Never Too Late To Be Pleasantly Surprised!
After eighteen years supporting boys in a residential boarding environment I had up until last year, only experienced a horizontal system, a system of boarding across one age group. Shore accommodates boarders in a vertical system. School House for example has seventy boys living in the house, ranging from Year 7 up to Year 12.
As I write this, I am forced to self-reflect and it has become crystal clear, that I have a lot to learn. I have, in the past, fallen victim to the notion that if one is told often enough, that something is true, one tends to believe it. This has been my experience with the horizontal boarding system. However, when you step out of that comfort zone and immerse yourself in a different world, the fog lifts and you can’t believe how narrow minded you have been towards a system which offers so much.
After my epiphany and with my short experience so far at Shore, I can unequivocally debunk some myths in realisation to boarding systems:
- The Horizontal system allows House staff to know the boys better. – The system doesn’t promote a better understanding of the boys. This depends on the individual staff members. Anyone who is genuine in ‘walking’ with the boys and who is ‘present’, will succeed in either system.
- The Horizontal system allows you to target individuals better – This is not true. I have been impressed with the way that the older boys in School House have taken ownership of acting as big brothers. Although as Housemaster I appreciate the work of the House staff, the older boys add another dimension, ensuring that there are always other eyes looking out for the younger ones. It’s also comforting for the younger boys to communicate with older boys throughout the school day.
- Horizontal system negates bullying from older boys – Nonsense! Back in the 1980’s when I was a boarder, what is now called pastoral care did not exist. We did the right thing (most of the time) because we would get punished, not because it was the right thing to do. I remember if an older boy asked for a chip you very quickly handed over the whole packet! Today as the staff of the House have become more understanding and constantly demonstrate empathy to the boys, the boarders have followed with their relationships with each other. The interaction between the older and younger boys in School House is so genuine, it now becomes a constant reminder that we as adults can learn much from the boys around us.
- The Vertical system creates a divide between boarders and day boys – I have seen no evidence of this at Shore. Every day boarders take their lunch and eat it with the day boys. There is also a tremendous program in place where younger boarders are linked with city host families. Boarders are constantly taking leave with their city host and during the holidays there are plenty of city folk enjoying their share of country hospitality. I know the Weston’s have been a half-way house out west for a number of city folk.
We just finished to ‘Speech off’ with all the Yr 11’s gosling for a podium finish for the 2020 ‘Golden Boots’. while I stood there listening, I scanned the all the residence of School House (1.5metres apart) listening intently to the presentations…… And all I could think was, ‘How good is this!’
Darren Junee
