Figure 1.--Here boys after lunch are enjoying a little playful tusseling for the best vantage point on the playground. |
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The prep schools also vary as to what happens after lunch. Only about half the lunch break is actually devoted to lunch itself. Activities after lunch vary. At day schools there is often free play, very similar to the morning break. This is also the apprach at state schools and secondary schools. At boarding schools, however, there is almost always a rest period where the children return to their dormitories for a short period. This was the approach at almost all of the boarding schools we visited.
Preparatory day schools tend to give the children free play time after lunch. This is also the apprach at state schools and secondary schools. This is a major difference between the day schools and the boarding schools where the after school poeriod is a rest period. The day schools tend to allow the children to play after lunch. The asctivities tend to be essentially the same as the moning break. The boys play games and bat tennis balls in a kind of cricket game. Therevis also a not of licking around a foot ball. We note a lot of chasing around and a variety of contests, both individual and group activities like horse and rider. There is little organized play. Some boys are happy to chase with friends or chase them around play grounds. At public (secondary) scools pick up games of futball or other sports are more common.
Preparatory boading schools tend to have a rest period for the children. Most prep schools have a rest period after lunch for about 15-20 minutes. This was the approach at almost all of the boarding schools we visited. Here regulations vary from school to school. Most schools insist that this be qwuiet time. Some schools are very strict. The general pattern is that the children must be in their dormitories laying down on their beds. This is not a universal approach, but it is by far the most common. Some children take a nap. Many children use the time to read books, but this is not required. It is left up to each boy or girl. At some schools the children can use the time more flexibly such as practice their musical instruments. Some children find the imposed quiet time difficult, but it becomes an accepted part of the daily routine.
