Prefect situation

[MadameOvary]

Hello, I need some perspective here before I weigh in. This is not about my DD, but it is happening at the same school my DD attends and the Mum in question is happy for me to get involved.

P7 class has been divided by the introduction of a prefect system which has seen a large proportion of the class given duties, titles, clothing and a space of their own which the non-prefects don't have.

What the Mum in question finds unacceptable however is that each child had to be interviewed and were asked questions like "Why should we pick you" and "what can you bring to this position" AIBU to think that P7 is way too young for all this stuff??

Aside from the obvious disappointment felt by the DD in question it seems to me (as an observer) that 12 yo is too young to assign such positions of power to. Several prefects have been reported to be excluding the non-prefects from assisting in playground jobs and other roles as "you're not a prefect", as well as making them feel that they are not allowed to enter the Common Room.

The Assistant Head has said that these kids should not feel like they have failed, but hwo can not when there is all this physical evidence of their "outsider" status being waved in their faces all day and they are literally out in the cold?

Apparently this is "common practice" (which still doesn't make it right) so please tell me, is it??? And if so, how is it managed?

This is a state school btw.

Sounds bonkers to me, but mine are both pre-school age. It makes me shudder to think they're going to have to go through nonsense like this at some point... I don't know if I'd go as far as to intervene on behalf of someone else's child though...

The interview questions sound absolutely fine for 12 year olds

If it's not down to the non-prefects to assist in playground jobs, it makes sense to remind them of that, otherwise it's going to get complicated.

They shouldn't be made to feel they're not allowed in the common room though (unless of course they aren't).

It's managed quite well in my son's school and all ticks along quite nicely.

I am not familiar with the term P7. Are these children the eldest in the school or the youngest?

I don't think it is a bad thing to give the older children extra responsibilities if they are ready for it. Perhaps the reason for the interviews was to ascertain whether the chosen children had the wherewithal to take on these duties. No problem with that as such.

It doesn't sound as though the system is being very well supervised though if the prefects are being allowed to be mean to their peers.

P7 is final year of junior school before secondary school starts (am in Scotland so different terms)
Thanks for your input. I needed some perspective and it looks as if the best way to approach it would be to address the behaviour of the prefects where it's inappropriate to non-prefects.
Worra, how did your DS do in the interviews (if he participated) and how does he feel about it?