Rules and Etiquette

Wizardly etiquette gives practical expression to the responsibilities taught at the Grey School. It concerns how pupils ask for guidance, participate in shared work, respond to differences, and represent the offices or recognitions they hold. Consistent courtesy helps others understand what to expect from a member of the School.

The Rules of Wizardry

Every Wizard should know the Three Rules of Wizardry by heart. They are studied in detail in Wizardry 100: Becoming an Apprentice, during the first year of study.

These rules provide a basis for conduct throughout study and service. A pupil's manner of working with others gives the rules practical meaning and contributes to the reputation attached to their name.

Asking questions and seeking guidance

Questions are a normal part of learning. Approach the person whose guidance you seek with respect, explain what you want to understand, and allow them to answer. A question should make useful discussion possible. Personal challenges or disparaging comments about someone's abilities or work make that discussion more difficult.

Be considerate of the other person's time. Faculty, visiting speakers, and fellow pupils may have other responsibilities or people waiting to speak with them. A brief, focused question can be answered more readily than an extended conversation begun without regard for the circumstances.

Ask for advice with a willingness to consider it. If you have already made a decision, explain that honestly rather than presenting the matter as an open request for guidance. You remain responsible for your own choices, and a useful conversation depends on being clear about the assistance you are seeking.

Before taking part in a ritual or unfamiliar activity, it is appropriate to ask the person responsible what will happen and what participants need to know. Preparation helps a pupil take part attentively and meet the expectations of the setting.

Being helpful

Apprentices are expected to conduct themselves in a manner becoming of their title and of the School they represent. Helpfulness belongs within that expectation. Pupils should look for appropriate ways to assist their peers and contribute to their wider communities.

Useful assistance requires attention to the situation and to what another person actually needs. A willingness to take initiative should be accompanied by respect for the responsibilities and boundaries of those already directing the work.

Differences of view and practice

The Grey School brings together people with differing experience and approaches. A method that is unfamiliar to you may offer something worth examining. Give others a fair hearing and distinguish disagreement from an intention to cause offense.

When attending an activity led by someone else, make an honest effort to understand its method and follow the relevant instructions. You may find that the experience adds to your own practice, even if you later choose a different approach. The opportunity to examine unfamiliar ideas is part of education.

Questions and disagreements should be expressed with restraint. Where a concern involves conduct that requires attention, use the School's reporting and review routes. Respectful participation and the ability to raise a genuine concern belong together within the School's expectations.

Addressing Faculty, staff, and fellow Wizards

Use the title appropriate to the person's current appointment or standing. Faculty may be addressed as Professor, Instructor, or Master, according to the title used by the School. The current Faculty directory provides the relevant names and titles.

Pupils should likewise be addressed according to their program or recognized standing. Apprentice and Magister are the ordinary titles for pupils enrolled in those programs. Current officers are addressed by the office they hold. Using the proper title recognizes the person's place and responsibilities within the institution.

If you are unsure of a title, consult the School's published information or ask courteously. Accurate address is a practical expression of respect, and it becomes familiar through ordinary use.

Formal Wizardly titles

The formal title uses “in” for the first three stages of Wizardry and “of” for Adepthood. An Apprentice, Journeyman, or Master is described as participating in the respective stage of learning and practice. Adepthood is the retired stage of Wizardry, recognizing a lifetime of wise service and a contribution that has furthered Wizardry itself.

The established forms are:

• Apprentice Edd Lastname, Wizard in the Third Degree.

• Journeyman Sally Surname, Wizard in the Second Degree.

• Master Milly Familyname, Wizard in the First Degree.

• Adept Andrews Aftername, Wizard of the First Degree.

The long form is suitable for significant documents and formal introductions. It may also be used when signing School work, although ordinary communication generally calls for the shorter title. A pupil should choose a form proportionate to the occasion and use only the standing they have earned.

Former officeholders and emeritus titles

Service in Apprentice Leadership develops skills and judgment that remain useful after a term of office ends. The responsibilities and authority of the office, however, pass to its next holder. Former leaders continue to contribute through their experience while respecting the authority of the current appointment.

Past Prefects and Captains may style themselves Prefect Emeritus or Captain Emeritus in recognition of their service. These are honorific titles for appropriate formal occasions and should not be used in routine conversation or communication.

Examples of formal use include:

• Apprentice Edd Lastname, Prefect (Emeritus) to the Lodge served, Wizard in the Third Degree.

• Apprentice Sally Surname, Captain (Emeritus) for the Grey School, Wizard in the Third Degree.

A former officeholder who remains an Apprentice should use Apprentice followed by their name in ordinary forum participation and assignments. The short titles Prefect and Captain identify the people currently serving in those offices. This distinction allows the School to honor past service while keeping present responsibility clear.