Figure 1.--Model building was a popular activity for the boys. Here we see some Scottish boys working on gliders. These were actual functional balsa kits to make gliders. |
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We found children at preparatory schools engaged in a wide range of activities beyond the academic program. Many activities were conducted at most schools. Other activities were conducted at only a few schools. Each school had its own unique range of activities and approasch to those activities. MOst schools scheduled days for clubs or occupations. Most schools offered some choice so the children could persue their interests, but this varied from school. The size of the school was a factor here. Also the schools generally incouraged the children to at least try new and different activities. Often children will only want to persue familiar activities or activities for which they already have some skills. For relatively small schools, most prep schools offered an impressive range of activities. A variety of factors affected the particular mix of activities offered. The interests of the children were similar at the different schools. Thus an important factor was the interests and skills of the staff.
There is a far greater attention to the perfirming arts at the modern prep school. They are worked into the program in a number of ways. The drama program varies widely from school to school. There are often classroom activities involving drama for the younger children. For the most pasrt, however, it is more of a recreatiojnal activity after class. Some schools have skit performances. There may be a skirt presentstion to the school \, sometimes with parents invited. Almost all schools do a school play at least once a year. These are major productions which vary from Shakespeare to Broadway musicals. This is a little tricky as they want play in which there are lots of child parts. "Oliver" and "Annie" of course have lots of of children, but onlu\y boys on "Oliver" and girls in "Annie". Two very popular musucals are "Oklahoma" and "Huys and Dolls". The plays have the attraction of being multi-disciple events, involvc\ving art, dance, and music. The children in particulsr enjoy all the art work needed for the sets.
Model building was an especially popular activity for the boys. We noted few girls interested in midels. Many schools had special model rooms where items like glue and paint were stored and the children could work without fearing of damaging furniture. Other schools had general purpose roms. Often the boys worked on plastic kits, normally either planes or cars. There were a wide range of model kits available for the boys to choose from/ They might bring kits from home or allowed to putchase kits at school. Here we see some Scottish boys working on gliders (figure 1). These were actual functional balsa kits to make gliders. More commonly we saw prep children working on plastic kits.
Television is not a major activity at the prep schools. The schools of course have television, but the usage is restricted. They are used for instructional purposes in the classroom. Here there are educational broadcasts in Britain as well as instructional videos. Both the schools and individual teachers can build up libraries of instructionl videos. When we visited, CDs were not yet in use. Recreational TV usage is very resticted. The children are encouraged to engagfe in other activities. At one school,the boys as a treat were allowed to see a popular science fiction show that aited before bedtime. But for the most part the TVs were used for news broadcasts and major sports events. Over the weekend a movie video was often shown. Often there was a good eal of discussion as to what movie to be seen.
Youth groups primarily Cubs in the prep schools and Scouts in the public (private secondary) schools were once a major activuties for the boys. Girls schools had Brownirs and Guides. This tradition has declined in the schools in recent years. That is not to bsay that quite a number of schools do not have Cub Packs abnd iother units. Somne do, but they are not nearly as common as they once were. We are not entirely sure just why this has occurred. We think to aarge extent it mirrors a compsrable trend in Brirish society. Children now have many more options for after school activities. Thus youh groups are not as popular as they once were. Another problem is beaureacracy. There is now a lot of paperwork and administrative time necessary to orh\ganiza and maintain Cub Packs nd other units. A number of headmastes we spoke with mentioned this problem. Some schools have made the effort to comply. Other schools as an alternstive have organized a program in volving camping and outdoor activities without any formal attachment to the British Scouting association.
