Figure 1.--The approximately 5-6 year age range at prep schools cover quite a variation im cabilities and maturity. Looking after 100-200 childrn this age is quite an undertaking, especially at boarding schools. The older children seving asprefects can play a very valuable role. Likewise learning to assume responsibility is a very valuable experience. |
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 approximately 5-6 year age range at prep schools cover quite a variation im cabilities and maturity. Looking after 100-200 childrn this age is quite an undertaking, especially at boarding schools. The older children seving asprefects can play a very valuable role. Likewise learning to assume responsibility is a very valuable experience. Most find it is more of a challenge than they expected.
When I come into the changing room a monitor called Burbidge is shouting his head off saying "Be quiet!" so I say to him "Burbidge it would be better if you say 'please be quiet'." Then Burbidge says, -- "Hackett why were you talking?" Then I said "I was talking to you Mr Burbidge." Burbidge said, "No you weren't Hackett." Then I said "Yes I was." All this time I was changing and by the time I got out he couldn't say a word to me.
Simon Hackett, Great Walstead Magazine 1987.
