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Girls: Mis-chosen Prefects
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Author:  jennifer [ Fri Nov 14, 2008 7:34 am ]
Post subject:  Girls: Mis-chosen Prefects

Of girls who were prefects, are there any that strike you as particularly bad choices – girls who were temperamentally unsuited to the job, or weren't able to fulfill their duties properly? Who do you think was the worst prefect in the series?

Author:  Lesley [ Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Girls: Mis-chosen Prefects

There are two that immediately spring to mind -

First - Deira O'Hagen - allowing jealousy and temper to take over and culminating in her burning a music book of Grizel's then flinging a rock at her.

Second - Ruth Wilson - prefect when Jo Scott started - known to be overbearing and capable of holding grudges and with little understanding of younger girls.

I'm sure there are others - including the infamous Marilyn Evans about whom we only hear in retrospect.

Author:  JayB [ Fri Nov 14, 2008 10:24 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Girls: Mis-chosen Prefects

Arguably, all the triplets.

Len was too young when she was appointed, and didn't want the responsibility.

Con was known to be easily distracted, and probably would have been quite happy not to be a prefect.

Margot might have been all right as an ordinary prefect, but she was unsuited to be Games Prefect. She was short tempered, and impatient and unsympathetic towards girls who didn't like or weren't good at games.

Author:  Alison H [ Fri Nov 14, 2008 10:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Girls: Mis-chosen Prefects

Ruth Wilson was the one who sprang to mind, and also Margot specifically as Games Prefect on the grounds that she didn't have enough patience (although that seems to be a common problem with Games Prefects in GO books - a lot of them don't seem to accept that not everyone is keen on/good at Games).

I wish we'd got to see Marilyn Evans: I appreciate that EBD needed an excuse for the feud between Peggy and Eilunedd and therefore just "created" Marilyn retrospectively, but she sounds very interesting!

Author:  Emma A [ Fri Nov 14, 2008 11:08 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Girls: Mis-chosen Prefects

Alison H wrote:
Ruth Wilson was the one who sprang to mind, and also Margot specifically as Games Prefect on the grounds that she didn't have enough patience (although that seems to be a common problem with Games Prefects in GO books - a lot of them don't seem to accept that not everyone is keen on/good at Games).

I wish we'd got to see Marilyn Evans: I appreciate that EBD needed an excuse for the feud between Peggy and Eilunedd and therefore just "created" Marilyn retrospectively, but she sounds very interesting!

Is Marilyn even mentioned in the books before Peggy? There was an interesting drabble about Marilyn's appointment, which suggested that she never wanted the position, and knew from the start that she'd not make a good job of it.

I also wondered about the selection of Katherine Gordon as Games Prefect, since her game was tennis, and she didn't seem to be all that great at other sports!

Author:  Nightwing [ Fri Nov 14, 2008 6:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Girls: Mis-chosen Prefects

JayB wrote:
Margot might have been all right as an ordinary prefect, but she was unsuited to be Games Prefect. She was short tempered, and impatient and unsympathetic towards girls who didn't like or weren't good at games.


I could be wrong, but doesn't Grizel act more or less the same way as Games Prefect? I think maybe it's supposed to show that Margot's passionate about Games, but as someone who is both disinterested and terrible at sport I can only imagine the terror she stirs in the hearts of her juniors :lol: .

Ruth Wilson, as so many people have mentioned, is the first who springs to mind for me. I'd also say Violet Allison - we're told she's shy and colourless. Yes, by the end of the book she no longer is, but why would you put a shy, colourless girl in a position of responsibility, where she is going to need to make her own authority?

I think the CS suffered from a very real-world problem, which is that they had girls who were natural leaders, but that those girls weren't necessarily "good" leaders, and the CS had to decide whether to give those girl official authority or not. Ruth Wilson could be a very effectual leader, but her methods of leadership (bullying) are questionable.

