Queensland graziers have been advocating that stockmen should understand and respect the ‘flight zone’ of cattle when close to the herd or moving a mob of cattle. They suggest that there is valuable saving to both cattleman and beast if cattle are moved from place to place slowly and quietly without stress. Whip cracking and shouting to move cattle from one place to another should be replaced by a quieter and more relaxed form of management. The Queensland graziers believe the results have been noticeable that animals seem less anxious and cattle go forward in better condition!
The Queensland graziers explain that at times you have to get close or inside the ‘flight zone’ to shift cattle however the majority of contact with the animals can be made from a distance, respecting the animal’s private space.
The team responsible for the management and care of school boarders can gain knowledge from this practical example of controlling live stock. If the supervision of boarders by staff is erratic and without the appreciation that boarders need a good deal of ‘space’ it will create a negative response by the students and an unsettled atmosphere in boarding houses. Boarders will feel much more secure and comfortable if they know boarding staff are taking care of them and maintaining a keen interest in their development from a sensitive distance. Boarders do not need staff who are absent from their watch for long periods of time and then suddenly penetrate their ‘flight zone’ when things become unsettled.
A consistent living environment and they thrive and routine provides the opportunity for a boarder to thrive. Residentail students will feel comfortable if they are constantly supported by well trained, friendly boarding staff who can be relied upon twenty - four hours a day. Boarders who are left without stable supervision will develop less consistent standards of behaviour (especially over weekends) and will react poorly to supervisors who are not reliable. I have noticed cattle reacting in the same way. Cattle that are isolated for months on end without human contact that suddenly have horses, bikes and dogs racing around them will take fright and behave badly.
Boarders benefit from a boarding program that is carefully designed and well organised. Organisation and discipline should be clearly understood by the boarders and administered by competent staff. Decades ago boarders suffered largely under the control of inexperienced senior students who had permission to discipline younger boarders. Boarding staff were also quick to revert to corporal punishment for incidents viewed today as minor matters! The atmosphere and environment in boarding houses often lacked trust and security between boarders and staff.
Today the well-being of all boarders can be achieved in a quieter more relaxed and caring environment. Certainly there are times when staff have to make urgent corrections to an adolescent’s behaviour and intervene their ‘flight zone’, however most boarders will grow and develop in a caring and supportive environment where there is no sign of panic, raised voices or severe punishment!
Boarders today live in a relationship of friendship with peers of their own age and fellow boarders older and younger. Respect for senior students is earned by the leader by their performance as a fair and supportive role model, not gained through fear. Boarders will thrive in a secure, well organised and compassionate environment.
If the correct atmosphere prevails in boarding houses boarders will respect the boarding staff and also display respect for fellow boarder’s privacy and space. The allegiance of staff and boarders will be based upon co-operation and trust. If boarders living in the boarding community feel comfortable they will treat their fellow boarders with admiration and help each other to cope with the many physical and emotional demands of teenage years. They will also have confidence in the boarding house management team.
I have no idea how cattle think but if cattle are approached with respect and have more time to understand what a stockman is trying to do with them they may do what the stockman wants then to do! Good communication and timing by House supervisors are also paramount in giving boarders the chance of comprehending and understanding daily routine. Early and regular information from House staff regarding boarding house rules, personal expectations of behaviour and performance will provide boarders with greater opportunity to do the right thing. Boarding House staff must give the boarders plenty of notice regarding their responsibilities by meeting with them daily and displaying news of coming events on notice boards and internet portals well in advance of deadlines. If boarding supervisors do detect problems with an individual they should discuss the matter with the boarder and seek as much specialist help as is available. If everyone has a clear understanding of what is happening on campus the boarding community will be more relaxed, comfortable and it will result in a more successful place.
The administration and organisation of a boarding house is not rocket science. It can be compared to the needs of a family unit. All groups need a sympathetic understanding by their managers and an understanding every child have their own God given talents. It is the responsibility of carers to discover those talents and allow the individual to shine in the community by being able to demonstrate those talents providing the individual with self esteem and confidence.
Boarding house supervisors must be attentive at all times yet not be too obtrusive. There are no short cuts when caring for boarders especially in regard to the time and interest that must be devoted to their care. The flight zone must be kept on the radar at all times but not always penetrated!
David L Anderson
Shore School
danderso@shore.nsw.edu.au
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