Friday 7 September 2018

Back to School.


It's that time of year again.

I don't remember the first day at my Prep' School, but I do remember the first day at my Upper School.

As 'new boys' we were ascribed a 'junior common room' rather than a study, and all 15 (or so) of us new boys assembled there; nervously shuffling in our brand new, crisp, school uniforms. None of us knew anyone else, and I found myself naturally searching-out those who, like myself, were southerners. It seemed as good a way as any to make friends, looking for others who had something in common.

There were five of us who hailed from south of Watford; Po lived in Tehran although was originally from Sussex, Nick was from Pinner, Alan was from Park Lane (very posh), Monty was from Wentworth, and I was from the south coast. These became, and remained, my closest friends.

We were extremely nervous. We'd all read Tom Brown's School Days and were expecting cruel Flashman-like seniors to be on the prowl for boys to thrash and bully.


Finding one's way around was extremely complicated, but was helped by the publication of this tiny almanack which we were obliged to carry with us at all times. This gave times of lessons, cathedral services to be attended, mealtimes, names and addresses of teachers, various societies, occasional films, sports, and weekly events. No excuse for lateness would ever be accepted.


I remember those first few weeks with real trepidation. We were all desperately trying to look as if we knew what we were doing; but didn't. We had entered a whole new world.

I feel very sorry for children who are going through the same thing this week. I just hope their experiences aren't as harrowing as mine.

And yes; I've still got my tiny almanack from all those years ago.



25 comments:

  1. It can be a terrifying time. I went to a small primary school and then a very large college for my secondary years. The latter school with it size and number of students caused me much anxiety.

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    1. It can be a very frightening time for children. I remember feeling totally lost. It didn't last, thank goodness.

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  2. I am one of those freaks who always loved school, even the Catholic school with the not always so nice nuns. Loved it so much I went back at age 55 for my writing degree and now thinking of going for my Masters at age 59. My children just refer to me as 'warped".

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    1. I also loved school, but those first few days as a 'new boy' were a nightmare.

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  3. At prep school I don't remember my own first day but I do remember that of a girl called Susan who went on to become my best friend for the next 5 years. I can still see me and her standing by a radiator and I had been assigned at the grand age of 5 to look after her having arrived one term before. She expressed concern that the nuns were frightening her and I reassured her there was nothing to be afraid of. We are still in touch and she owns, and lives in, a hotel in Thailand with her husband.

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    1. I made a very good friend at Prep' school, and we still meet up. He may be moving to Brighton, so maybe in the future we'll see more of each other. I think we must have been about 5 or 6 when we first met.

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  4. My son teaches in a Prep school Cro and from what he says conditions are much more relaxed than they were in those far off days.

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    1. I taught in a co-ed Prep' school in Sussex (Windlesham House). The children were so pleasant and well behaved that it was a real pleasure. I suppose we were too back in the 50's.

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  5. I don’t remember either of my first days at school ( infant and senior ) experiences being too traumatic but then, I have an older sister who was at both before me so I was used to the schools and buildings, having been to them both for concerts and plays before I started. I still see my best friend that I started infants with every month and another best friend with whom I went through senior school..... after all that rambling on, I do remember that feeling of being ‘ new ‘ .XXXX

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    1. Not only was everything new for me, but I was also about 150 miles from home. We had to make the best of things!

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  6. I remember being bewildered. Here I was in a room full of strange children, some crying, and my mother waving a tearful goodbye at the door. I've been bewildered ever since.

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    1. I expect there are a lot of children feeling exactly like that this week.

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  7. I was the “new kid” twice in schools. Those days will never leave my mind. When I got home at the end of the day, I would cry my eyes out. It did, however, teach me courage.

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    1. As a 'boarder' we didn't have that luxury. We had to stick it out by ourselves.

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    2. No, they didn't like the idea.

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  8. Did I say that my brother's Grammar school had a six day week that meant that Bank Holidays didn't always fall on Double Maths!
    For some reason I have always thought that that would be a 'good idea' for the likes of the NHS.

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    1. I like your logic. Others could benefit too.

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  9. I wonder who ever came up with the idea of sending kids away to school? Sounds barbaric I never could have sent my kids away when they needed parental love and support so much. I wouldn't have traded those years with my kids for anything!

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    1. Whoever it was should receive a knighthood. It was a wonderful time. I boarded from about 7 to 18; the best years of my life (almost).

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  10. A guide book sounds like an excellent idea.

    I can't imagine sending my babies away to boarding school.

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    1. Do other schools not do this? I have no idea. Boarding is fun (most of the time).

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  11. I remember my first day at Prep School because my Mother fell and sprained her wrist so badly that it was a problem for the rest of her life. I don't remember anything about my first day at Grammar School.

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    1. That sounds like something you'd never forget, and no doubt she didn't either.

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  12. just realised you were there through the thick of the sixties - Beatles, Stones, flower power, the lot. You lucky thing. I had acid house, New Order, vodka and Oasis. Not quite the same thing.

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