Old boy network
An old boy network, or society, can refer to social and business connections among former pupils of male-only private schools.
This can apply to the network between the graduates of a single school, also known as an old boy society and similar to an alumni association. It can also mean a network of social and business connections among the alumni of various prestigious schools. In popular language, old boy network or old boy society has come to be used in reference to the preservation of social elites in general; such connections within the British Civil Service formed a primary theme in the British Broadcasting Corporation's satirical comedy series Yes Minister.
Australia
In Australia the term "Old Boy" is used to describe a male alumnus of some prestigious state and private schools. The term "Old Girl" is similarly used for a female alumna of such schools.
In Australia there was academic research in 1988 to identify the extent of the "Old Boy/Girl network" among Australia's elite, using Who's Who in Australia (a listing of notable Australians) as a sample of people in elite positions. This research shows that a small number of private and selective state schools have Old Boys/Old Girls who disproportionately hold elite positions in Australian society.[1][2] The 1988 study showed the top ten Australian schools for Old Boys/Old Girls were:
- for boy's schools - 1.Scotch College, Melbourne, 2.Melbourne Grammar School, 3.Melbourne High School, 4.Geelong Grammar School, 5.Sydney Boys High School, 6.Wesley College, Melbourne, 7.Sydney Church of England Grammar School, 8.Fort Street Boys' High, 9.North Sydney Boys High School, 10.Sydney Grammar School.
- for girl's schools - 1.Presbyterian Ladies' College, Melbourne, 2.SCEGGS Darlinghurst, 3.Methodist Ladies' College, Melbourne, 4.Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney, 5.Melbourne Girls Grammar School, 6.Mac.Robertson Girls' High School, 7.North Sydney Girls' High School, 8.Sydney Girls High School, 9.Methodist Ladies' College Sydney, 10.University High School, Melbourne.
Canada
The term is also used in Canada, where the alumni of such schools as St. Andrew's College, Sterling Hall School,[3] St George's School, Bishop's College School and Upper Canada College are known as Old Boys. The old boy network of Upper Canada College has been so influential in the political and business realms of Canada that the book Old Boys: The Powerful Legacy of Upper Canada College (ISBN 978-1551990057), by James Fitzgerand, was published in 1994.
Finland
India
Former students of the Welham Boys School refer to their society as the Welham Old Boys Society. Though the school was founded in 1937, the society was not founded until 1983. The group is intended to encourage Welham graduates to aid in the school's success through their union; they have established scholarships and bursaries for deserving students. The Welham Old Boys Network has established definite membership criteria, as well as requiring a subscription fee.[4] The Doon School, one of the most prestigious private schools in India, maintains its own old boy society for social connections and fundraising on behalf of the college.[5] Old boys of the Doon School are known as doscos.
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, the network exists primarily within alumni of the Eton Group, the Haileybury Group and the Rugby Group private schools, as well as having affiliation with Oxford University and/or Cambridge University, is colloquially known as "The Old Boys' Network". Such a network is often blamed for an apparent high proportion of former pupils of these schools and graduates of these universities in high status positions in government, business, and the professions.
Other terms
- The expression old school tie has essentially the same meaning as the Old Boy/Old Girl network. This expression derives from the wearing of school ties by former puplil, to indicate that the wearer is an alumnus or alumna of a particular school or university. This practice is less common now than in former times.
- An Old Girl network has the same meaning with respect to girls' schools as "Old Boy network" has for boys' schools.[citation needed]
See also
References
- ^ Mark Peel and Janet McCalman, Who Went Where in Who's Who 1988: The Schooling of the Australian Elite, Melbourne University History Research Series Number 1, 1992
- ^ Ian Hansen, Nor Free Nor Secular: Six Independent Schools in Victoria, a First Sample, Oxford University Press, 1971
- ^ Sterling Hall School: Welcome SHS Old Boys!
- ^ Welham Old Boys Society
- ^ The Doon School: Our Old Boys