The War at Home: School Culture

"A SCHOOL AT WAR"

America's entry into the war brought a number of changes almost immediately. Many of those changes are still in evidence today.

From The Ashnoca, 30 September 1942, page 1:
"The atmosphere of Asheville School remains true to the old school tradition, but physically, in less than a year, Asheville has changed from a school at peace to a school at war. At the beginning of this new year, Mr. David Fall, Headmaster, set the tone of campus life towards the new purpose of winning the war .... "

The school lost many faculty members who left to enter the armed forces voluntarily or who were drafted.

To assist the masters, the school created the role of Senior Prefect in Spring 1942. The prefects had charge of routine discipline and dorm life of the first year boys. In return, they were granted privileges.

Right: The first senior prefects: Rose, Chappel, Taliaferro, & Henderson

The Prefects for school year 1942-43 were granted more responsibilities because of the success of the previous year's prefects and the shortage of single male teachers. They had charge of the 1st & 2nd years.

Servants and wait staff, local men employed by the school from the earliest days, were among the first to leave for military service or work in the war industry. Boys were now required to make their own beds and tidy their rooms. Boys were assigned to a rotating schedule of waiting on tables for all meals.