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Housemasters in a Boarding School

Housemasters in a Boarding School, themselves took responsibility for building character and physical well-being of students.

The position of Housemaster was such that he admitted and expelled students independent of the Head of School. Some chose to teach and others preferred a pre-lunch pink gin.

The Housemasters appointed Prefects and Monitors to ensure discipline. These names are Roman military and administrative terms. However at Gordostoun in Scotland Kurt Hahn, adopted the Greek Platonic terminology of Guardian and Helpers.

Today the roles of these children in leadership roles has evolved and they are more guardians and mentors instead of disciplinarian prefects. They are appointed to look after sport, community service, cultural activities and intellectual activities like debating and organising events like MUNs, cultural shows, fairs and other school events.

Boarding schools have become nurseries of leadership training for all round development, confidence building and are centres of secularism, intercultural understanding, democracy and it is here that friendships are made for life.

It is at these schools that old students are always welcome, long after the have graduated, because these are their second homes.

Dr Sumer B Singh

Hony Member IPSC, Round Square and AFS Board Member and

Former Headmaster, The Lawrence School Sanawar and Principal Daly College, Indore