Figure 1.--Here we see some of the older boys going over the results of a science experiment in the lab. This is the boys' evening prep period and as the science master is monitoring the prep period, the boys are using the opportunity to go over some aspects of the experiment that were rather complicated. |
The evening is probably the most varied part of the school program. Dinner is usually about 5:30pm or 6:00pm. The amount of time devoted to prep varies. Some schools schedule considerable prep in the evening while other deal with prep mostly in the afternoon. This varies by school. Some school place a much greater emphasis and devote more time to it than other schools. This also varies by age group. After Prep the children are free to amuse themselves until their bed bells go. At schools emphasizing prep this may be a short period. Many schools have a relatively short prep period, thus providing time for free play or various activities. The children amuse themselves with computers and games or even play in the sports hall/gymnasium before going to bed. During the summer term when days are longer, schools often encourage outdoor activities. Sometimes the prep schedule is adjusted for clubs and activities or visiting speakers. The bed times are staggered, depending on the child’s age, but the senior bell usually rings at about 8:00pm. After washing and jumping into bed, most schools allow the children to have a quiet read, rather than as explained at one school “knocking the bloke next door in the head with a pillow, before lights out . The prefects are usually allowed a little extra time as a special privilege, but by 8:45 lights are usually out at most schools.
Dinner is usually about 5:30pm or 6:00pm.
Most schools strictly restrict access to television. The children are encouraged as much as possible to engage in outdoor activities, weather permitting. Even on rainy days schools do not generallu allow the children to watch television. There are some exceptions. While we were visiting in the 1980s a very popular science fiction show was running and the headmaster let the boys watch that every week. I forget the name now, but will soon come to me. One more common use of television was to allow the children to watch the evening news. Often this was an optional activity in the evening.
Prep is a supervised session in which the children work on class assignments. One advantage of boarding is that the children can often ask the supervising teacher questions they may have about the assignments. Of course for the older students, the prep superviser may not be able to help with some subjects, but often they can. In some cases they may be the teacher who set the prep. The amount of time devoted to prep varies. Some schools schedule considerable prep in the evening while other deal with prep mostly in the afternoon. This varies by school. Some school place a much greater emphasis and devote more time to it than other schools. This also varies by age group.
After prep the children are normally free to amuse themselves until their bed bells go. At schools emphasizing prep this may be a short period. Many schools have a relatively short prep period, thus providing time for free play or various activities. During the Winter term, indoor activities are prevalent. The children amuse themselves with computers and games or even play in the sports hall/gymnasium before going to bed. The short time period rather determines what games can be played. Relatively short games like chess can be played, but more elaborate board games are a little more difficult because of the short time period. Some children may work on a school project. Pthers may practice their instruments. Often it is an opprtunity for feieends to compare notes. During the summer term when days are longer, schools often encourage outdoor activities. Many schools vary the schedule seasonally to allow more free time in the Summer term where there is more evening daylight.
Sometimes the prep schedule is adjusted for clubs and activities or some special event like visiting speakers. Often clubs/activities are done in the afternoon, but some schools persue them in the evening. They may occur during prep/free time on certain days. Here there are substantial differences from school to school.
The bed times are staggered, depending on the child’s age, The older boys get a little more free time before going to bed in the evening. Generally schools begin putting the juniors to bed about 7:00 pm. The senior bell usually rings at about 8:00pm. Prefects are often given a little extra time. After washing and jumping into bed, most schools allow the children to have a quiet read, rather than as explained at one school “knocking the bloke next door in the head with a pillow, before lights out . The prefects are usually allowed a little extra time as a special privilege, but by 8:45 lights are usually out at most schools. This is often a major difference between the boarders and day children. It is quite common for children at home to have a later bed time and parents vary as to how strictly they enforce it.
