By Jamie
Copyright 2022 by Jamie, all rights reserved
* * * * *Harstons Chapter 2
Prefects meeting
The
next day the rest of the boys would arrive, whilst the 3rd formers were
over at the school meeting their new classmates, form masters and being
shown around the school buildings. It would be another busy day for the
prefects. Philip Davis sat in the prefect’s lounge and looked at his
team who would help him keep order during the coming year and lead the
house he desperately hoped to victory in the house cup.
The
Six as they were known sat smiling as the reality of their position of
power sunk in. They had all been lower sixth junior prefects, and
whilst that had come with certain privileges it was nothing compared to
being full school prefects. They were, within limits, lords and masters
of the house.
There were a number of decisions to be made
including allocation of duties, selection of junior prefect
nominations, the discipline code and of the course the house Swim rules.
The meeting started with a few words from Mr. Taylor, who had joined them.
"Gentlemen, congratulations on your appointments to being school
prefects and welcome back to what will be your final year at the school
of course. We all hope it will be a good year and looking at our
various years, one in which I think we stand a good chance of winning
the house cup. Now I won’t take up much of your time but just want to
say a few words before I leave it to Philip to lead you through the
rest of the meeting.
“As prefects you set the example to the
house, you are the ones the boys look up to and in that respect I
expect you to exemplars - hard working in your academic studies, team
players in sports and activities and obedient when it comes to the
school and house rules. Now I am a traditionalist I will leave the
running and discipline of the house to yourselves, be fair but firm.
Come down hard on anything such as bullying, fighting, stealing, do not
be afraid to refer serious cases of ill-discipline to me. As all of you
know, especially Mr. Roberts our esteemed Captain of Sports, I am not
averse to an occasional public punishment to drive a point home to the
house. " This provoked a round of laughter from the prefects as David
Roberts sat there blushing as he remembered his very public caning
during their 5th year.
"But as David knows, it can help
knock a boy into shape and here he sits as a prefect today. So, enjoy
your year, take your duties seriously, act without fear or favour but
please ensure your studies do not suffer as well. I always keep a close
eye on my prefects academic progress to make sure there is no drop
because of your house duties. Finally, we have in every year
individuals who don’t want to play their part in the house life, and
those who play the fool, there are a few of those in the 6th form
including your peers, do not be afraid to tackle these boys head on
despite the fact they are your own age. You are the prefects and have
my authority so make use of that for the good of the House. So, I will
leave you now and say good luck. We will have our weekly Monday morning
briefing together in my office. Over to you Philip.”
The
prefects stood as the housemaster left and then as they settled back
down, Philip Davis looked around at his team and thought to himself
"and now the fun starts".
They were the Six:
Philip Davis Head of house
David Roberts Captain of Sport and Rugby
Tom Youngman Captain of Activities (all non-sport activities such as
music, drama, community service and importantly acted as the House
Secretary)
Harry Eddington. 3rd years
Duncan Unsworth. 4th years
Alex English 5th years and Cricket Captain
They could also call on the help of 2 other Upper 6th formers - the captains of the swim and cross country teams.
Over the next term they would also be responsible for coming up with a
list of at least 6 lower sixth boys who would be nominated to the house
master as potential prefects. Their successors. But for all of them the
most interesting part of the meeting was to be their discussion on
discipline:
"I want to start as we mean to go on. I
understand that Harry has won the prize of the first whack of the term.
Well done mate. This sends out a clear message. I want you all to know,
that no one is exempt from discipline from the youngest in the house”,
he looked down at his notes, “ a boy named Adam Jennings, to any of our
fellow upper sixths, if a boy does something that warrants discipline
then that’s what will happen.
“We will hold prefects court
every Friday after dinner, and so boys will be told at morning house
meeting that they will be required to attend. Tom will be in charge of
the book, so once you’ve caught a boy pass the name and offence onto
Tom asap. As always a range of punishments will be available: house
chores with Matron, beastings ( hard physical exercise), runs and of
course corporal punishment. All cp will be dished out on Monday eves.
All of us present and usually by the prefect who reported the offence.
If an offence is serious enough we can issue a house beating in which
all 6 of us take part (2 each) or a full house thrash in front of the
Sixth form. I have to get Mr. Taylors permission for these though. A
boy has the right to an appeal to Mr. Taylor but as we all know they
rarely happen as they can backfire, can’t they Duncan?"
