Different schools had various arrangements. At one schoo the children on a rotating basis sat at the headmasters table and each child was epected to have something to add to the conversation. The situation at day schools was more varied. Some had dining rooms. The children at others brought box lunches from home. In nice weather they would commnly eat outside in little picnics. Here etiquitte and the proprities varied widely. In ibclemate weather they would eat indoors. There were variations from school to school as to how this was handfled. Mixed boarding/day schools had various arrangements, usually depending on the relative importance of the different sections.
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. 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.
There are also afternoon classes, but much of the afternoon is often devoted to non-academic persuits. Afternoons are often devoted to classes and games. This varies greatly from school to school. Often there are different afternoon schedules on different days. Thus the number of afternoon classes varies from day to day. Generally at prep schools the morning class scedule is fairly constant with two morning classes, morning break, and two more morning classes. The subjects might change, but the generally pattern is fairly constant. The afternoon schedule is much more varied with games often taken up much of the program or a variety of different activities programs. The normal pattern is to have a different schedule for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and for Tuesday and Thursday.
Many schools schedule 2 or 3 afternoons a week entirely for games, either instruction or matches with other schools. If a child is not involved in a school match, he or she may have free time or be able to participate in clubs or activities.
Many schools have special afternoon or evening schedules once or twice a week for club and other activities. >br>
The children at many prep schools have some free time in the afternoon. This varies from school to school and the day. There are also variations seasonally as there is more daylight in the summer term. Usually the activities are small group passtimes, but sometimes the children may want a little time by themselves. Here they read a book, catch up on a class assignment, or pravctice a musical instrument. The group activities involved vary according to the amount of time involved. Often the younger children will want to play indoor or outdoor games, depending on the weather and personal interests. At many schools the younger boys will work on their dens or forts. Older boys might practice sports. Cricket batting is quite common. They may also play pick up games. Sometimes their is time for sports like tennis. During the summer term, the swimming pool mmay be opened. Some will use the time to care for the small animals that some schools allow the children to keep. The children might use the play ground faculilities. Some schools have quite elaborate facilities or even obstacle courses. Other facilities like computers may also be available.
Some schools provide a light tea (snack) in the afternoon.
Some schools schedule prep before dinner and others after dinner. For the older boys, the last class of the day is normally Prep. Here the children can start work on their homework under supervised conditions.
Children at day schools go home on a staggered schedule. The younger children go home soon than the older ones. Most boarding schools now also have day children. The day boys usually go home after the afternoon prep, although the younger boys go home earlier. At a typical school, for the first two years, the day finishes at about 3:30 pm. For the rest of the school, the day might finish at about 4:00 pm. There are also normally provision for supervising the younger children who can not be picked up when their classes end. This is especially convenient to parents who both work or who have an older boy at the school. Getting the day boys off used to be a small matter, but as fewer boys board, this has become a major opeation at many schools. While the children usually dresses informally in shorts asnd sweaters while at school, when preparing to go home, they put on their blazers and in some cases caps. Often wile at school they may take their ties off fter classess, but put them back on to go home. Most schools want the children to look smart when going home, believing this reflects on the image of the school..
Here there are variations from school to school. There are also often variations within the week. At one school the children on Monday and Wednesday have extended games go to playing fields for games and are back at School at 3:30 pm or 4:30 pm for the older boys. There are normally days such as Tuesdays and Thursdays where the afternoon after classes is devoted to activities or clubs rather than games.
