Figure 1.--.
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Figure 1.--. |
Discipline is often the principal difference between private and state schools in Britain, the private schools recognize the importance of discipline and insist on basic discipline statndards. There are of course many fine state schools and teachers which recognize this. Unfortunately teachers in the state school often are forced to devote inordinate efforts to the problem of discipline and a few unruly students, often without the adequate support of the school administration. This detracts from the effort on academics. These sort of problems and detractions are for the most part avoided at prep schools and the masters there can devote their efforts to the learning process.
At the recent I.A.P.S. conference at Cambridge Lord Justice Lawton voiced a very real feeling when he attributed the increase in juvenile crime to "the abandonment of moral standards handed down through the Christian religion and western culture, and a reluctance to impose discipline." For too long we have listened to psychiatrists and sociologists and lawyers, who have repeatedly cried for leniency. He went on to say, "Id and whena new Edward Gibbons comes to write the Decline and Fall of the British Empire, he might well entitle the last chapter 'The age of Compassionate Fools.'" Surely our biggest task today is for the school and the home to support each other in instilling these moral standards from an early age and imposing the necessary discipline promptly. This is made the more difficult for all of us all by the availability od the sensational and the violent in the press and on the screen. On the other hand and over-sheltered life is equally undesirable as when the child emerges from the protected environment he finds it difficult to adapt to the harsher acpects of society. A school such as ours can pride itself on its relaxed and happy atmosphere, as long as the anti-social behaviour does not pass unnoticed, and children of this age do mind missing free time. The incentive, however, must still be there to encourage thoughtful and unselfih behaviour. We must give ourselves time both to punish and encourage, At least let us not be accused of being compasionate fools.
Beaudesert Park Magazine, Autumn 1978.
No 'home tuck" is to be brought back to Bramcote, there are adequate supplies of tuck here. ... please do not bring penknives to school. ... only boys of 12 years and above are allowed to use the pool table. -- Jonathan Vaughan, 11.5
We have a uniform at this school. ... rules are generally made for te safety of the boys and staff and they work to everyone's advantage most of the time. ... radios and cassetts only to be played in free time -- and not too loudly. Gavin Walker, 11.1
Certain areas of the school are out of bounds. Richard Wilson, 11.1
After getting washed or having a shower, fold up your clothes, o to the lavatory and then read until your dormitory is closed down. ... get up hen the risung bell goes in the morning, have a wash, make your own bed. Timothy Snipe, 11.4
Do not do anything dangerous like skateboarding indoors or making slides on the ice if it's a pathway. ... no swearing or throwing stones. Richard Hunt, 10.1
Only reading and board games are allowed in the library. Jeremy Hewlett, 11.9
The Bramcote Magazine, Autumn 1978