They all laughed, except Duncan who blushed red. In the 4th
he’d appealed against a sentence of 6 whacks and the housemaster was so
affronted by the appeal he gave him 6 of the cane, not a good move!
He squirmed in his chair and said to his mates, "not a wise move on my part! I was young and naive."
"Yes mate not the best decision you have ever made. Anyway, as long as
our punishments are seen as fair and reasonable then there should be no
problems. Can I remind you that if you dish out an informal whacking
you need to record it in the book, so we know what a boy has had to
date if he comes before the court. Okay, any thoughts or ideas?”
David Roberts the hearty captain of sports spoke, "I’ve been thinking
about what Mr. Taylor just said about house spirit Phil. We always have
guys who don’t want to take part, so how can we deal with that. I
suggest we have a special court once a half term to encourage them to
join in - a slackers court maybe? This will be where we can deal with
those small number of boys who don’t pull their weight in the house -
shirking duties, not taking part in house activities not trying
/avoiding inter house games etc.”
There were nods of approval all round.
"And maybe the court sessions could be public I mean like if there was
a 5th former before the court, the rest of the 5th form should be
present" suggested Unsworth.
And warming to the theme, "they should also be present for the punishment too" suggested English.
“Excellent idea, I shall put it to Mr. Taylor. Thanks David. It could
be a game changer as far as the house cup in concerned. Now onto the
house swims and the annual trunks question. I thought it was all a bit
weak last year under our predecessors , thoughts guys?”
“Totally agree, we need the boys to man up and stop being pussies. I
suggest naked up to and including the 5th formers” said Roberts.
“And I know that Johnson (swim team captain) wants his team to swim
naked up to the 5th, he says it binds the team together” added
Eddington.
“I agree” said Davis. “So naked up to the 5th and
then any 6th former can be required naked as part of a punishment if
they come before the court. Worth remembering gents if any of us get
into trouble all the rules applies to us too! Although we control the
house we don’t control what masters can do to us! Anything else?”
Duncan Unsworth told them he and Harry would be conducting the 4th year
puberty checks on Thursday evening at 8pm when the 4ths would be having
their first baths. The rest of the prefects would be welcome to attend.
Laughs all round. Wonder how many will be nudies still?
“We shall be quite strict in our criteria wont we Harry? Any boy who disagrees will have to prove himself.”
This brought many smiles , that would be interesting to watch such a humiliation.
“Right, I think that’s everything on the list. Have good term. We meet
weekly Sunday eve to discuss stuff and then Mr. Taylor’s meeting on
Monday morning. I have Head of Houses and Head Boy meeting with the
Headmaster on Fridays at end of school day. Our week, Monday evenings
punishments, house swims Wednesdays though not this week and Court on
Fridays.
I’ll announce all the things we’ve agreed at house
meeting tomorrow evening once everyone has arrived and settled in. Lots
to do gents, he looked at his watch. Dinner shortly with our new boys.
Be interesting to see how they shape up.”
Monday evening
After
dinner, the new boys were able to relax in the common room which they
would share with the 4th formers, the 5th had their own as did the 6th.
Amongst the 15 boys, friendships were starting to be made but it was
too early for Harry Eddington to yet determine who would be the
characters in his care. A few were quiet and reserved but most were
doing fine especially given the fact that for the majority this was
their first time away from home.
It was soon 830 pm and Eddington strode into the common room and called for quiet.
"Right lads bedtime routine. This means you have 45 minutes before
915pm when everyone must be in bed at the latest. Lights out 930.
Understood. Right make sure your stuff is in your locker and then come
upstairs.”
About ten minutes later the boys were in various
states of busyness, some quietly sorting their things others were in
the washroom, and a couple were already in bed reading. Eddington moved
between the 2 dorms and the bathroom to make sure they were getting on
with things. The boys were well behaved and there was no need for any
intervention. Soon it was 915pm. The boys were in bed, and he made it
abundantly clear that at 930pm the lights would go out and that after
then there would absolute silence.
"Any noise will mean not
just the offender getting punished but the whole dorm. We start as we
mean to go on. Quiet and sleep. Understood?"
The boys had
had a busy day and by 930pm all was quiet. Harry waited a few minutes,
before happy that all was in order, he headed down to the prefects room
to join the others for a late night drink.