British Preparatory Schools Photo Essays: Fine Arts


Figure 1.--Prep schools at one time had a decided focus on sports. At most schools sports are still important. The overall program is now more diverse with much more attention to both academics and the fine arts. This caries from school to school, but most of the at many schools at least attemo individual intrument instruction.  

Schools vary in the attention given to the fine arts. Prep schools until after world War II had a strong games (sports) focus with only limited attention to the fine arts. The arts did not fit into the public school ethos at the time. In fact many children who were not sports-oriented did not fit in and often did not enjoy their school years. There are many indiviual memoirs whuch reflect this. At most modern schools threre has been an increase in the attention given to the arts. School fine arts programs are persued both within and outside the classroom. Much of the art work is done in the classroom or art room. The art class is a favorite of many children permitting all kinds of hands own activities.Music, drama, and dance is persued more variously.

Overview

Schools vary in the attention given to the fine arts. Prep schools until after world War II had a strong games (sports) focus with only limited attention to the fine arts. The arts did not fit into the public school ethos at the time. In fact many children who were not sports-oriented did not fit in and often did not enjoy their school years. There are many indiviual memoirs whuch reflect this. At most modern schools threre has been an increase in the attention given to the arts. School fine arts programs are persued both within and outside the classroom. We suspect that many of the adults who describe in their menoirs how much they hated their schools would be much happier at modern prep schools.

Individual Arts Discipline

The attentin given to the individual arts varies. Much of the art work is done in the classroom or art room. The art class is a favorite of many children permitting all kinds of hands own activities. Music, drama, and dance is persued more variously. There has always been a tradition of drama reflected in the school play. The attention on music has greatly increased in recent years. Quite a number of children at most schools now take individual music tradition in addition to the standard music curriculum. The dance program is more varried. It tends to be limited at mant boys' schools, but more attention is given to it at girls' and coed schools.







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