How to set up HOUSE SYSTEM in a School ? By Uttam Chatterjee

Houses are made but a home is made of hearts. In a School a “House” is a Home away from home. It implies that a residential School, the inmates are (to be) provided a homely atmosphere where they live like their own homes and feel thoroughly comfortable. Thus Hose System plays a vital role in a set up like ours. While the classrooms give a child, necessary academic climate, in the House he learns and develops those essential qualities which equip him sufficiently enough to face life confidently. The house provides a family atmosphere and it is in this he learns and develops that family atmosphere and it is in this atmosphere that he develops his personality and his personality and attains the highest physical and mental development of which he is capable. It is in the house that t a child is taught good manners, self-reliance, cooperation, team spirit regard for others, adaptability, sense of duty and responsibility, sense of belongingness and traits fog go citizenship thus, we can say, that ‘A HOUSE IS AN INSTITUTION BY ITSELF WITHIN AN INSTITUTION’ which is more vital in nature wherein a child is groomed properly. A child when enters in the School in Class VI faces adjustment problems. Fear of social insecurity and wan of social insecurity and want to parental affection and such other profiles combined with causes of School Management, demand setting of objectives of the House System.

HOUSE SYSTEM TRACKER

• Provide a smooth transition from home life to School life;

• Develop situations which fulfill the social and emotional needs of the children.

• Help socialization of pupils to integrate themselves well into corporate life;

• Inculcate the sense of responsibility to take his tasks in life earnestly and discharge them well;

• Preparer pupils to play different kinds of roles and members of a group, community;

• Develop a child’s personality and integrity;

• Develop the spirit of healthy competition among the children;

• Inculcate the qualities of self-confidence and respect for others” views and opinions and desertion to make their own decisions on issues and problems at hand;

• Develop a sense belongingness among the pupils and create a sense of desire to live in harmony;

• Benefit by the bright example of t hers by his own example;

• Inculcate in the child respect for seniors, elders, teachers and a caring altitude towards juniors and fraternity towards all;

• Learn to live, endure and enjoy together and develop a degree of sensitivity for others' feelings and needs.

HOUSE COLORS

Colors for House flags, badges, T-Shirts, etc. should be allotted in the following manners

1

BLUE

2

GREEN

3

RED

4

YELLOW

Duties and responsibilities of School Captain, House Captain and perfects are suggested below-

A) SCHOOL CAPTAIN

.Maintains good personal conduct and behavior in the school;

.Receives roll-call and list of absentee from House Captains before submission to Duty Master/Principal;

.Maintains full control and good discipline during school level activities with the help of House Captains and Perfects;

.Ensures proper discipline in dining hall, morning assembly and at all other places where all the children of the School assemble for any activity.

.Is a permanent member of Mess Committee;

.Carries-out all responsibilities assigned by the Principal of the School.

B) HOUSE CAPTAIN

• Ensures that the House maintains punctuality in all specified activities as per daily routine;

• Conduct roll-call of the House during morning assembly and evening games and reports the same to School Captain/House Master;

• Supervise ‘prep’ or self-study in case the same is carried out House wise;

• Ensures that all the children in the House devote sufficient time for studies to improve their own performance as well as academic performance of the House;

• Reports absentees and sick children to the Housemaster every day;

• Controls his/her House during the conduct of all Inter-House activities;

• Ensures that the maximum number of children take part in various co-curricular, sports/games, pace-setting, and other activities planned in the school a;

• Assists Housemaster in selecting the best talent of the house for participation in Inter-House competitions;

• Ensures cleanliness around his/her House;

• Maintains good personal conduct and ensures proper discipline in the House;

• Reports to Housemaster in case he/she observes and unusual behavior (such as persistent depression, rebelliousness continued sickness, etc.) on the part of any student of the House;

• Ensure good discipline in the dining hall during meals;

• Carries out all other duties assigned by Housemasters/Vice-Principal.

C) PERFECT

• House captain of the School shall share their duties and responsibilities with the House Perfect with approval of Housemaster;

• APPOINTMENT OF THE HOUSEMASTER/SAAOCIATE MASTERS;

• Normally, senior teachers may be given the appointment of Housemasters of Senior House. Preferably, a PGT should be House Master of Senior House. As far as possible Art, Music, PE, SUPW, teachers and Librarian/Nurse may be given the responsibilities of the house Mastership since they are commonly attached to all Houses for the conduct of Inter House Activities.

ROLE OF HOUSE MASTER

A residential school system revolves around the personality, capability, and effectiveness of the housemaster. A housemaster is a leader of the House. He/She should be able to motivate and guide all the children placed under his/her care. He had to ensure that children of his House participate in all the Inter-House activities and also do well. He is responsible for the overall welfare of all children in his house. Preferably, House Masters may be rotated after 4-5 years so that other talented members of academic staff may get the opportunity to look after the welfare of the children.

ROLE OF ASSOCIATE HOUSE MASTERS AND TUTORS

In a House System, HouseMaster is assisted by an Associate HouseMaster and by other teachers (called tutors) attached to his House. They should provide assistance to Housemaster and carry out all House responsibilities assigned to them by their House Masters.

PLANNING FOR INTER-HOUE COMPETITIONS

HouseMaster is personally responsible that boys/girls of his House take part in all Inter-House CCA and sports/games activities in the School. He is supported by Associate House Masters and tutors who are attached with him for proper management of the House. House staff (House Master, Associate House Master, and Tutor) should take pride in grooming various teams for Inter-House activities to win various trophies and awards communicated which should be followed under the overall guidance of the Principal of the School.

CHAMPION HOUSE

Every year points awarded for Inter House CCA and sports/games competitions (as well for all other Inter House Competitions conducted in the School, e.g. Wall magazine, gardening, morning assembly, cleanliness, etc.) to each House should be summed up. Thus, the points of a Senior House and Corresponding Junior House by added together to declare a Champion House. School should hold special function (Annual Day) where Champion House Trophy is awarded to a House. For effective management of the House System, the Principal should monitor all the Inter-House activities carried out in the School. He may ensure that CCA and Sports/games competitions are regularly carried out in the School-based on the calendar of activities planned during the beginning of academic term every year. A principal may ensure that suitable Honor-boards are displayed in the School where names of meritorious children are displayed prominently. He may allot points for cleanliness, beautification, (gardening, etc) and discipline maintained by a House during the year which may be added while deciding a Champion House every year.