DAY - VERSUS BOARDING SCHOOLS [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
cannot agree with Mr. Stephen Gwynn's remarks about the little influence that schools and schoolmaster. have on their pupils. I am a preparatory school master and have also been, in charge of an elementary school for boys and girls. I have not always been a, schoolmaster as at one time I was in the administrative service of one of the Protectorates under the Colonial Office. I mention these facts to show that I am able to approach this question with an open mind.
Now I am not prepared to state definitely that the boarding- school is superior to the day-school, but of the boys in my .school, some are boarders and some day-boys. Of my boarders there is not one who is not better off as a boardei than he would be as a day-boy. Of my day-boys there ars only two who, in my opinion, are better off as day-boys. In the case of these two boys I am sure it would be a greal mistake for them to be boarders, because no school could supply them with what they get at home. This is apart
from any idea of expense. Both these boys will be boarders when they go to their public schools. - - From the point of view of expense day.-boys really cost
nearly as much as boarders. The expenses of a school are the permanent overhead ones such as staff, heating, lighting,
water, rent, rates, and upkeep of buildings and fields.
If there is one thing that distinguishes one school from another it is the school atmosphere, and if there is one thing more than another that affects the boys it is the school atmo- sphere. The school atmosphere depends entirely upon the head-master, his wife, and his staff, and this affects the pupils more than the influence of the home in nine cases out of ten. As a matter of fact the greatest snare that schoolmasters have to guard against is their influence on their pupils. It is apt to become undue influence.
Time after time when reading boys' essays and written answers to history and geography questions, and when listening to their talk, I have noticed the influence of the staff on the boys. Knowing the inside of a preparatory school as I now do I say definitely the one thing a parent
should be certain about is that the staff of the school has Clear views as to what is an ideal manhood. What the staff considers to be ideal manhood will influence their teaching
and will influence the opinion of their pupils.
It is well know- n how the great Dr. Arnold influenced his
pupils, and I feel sure that the majority of parents will bear witness to the influence of the staff at the preparatory school on their children. I know my little girl certainly considers her mistress knows better than I do, even in the subjects that I teach.—I am, Sir, &c., IL C. InviNG.
Hazelwood, Limpsfield, Surrey.
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