The Brown’s School Days

This particular house just defeated all of the others in the school, so our selected text starts at the toast. In fact, the setting seemed to be like something that I have seen on the Harry Potter movies when everyone sat for dinner. There is plenty of joyful noise. People are cheering. When the captain of the rugby team, Peter Brooke, stood to give his speech to the house rugby team, he stated his reason for wanting to defeat the entire school. “It’s because we’ve more reliance on one another, more of a house feeling, rare fellowship than the school can have”

(Hughes 573). These are the words spoken by coaches everywhere. Peter Brooke is taking advantage of the moment to motivate his players to maintain their cohesive unit. Like all coaches, he is showering his team with praise; but it also goes beyond that. The Pater is also taking the opportunity to address some issues that he knows will not only destroy his team, but the spirit of the younger boys attending.

            “But depend on it, there’s nothing breaks up a house like bullying; bullies are cowards, and one coward makes many” (573). He knows that bully is a weak individual that preys on others. He addresses this now, so that the older boys can police themselves. He goes on to address other issues like drinking too much and horse playing. Father Brooke is laying the groundwork for another great season. He is telling them to stay focused and dedicated. Peter Brooke knows that by using the evening’s event to address these issues, his words will have a lasting effect. You see, like all great coaches, it is not always about just molding the athlete, but also about helping the athlete become a better person. His points are valid even on the teams of today. Teams are only as strong as its weakest link. Everyone has to understand their part if the team is to be successful. Others count on this. It is like my football coach use to say, “There is no I in team.” We all had a role to play.