Traditions, traditions, traditions....
Great Britain is a country with a long history. During the centuries unique English customs and traditions were being formed. They concerned educational system as well. In many educational institutions of the country not only regulations, but traditions are observed.
They can be divided into two categories: 1. Traditions and ceremonies that every school has; 2. Customs that are observed only in certain schools.
All of them are unique and interesting. Let is consider the most fascinating traditions
T HE
FIRST TRADITION GAMES BY THE WALL ”
– “E TON
It is of the most famous traditions of privileged private schools. It is played on a five-meter plot of land, known as "Furrow", near a brick wall on the territory of the college. There are two teams: Royal scholarship holders and the rest students of the game is towing, having the ball to the far end of the wall.
You can touch the boll or the ground with your hands or feet only. The most
grandiose matches of the year take place in November when the memory of St. Andrew is usually celebrated. And an open day is arranged for parents. On the website of the college the game is described as “extremely exhausting" and "much more clever than it may seem" and its rules are too difficult to discuss. They say Prince Harry was a member of the game when he studied at Eton!
T RADITION 2 – “O WN S ONGS ” This tradition is observed is all British schools and enjoys wide
And there is another
popularity during 150
tradition: these songs
years and even
are not allowed to sing
nowadays attracts both
anywhere except their
teachers and students
school.
with its uniqueness. Songs are sung on different accessions.
contain an element of singing. In some schools the number of the songs is huge!
Barbecues, dinners and events of any degree of formality - all of them
T RADITION 3 – “R UGBY ” Almost all the students of the school have a dream to get into a common football team in their school because of the fact that rugby is not only an exciting game but also is one of the main traditions of the school. Players get the skills of the game and after it they can compete with other educational institutions.
This sport became popular spreading in
universities with the help of former students of the school ‘Rugby’. Due to its origin rugby still has the reputation of the game that is played by the upper classes. There is a proverb, “Football is a gentleman’s game played by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan game played by gentlemen”.
T RADITION 4 – R EWARDING " GAP ".
AND
Most of the schools have a long tradition founded in the 18th century to give awards for good study. A student who fulfilled perfectly and distinguished himself (or herself) in studying can get an award.
Besides there is an opposite award called “gap” which is awarded for the work done lower than the required standard. If a student has a lot of “gaps”, he (or she) get so called “a white card” that means such punish ments as writing lines or hard work about the house.
The highest praise and reward is given for a brilliantly done work (awarded only in rare cases), which should be preserved forever. It means that the work has the honor to be left for future generations, being stored in the school archives.
T RADITION 5 “F ANCIFUL N AMES J ERMS ”
OF
An Academic year is traditionally divided into three teams, and many best schools home their own names for each team, as for example, at Oxford, Cambridge and many other universities. At Eton terms are called “halves” and known as “Michael mass” (“Михайлов день” ), “Lent” (“Великий пост”) and “Summer”.
At Charterhouse the terms are called “quarters”, though there are only three of them, and they have more associative names: “Prayer”, “Long” and “Cricket”. Despite these names “Long” term is the shortest of all, the reason of the name “Prayer” is rather difficult to follow, while “Cricket” is rather easy to understand! The school Rugby has religious names of the terms: “Advent” (“Рождественский пост”), “Lent” (“Великий пост”), “Trinity” (“Троица”).
There are puzzling names at Winchester: “Monastic Time”, “Short Half”, “Total Time”. Such names have hundred-year-old history and are only one of many aspects of a modern school life that make a contribution to historical significance of these prestigious schools. No doubt, these names are more interesting than the numbered terms at Westminster school: “The First Term”, “The Second Term”, “The Third Term”!
T RADITION 6 “S CHOOL U NIFORM ” In all schools of Great Britain uniform is obligatory: reserved classic - shirts, pants, skirts, sweaters, blazers in white, gray, maroon.
Addressing of student to teachers and teachers to teachers are necessary with the prefix "Mrs.", "Miss", "Mister". Teachers name children with full names.
All of these traditions make the educational system unusual and interesting. Many countries have their traditions but those enumerated above, can be called the most exciting of all!