I think Joey was Head Girl was a classic case of this - she didn't want the responsibility, but as a charismatic leader it could be dangerous for the school for her not to be in the role of Head Girl. If Frieda had been made Head Girl instead, and Joey had decided to make life difficult for her, a lot of girls would have followed her lead blindly. I personally think Joey would have been perfectly happy to just be an ordinary prefect, but I'm sure opinions differ :D

Author:  Alison H [ Fri Nov 14, 2008 10:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Girls: Mis-chosen Prefects

That's a really interesting point. Other than Eilunedd, we don't really see anyone "challenge" a Head Girl. (Is there a problem in one of the Dimsie books in which a weak Head Girl is challenged by someone else, or an I getting confused?) Eilunedd wasn't a particularly strong personality or someone with a strong fan base (so to speak!), but she still managed to cause chaos.

Someone like Elinor Pennell, Josette Russell or Maeve Bettany, all lovely people but without very much about them, could well have fallen prey to something like that. If Margot hadn't been Len's sister then maybe she'd've been the one to try it ...

Author:  Kate [ Fri Nov 14, 2008 10:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Girls: Mis-chosen Prefects

Nightwing wrote:
I think Joey was Head Girl was a classic case of this - she didn't want the responsibility, but as a charismatic leader it could be dangerous for the school for her not to be in the role of Head Girl. If Frieda had been made Head Girl instead, and Joey had decided to make life difficult for her, a lot of girls would have followed her lead blindly. I personally think Joey would have been perfectly happy to just be an ordinary prefect, but I'm sure opinions differ :D

I seem to remember a drabble on this theme. I must see if I can find it again; I liked it.

Author:  Cat C [ Fri Nov 14, 2008 10:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Girls: Mis-chosen Prefects

One of my teachers in school (from when I was about 7) used to complain about 'too many Indians and not enough Chiefs' - it's interesting that the opposite situation can also be a problem.

Does anyone have any idea, incidentally (hope this isn't wandering OT) why it is that there was that repeated theme of any of the clan resisting the idea of being head-girl?

Author:  LizzieC [ Fri Nov 14, 2008 10:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Girls: Mis-chosen Prefects

Alison H wrote:
(Is there a problem in one of the Dimsie books in which a weak Head Girl is challenged by someone else, or an I getting confused?)


There was Ursula Grey in Dimsie Moves Up Again. She was terribly colourless (and not very good) until the last few chapters wreak a transformation ;)

There was an incident with naughty middles not obeying her too :)

Is that who you were thinking of?

Author:  Josette [ Sat Nov 15, 2008 12:22 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Girls: Mis-chosen Prefects

I never thought Joey would have tried to make life difficult for Frieda if Frieda had been Head Girl - they were close friends, after all - but I do think that Frieda would have tended to defer to Jo, and that Jo would have found it difficult to take a back seat and tell Frieda she needed to take a lead herself.

Personally, my choice for Head Girl if Jo wasn't available would have been Marie - we're told that she is "no leader" yet no-one seems to have any qualms about appointing her as Games Prefect, and I would have thought leadership was a pre-requisite for that post! (Actually, good candidates for HG often seem to end up in charge of Games instead - Daisy Venables and Gay Lambert spring to mind.)

Author:  KB [ Sat Nov 15, 2008 12:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Girls: Mis-chosen Prefects

Emma A wrote:
Is Marilyn even mentioned in the books before Peggy?



No, she isn't.

Author:  Caroline [ Mon Nov 17, 2008 12:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Girls: Mis-chosen Prefects

Cat C wrote:
Does anyone have any idea, incidentally (hope this isn't wandering OT) why it is that there was that repeated theme of any of the clan resisting the idea of being head-girl?


It makes for a good story? :D :D :lol:

But also because a decent honourable schoolgirl should surely be modest, unaware of her own popularity, and naturally diffident about putting herself forward - the whole "they want little old me to be Head Girl?" thing.

I'm sure EBD would have disapproved (and had the CS girls disapprove) of anyone who was actually seen to want the job (Eilunedd, for instance), was too sure of herself or pushed herself forward to much - unladylike, vulgar and unbecoming in a schoolgirl.

