Drawn up by Bro. Eugene in 1928, the ubiquitous “House System” made its debut. A mellowed version derived from the systems prevalent in other “Public Schools” in India.
A hall mark of an English Public School Education, it required the dividing of the school pupils into a number of boarding “Houses” each under the complete management of a “House Master“, aided by senior boys titled “Prefects” in whose hands the internal discipline of the house lay totally entrusted. Each house had to have its own teams for all games and its own colours. A strong sense of cohesiveness was subtly to be infused by totally independent boarding arrangements: dormitories, dining halls, preparation rooms, etc. much like today’s fictional Harry Potter’s Hogwarts.
At Montfort though, a lack of accommodation and personnel in the early years seemed to stall the comprehensive deployment of the house system. Nevertheless Bro Eugene went ahead with a vertical segregation of boys into groups that would compete against each other on the field and off it by way of general discipline and good behaviour. Studies were added to that list in 1937. With 153 boys on the rolls, the numbers seemed scant for four houses and too many for two houses. Therefore 3 houses were decided upon and christened – St. Montfort’s House, St. Gabriel’s House and St. Patrick’s House. Each house had their own Captain and two Prefects; the Montfort House Captain would ex-officio be the School Captain – all elected by the boys. It included a distinctive badge of office for these officials besides laying the appointment of the Captains and Prefects in the hands of the Principal. To foster the house spirit and loyalty to a maximum, members of the same house were grouped together wherever possible: the Captain headed the table in the dining room and overlooked his men from the back at the Senior Study.
1937 saw the introduction of House Flags and songs.
St.Monfort’s: A red lion on a gold field
St.Gabriel’s: White wings with a gold arrow on an azure field
St.Patrick’s: A gold shamrock on a green field
Bro. Victrice who succeeded Bro Eugene was not in favour of the House System and saw it as a big distraction for the boys. He removed Patrick’s House from the trio in 1931 and it lay dormant for 6 years until 1937 when it was restored back to the House System. The idea of removal was not practical as the same faces played each other with one house perpetually dominating a sport leading to boredom.
The Houses also brought out their own fortnightly “House Paper “in 1950 that reported “local” presumably campus news. Backed by individual Editorial Boards and a supervising Senior English Teacher, it lasted only two years. By 1949, House feasts were marked by a tea party and House picture (movie). Though the songs faded away, the flags are very much a part of Montfort Pride today. Old students have a natural affinity and align to their House when they visit school. They often enquire on the standings on the leaderboard.