DISCIPLINE AT SCHOOL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 73, 15 January 1947, Page 4

DISCIPLINE AT SCHOOL

HEAD BOY WANTS FAGGING The head boy of one of the six Houses at Westminster School has reported to his Housemaster that he cannot maintain good order and discipline unless the fagging system is restored. Fagging, which sometimes gives prefects the right to administer corporal punishment, was abolished in this House 12 months ago on the suggestion of the Housemaster, who wanted to see what would happen without it. The deputy Headmaster of the School, Mr D. C. Simpson, told a reporter: “It is true that the head boy, after consulting other senior boys, is urging that fagging should come back, but no decision can be made until the return of the Headmaster, Dr. J. T. Christie, who is ill.” The Head Boy has given figures comparing the discipline of the other five Houses, where fagging continues, with that of his own House. Younger boys of the House concerned, who will be fags if the experiment is abandoned, said that they are the envy of boys in the other Houses, and that they will ask that the system should not be brought back. Said a governor of the school, who is an old boy: “I was a fag at Westminster and I was often smacked. Fagging is an essential part of the teaching of service, and personally I agree with the head boy.” Westminster School, also known as St. Peter’s College, was refounded by Queen Elizabeth in 1561, but dates back to 1339.