Of course, then there is OOAO Mary-Lou.... :lol:

Author:  jennifer [ Mon Nov 17, 2008 2:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Girls: Mis-chosen Prefects

I also agree with Margot being a bad choice for Games prefect. She might have done well in some other job, but Games prefect, of all the jobs, seems to have the most one-on-one time with other girls, and patience, required. Margot is short tempered, sharp tongued and not very empathic. I could see her driving away many of the girls who were indifferent to, or disliked, or were merely bad at, sports.

Con strikes me as a pretty good choice for Magazine prefect, given her literary talents, though.

Peggy has always struck me as a poor choice for head girl. She'd make a decent second prefect, but doesn't have the force of character or decisiveness to be head. As it is, her most pressing problems are solved by the other prefects.

I think Joey would have been perfectly happy as Games prefect, or library prefect, with Marie as head, but Mary-Lou would have been a terrible burden on any head girl, as she'd take charge anyway.

Ruth, of course, is a bad choice - giving a known bully extra authority, particularly with the amount of power the prefects have, is not a good idea. I have a feeling Jack Lambert would be inclined to abuse her power too.

Author:  Cat C [ Mon Nov 17, 2008 2:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Girls: Mis-chosen Prefects

Quote:
I could see her driving away many of the girls who were indifferent to, or disliked, or were merely bad at, sports.


I think it depends what you think games prees were for? I got the general impression they were more about (picking and) organising the school teams than anything else? I agree she would have been terrible as a games mistress (the same way Grizel wasn't a great success as a music mistress).

Author:  Emma A [ Mon Nov 17, 2008 3:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Girls: Mis-chosen Prefects

Games prefects were expected to coach girls for the various sports - Margot is shown coaching hockey very bad-temperedly in one of the last Swiss books - as well as picking teams and organising rotas and suchlike. Those games prees who weren't all-rounders usually co-opted someone else to help with their "weak" sports.

Author:  Mez [ Mon Nov 17, 2008 10:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Girls: Mis-chosen Prefects

The Dimsie book you're thinking of might be Dimsie Goes to School (The Senior Prefect?), when the head girl is away for the term and Dimsie's cousin Daphne becomes the defacto head prefect. One of the other prefects conspires against her believing her mother is of ill repute, and there is a strike, which only Dimsie and her friends in the 4th Division (juniors) stand against.
One of my favourites!

Author:  Miss Di [ Tue Nov 18, 2008 2:26 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Girls: Mis-chosen Prefects

jennifer wrote:
Con strikes me as a pretty good choice for Magazine prefect, given her literary talents, though.


Not sure I agree there. Just because someone can write does not mean they can objectively edit other people's work - or even proof read. I would be worried she'd start something of her own and forget about The Chaletian.

Author:  Fiona Mc [ Tue Nov 18, 2008 3:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Girls: Mis-chosen Prefects

Miss Di wrote:
jennifer wrote:
Con strikes me as a pretty good choice for Magazine prefect, given her literary talents, though.


Not sure I agree there. Just because someone can write does not mean they can objectively edit other people's work - or even proof read. I would be worried she'd start something of her own and forget about The Chaletian.


But from about Theodora onwards she's described as having her dreaminess well under control due to Margot behaviour. the only time she messes up is in Two Sams which seemed out of character by then. The one thing that disappointed me about her becoming Magazine Prefect was that the entire staff had to insist to Hilda that Con was best suited cos Hilda thought she was too dreamy! It seemed like she couldn't see beyond the label Con was given. Con was reasonably tactful and worked hard and couldn't see her being terrible about anyone elses attempts to write.

I never minded Peggy being Head Girl. The only other one I'd choose would be Nita Eltringham in that year. The other one I would have liked to have seen as Head Girl was Hilary Wilson as I always liked how she was with Katherine Gordon during her first term, but then Betsy Lusy wasn't a bad choice either

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