Figure 1.--
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Figure 1.-- |
Food is another matter that would surprise many observers. Some might assume that the fare at expensive independent schools would be quite elaborate. Other observers already sceptical about British cuisine wonder what the English are capable of producing in insituational settings.
School meals vary enormously from school to school. Most schools plan their own meals, often under the supervision of the headmaster's wife or housekeeper. Often boarding schools produce fresh fruit and produce in their own gardens. A few schools contract a cattering company. Some schools provide what most Americans would view as balance diet, attractively presented. But school fare in most of the British schools would be viewed with some concern by many American parents, hardly the image of pampered private school children prevalent in many quarters. Of course institutional fare never compares to mum's cooking. And of course Brirish cooking is not high on most assessments of national Fare. Have you ever noticed than in America where there are restaurants offering virtually any national fare from Afgahn to Somalian that there is not one English restaurant--at least that I know of. Thus when you combine the two--English institutional cooking--be prepared. We suspect that even President Reagan (who wanted catchup to count as a vegetable in American school lunches) would be concerned. Often meals are long in potatoes and other starchy foods. Especially suprising, only a few schools offer milk to the children.
Schools meals usually consist of a cooked breakfast, lunch, and tea. Some schools also provide bisquits or rolls and a drink at mid-morning and a snack supper.
School meals play an important social role at many schools and allow for social interactions. At many schools, the meals are some of the few occasions during the school day that all of the children and teachers sit down together. Grace is always said before the children sit. We have always been impressed with the children we shared meals with. Many are quite competent conversationalists and have enjoyed the opportunity to candildly share all kinds of information about their school. Almost always their manners, with guests, are impecable and they make sure you are offered a glass of water are provided with the necessary condiments. During the meal the children entusiastically share their experiences with their friends. Sometimes they become a little too enthusiastic and a bell has to be rung to remind them to speak a bit more quietly. After the meal announcements are made which usually relate to afternoon activities, but often various awards and accomplishments are also announced along with detentions and group admonishments. Some schools have to eat two sittings, but this is realitvely rare. Only a few schools had cafeterial-styple food where the children had some flexability about time and food selection.
The seating system often reflects a great deal about the school culture. The most common system is for the headmaster to sit at the main table, often raised or by a large window, surounded by the head boy or girl and the prefects. The other children often sit by forms usually with a teacher at each table to serve the food and to ensure a modicum of order. Many schools encourage the masters to promote good manners and to help the children develop conversational skills. At some schools the prefects sit at each junior table to assist the masters. A few larger schools such as Clifton College in Avon with particularly strong house systems provide separate dining facilities for each house. At virtually all the schools, the children are required to clean up the table and stack the plates and silver wear.
Social interaction at meals also varies widely from school to school. At many schools the children are allowed to speak freely, as long as the decibile level does not reach an unendurable creshendo. Other schools have periods either at the beginning of the meal or toward the end when the children are not allowed to talk among themselves to ensure that everyone finishes in the alloted time. One rather strict school in ??? did not allow the children to talk at all during the meal. At most schools the children sit with their form mates at the same table during a term. Some schools alow the children to bring cakes and cookies occasionally to be shared at that table. Most schools, however, discourage the children from bringing food from home other than a birthday cake. One head master at a ???? school had a particularly insightful system. The teachers sat at the same table each day, but the children rotated. Thus each child would periodically at least once each term sit next to the head. On this ocassion he or she was expected to raise at least one interesting topic of conversation.
A small number of American children are often found at British preparatory schools. The cuisine at the schools often proves to be one of the most difficult adjustments to make. "They keep giving me tea," complained Michael, a chubby little 11-year old from California. "We get tea at breakfast, lunch, and dinner and even for snacks. I don't even like tea!" Other English delecacies such as beans on toast, fried bread (not to be confused with French toast--the English reall mean fried bread), meat pies, bangers and mash, and other dishes have required some adjustment for the colonial scholar. I remember one American boy eyed me warily during lunch to determine my reaction to a suspicious looking meat pie served with mashed potatoes, but no green vegetables which proved to be the fare of the day.
Most schools sharply curtail candy and snack food and especially soft drinks. Generally the school have a tuck shop where the children are allowed to spend a small amount of money once or twice a week for candy. I'm not sure just what the derivation of the term "tuck" meaning candy and sweets is. It is always a realatively small amount of money and always done on account as the children are rarely allowed to have actual money. As part of the ethos of the school most are careful to ensure that the children all have about the same amount of money credited to their account. [Patrick: What are some of the popular candies?] Mostly the tuck shops are stocked with various kinds of penny candies and inexpensive bars. Here the children make carefully reasoned choices. Most of the children go for the larger, longer lasting items rather than a relatively expensive chocolate bar that might be quickly eaten up an consume an entire weeks allounance.
Limitations on snacks and candies are are one of the many adjustments that the children have to make. Almost all the children are acustomed to casual access to a well stocked refrigerator. As a result, many schools offer candy bars and other prised snacks as special awards for academic or athletic performance. At one Yorkshire school the authors watched a group of children line up for the Mars bars they earned. Even the older 13-year olds in the group were quite excited about the prospect of savoring such a rare treat which at home they probably wouldn't have thought about.
Boarders usually have to celebrate their birthdays at school. Most schools encourage small parties. A cake is ordered or provifded by the school and not infrequently mom shows up with a home-baked cake. The children are allowed to invite a few close friends to share their cake.
