1972 School Magazine

Joan Pechey, Miss Boarding House, I9l2,fellthat the gap was mainly caused by Boarders and Daygirls not having a chance to get to know each other well enough. Although she thought the problem was not a serious one, she agreed that there could definitely be more mixing between the two goups. In general, the girls felt that there were some advantages of being a boarder and that alihough the Boarder/Daygirl relationship could be better, there was no great division between the two.

Some boarders were questioned on their opinions and attitudes to boarding Life and to the Day School. The following questions were asked:- (l) What do you think are the advantages ofbeing a boarder? (2) Why do you think boarders are such a self-contained group keeping to themselves even in the Day School? (3) (Referring to question (2)) Is this a good thing? Jenny Eroadbent, one of our head boarders and Boarders' House Sports Captain, thought the main advantage of being a boarder was learning to live away from home and be independent. Jane Durbidge, also a head boarder, and Boarders' F{ouse official, agreed with and enlarged upon Jenny's statement. Jane feels that it is very necessary to mix with peopie, especially ones from different places and walks of life. She feels that boarding life is excellent for teaching people to live together in harmony. Jenny Oswin, "Junior Princess" in the Miss Boarding Ftrouse competition, pointed out that another advantage was that boarders had the use of sporting facilities (tennis courts,' swimming pool) all day and over the weekends. Commenting on the second and third questions, Debbie Goakes, Junior Sports Captain for Boarders' Flouse, said that it was natural for "birds of a feather to flock together" and she didn't think this was a particularly bad thing. Souraya Mirob, Boarders' F{ouse Captain, agreed that it was natural for boarders to keep together- living together seven days a week, and having Eoarders' Flouse as a common tie-but she did not think it was a good thing. F{owever, she and .}ane agreed that the division was not really very large or noticeable within the school.

Fage Thirty-Four