I spent most of my time at 14 writing a boarding school novel. I wrote another one when I was 32. It was about Su Shan St Sebastien, a half-Malaysian 14-year-old, whose father enrols her in a prestigious boarding school in the English countryside. Su Shan's mother has died of cancer and her father (who divorced her mother when Su Shan was a baby) is a stranger to the girl.
At school, Su Shan meets her four half-sisters - two older and two younger than she, and each set of two by a different woman - their dad, it seems, is quite a serial monogamist. Su Shan adapts easily to life at boarding school thanks to her friendly, helpful, supportive sisters and her new best friends - Magda, who happens to be a famous model when she's not at school; and Janferie, whose mother is a fashion designer!
Su Shan even meets and falls in love with a rock star. And is loved in return! Yes, it's pure fantasy, and that's really the whole point of boarding school stories, rather like romance novels and thrillers.
I would most dearly like to write a sequel. Unfortunately, I am already juggling half-a-dozen projects so Su Shan St Sebastien's adventures at Marchmere School for Girls and as the girlfriend of a famous rock star will have to wait.
Dorm madness
TOTS TO TEENS BY DAPHNE LEE
WHY do girls like English boarding school stories so much? There's hardly a girl I know who hasn't read some sort of book set in a boarding school and wished to attend such an establishment. Even friends who really were boarders (in England) were bewitched by the fictional versions of their schools. Perhaps, it was wishful thinking: Malory Towers, the Chalet School and Jane's (in the Dimsie books) serve much nicer food than real boarding schools do; seem to be more comfortable, with better heating and softer beds; and have much kinder and friendlier girls and teachers (sorry, I mean, mistresses!).
For those of us who went to regular schools (in Malaysia, to boot), English boarding schools seemed (and still seem) exotic and glamorous. In an English boarding school you learn French! You play a strange game called lacrosse! You sometimes have parties at midnight and they aren't called parties, but feasts! Your headgirl is not some skinny, spotty bespectacled 17-year-old, but a capable, articulate young lady, with shiny hair and strong white teeth, who's top of her class and a champion hockey, tennis, netball and (yes!) lacrosse player.
Also, in a boarding schools you are in a private, parentless (wahey!) world that is nevertheless safe. Things are different from home, but it isn't difference that's chaotic or frightening. There is order, there are rules, uniforms, bells. You're part of a herd, but you belong ... so long as you toe the line. A little rebelliousness is tolerated - you are allowed to be an outspoken, eccentric monkey so long as your grammar is impeccable and you don't drop your haitches. It doesn't matter if you're poor, but you must be clean and a good sport. And if you get bullied or ignored, just say your prayers, swot like mad and remember that good girls always triumph in the end.
Of course, you may, like me, believe the girls and mistresses in Blyton's school stories to be a terrifying, bigoted, mean lot. As a pudgy foreign child with an aversion to any sports that feature balls (of any size), I'd have been treated like a leper at Malory Towers. I can just imagine the coversation between head girl Darrell Rivers and her chum, the games captain Sally Hope:
"So what do you think of the new girl, Darrell old chap?"
"Well! She's a bit of a bore, isn't she, Sally, old bean?"
"I know! Did you see the way she was holding her lacrosse stick?"
"Oh, yes! That was jolly funny, wasn't it? What did she think it was? A tennis raquet?!"
"And her accent! I can't understand a word she says."
"Oh, don't worry, Sally! Miss Grayling will have her speaking with a proper English accent in no time! She couldn't possibly stay on at Malory Towers, otherwise, could she?"
"I should think not, Darrell!"
"Well ... at least her name's not something foreign and unpronounceable!"
"Golly! Yes, thank heavens for small mercies, what!"
Ha-Ha! Well, we can laugh but if I had a quid for every time I was asked (while studying in England) if I liked "flied lice", I could spend the total on the complete Malory Towers and St Clare's series. In hardback.
Enough of proper English schoolgirls for now. There's a new edition of Ronald Searle's St Trinian's in bookstores, published to coincide with the 2007 St Trinian's movie starring Colin Firth and Rupert Everett.
St Trinian's is a fictional girls boarding school that is totally unlike the ones created by Blyton, Angela Brazil and Dorita Fairlie Bruce. St Trinian's girls are a vicious and violent lot who delight in preying on the weak and defenceless. The prefects torture the lower forms on the rack; nature walks are organised for the express purpose of gathering poisonous mushrooms; the girls swig wine and puff cigars with gay abandon; and satanic worship seems to be an extracurricular activity, albeit not one that's listed on the school's prospectus. As Miss Millicent Fritton, the headmistress says, "In other schools girls are sent out quite unprepared into a merciless world, but when our girls leave here, it is the merciless world which has to be prepared."
