The Old School Tie in Canada

Stephanie, I have seen the house system work big time at Upper Canada College, Toronto, Canada.  It is the Eaton/Harrow/Ruby elite high school for boys in Canada.  It has "houses."  This gives each student a special identity and provides the basis for internal competition in sports, academics, and social events.  However,  all "houses" focus on overall excellence in all aspects of student life.  The "houses" help to remove isolation, build friendships among students, and instill a sense of intramural pride and competition that drives overall excellence.  I taught at nearby St. Andrew's College, an elite school in the model of Upper Canada College.  We were rivals in the same prep school league. At St. Andrew's, which immigrants from Scotland founded, we did not have "houses."  We had "clans."  The purpose of the "clans" at St. Andrew's was the same as the "houses" at Upper Canada College.  At St. Andrew's each clan had ties with the tartan of the actual clan in Scotland on it to wear when they competed in intra-mural events.  In the end, however, they all wore the St. Andrew's school tie with pride; your humble servant has his St. Andrew's tie to this very day too!  Dr. Rux