Praepostor

Praepostor (sometimes spelt Praepositor) is now used chiefly at English independent schools, such as Rugby and Uppingham, and at other schools such as the former Derby School which began as grammar schools for the teaching of Latin grammar. It is the equivalent of prefect. The word originally referred to a monastic prior and is late Latin of the Middle Ages, derived from classical Latin "praepositus", "placed before".

The use of "praepostor" in the context of a school is derived from the practice of using older children to lead or control younger children. This originally involved both leading in lessons and keeping general discipline, but latterly it involved only discipline.

Children helping to lead classes were also called monitors, and the terms "praepostor" and "monitor" are roughly equivalent to "prefect" and "sub-prefect" in many other English schools.

References

*"Chambers 20th Century Dictionary" (W. & R. Chambers Ltd, 2004)