St Trinian's: The Cartoons (Penguin, 172 pages, ISBN: 978-0141189352) is a compilation of illustrations from the four St Trinian's books published by satirical cartoonist Ronald Searle between 1948 and 1953. Featured are St Trinian's girls captured at their most diabolical - burning, looting, plotting, murdering and rioting with the glee and dedication of true devotees to the fine art of wreaking havoc. Imagine one of these girls, say sixth former Angela Menace, at Malory Towers! Darrell would probably lose her temper and slap her, and then repent and attempt to reform her. But, in true St Trinian's spirit, Angela would would burn the school to the ground and slit the throats of all the prefects before she'd allow herself to be transformed into a credit to Malory Towers!
Teens learn discipline and get proper education from a boarding school. A student gets individual attention there. Teachers give their 100% and teach each of the students in a dedicated way. They also take care of a student in a proper way.
http://www.teenlifelines.com/
Posted by: Kaira | Monday, September 21, 2009 at 00:51
In USA there are several boarding schools for teens which give the quality based educations to the youth. These boarding schools are well renowned. Colleges recommend vigorous and challenging academic curriculum that provide challenges to individual learners.
http://www.teensprivateschools.com/
Posted by: boarding schools | Thursday, June 11, 2009 at 13:38
There are many troubled teens schools that provide high quality of treatment procedures for them. The school has appoints top class of teaching staff which are completely dedicated to serve their students.
http://www.teenageproblems.net/
Posted by: lily | Thursday, November 06, 2008 at 14:20
Boys High Schools are given every kind of facility to students whether it relates to education, sports and other social service. Boys are always encouraged by the teachers and staff members in studies and sports activities.
http://www.teensprivateschools.com/
Posted by: Boys High Schools | Friday, August 08, 2008 at 14:18
YTSL - Oh, I found it quite easy to dislike Malory Towers, and St Clare's. I found the characters boring, and quite two dimensional. The resolutions were too pat. And the storylines uninspiring. I haven't actually read The Naughtiest Girl books. As I've said before, Antonia Forest's Kingscote books are my favourite of the boarding school type. I also liked something called Gipsy at Greywalls. And another series whose name and author escape me at the moment.
Posted by: Daphne | Wednesday, August 06, 2008 at 19:26
Hi again Daphne --
Out of curiosity: How could you not like Enid Blyton's Mallory Towers series?? And did you prefer the "The Naughtiest Girl in School" series by the same author? ;b
Posted by: YTSL | Wednesday, August 06, 2008 at 16:46
YTSL - Well, I wasn't actually going for authentic Malory Towers-speak, you know ;-)so I think I'll pass on re-reading the books - not my cup of tea, old bean! :-D
Posted by: | Tuesday, August 05, 2008 at 09:28
Hmmm, Daphne, better go back and re-read your Mallory Towers books as I don't think that Darrell, Sally and co are the type to use "old bean" and such in their conversation!
And speaking of fiction vs reality: At boarding school in England, I found myself wishing that the English girls were as into sports as in the books and me -- honestly, found the girls I went to school with back in Penang, Malaysia, to be far more sporting spirited in the English boarding school way than the English ones at the real English boarding school I attended! ;(
Posted by: YTSL | Tuesday, August 05, 2008 at 07:43
Hi Daphne,
No, I haven't read any Abbey books or those by Antonia Forest, unfortunately! Thanks for the offer to lend but I live in Penang. Hmm, I might try going to used bookstores like the Chowrasta bookshops to see if I'm lucky to find some gems there.
Man, these out-of-print books are really expensive! I just tried searching them online and the prices start from RM80 (shipping included). :/
Posted by: Josette | Saturday, August 02, 2008 at 11:49
Hi Josette! Thanks for your email. I've never seen Dorita Fairlie Bruce's books in Malaysia. I got my out-of-print hardbacks from England. Have you read any Abbey books? How about Antonia Forest? I have quite a large collection of boarding school books. If you're in the Klang Valley I may be able to lend some to you? Email me if you're interested. [email protected]
Posted by: Daphne | Friday, August 01, 2008 at 22:53
Hi there Daphne!
I'm a fan of your Tots to Teens column and look forward to it every Sunday. :D Anyway, I grew up reading Enid Blyton books and have not been exposed to other boarding school stories. I'd very much like to read those by Dorita Fairlie Bruce. Are her books available in Malaysia?
Thanks and keep on writing great articles!
Posted by: Josette | Friday, August 01, 2008 at 14:07
Hey Amelia! You'd def have been the only 30 year old there, but then again, I was the only 41-year-old ;-)
I'm not a fan of either Malory Towers or St Clare's. I like Kingscote school which appears in the books by Antonia Forest!
Hope you're well!
Posted by: daphne | Monday, July 28, 2008 at 10:27
Hi Daphne - was intending to sign up for the book discussion on Elsewhere at Borders (to finally meet you as well) but had this wild thought I'd be the only 30-something there :) so I didn't.
Speaking of boarding schools...I much prefer the Mallory Towers series instead of the St. Clare's...
Posted by: Amelia | Sunday, July 27, 2008 at 22:49