I remember in secondary school, one thing they didn't have was soap, disgusting
They had those liquid soap dispenser ones at my school. People used to pull the lever about 100 times till there was a little pile of soap on the sink.
The alternative were the ones you turned upside down to get the soap out. In theory they were balanced to return to the upright position, but nothing that a paper-towel wedge wouldn't prevent.
At my primary school they had some strange obsession with toilet roll rationing. They'd give you 3-5 single strips to go to the toilet with. Bizarre stuff. I know TP isn't free, but really? God help you if you had a runny day. I was overweight too, which resulted in a larger surface area.
I remember penis inspection day, too. That was embarrassing.
At my primary school they had some strange obsession with toilet roll rationing. They'd give you 3-5 single strips to go to the toilet with. Bizarre stuff. I know TP isn't free, but really? God help you if you had a runny day. I was overweight too, which resulted in a larger surface area.
I remember penis inspection day, too. That was embarrassing.
I think the paper rationing was more to do with stopping all us oiks blocking every toilet with it if we had unlimited supplies.
Toilet paper also made fabulous wet pellets for blowing through a biro shell. Aimed at the blackboard they would make quite a lovely pattern until the teacher realised what was happening.
If one had time one could munch up a large wet 'super pellet' [about 2 inches worth]. This would be thrown up against the ceiling over where the teacher stood with some force, making it stick to the surface. At some time during the day. it would dry enough to fall, hopefully on the teacher at the time.
At my primary school they had some strange obsession with toilet roll rationing. They'd give you 3-5 single strips to go to the toilet with. Bizarre stuff. I know TP isn't free, but really? God help you if you had a runny day. I was overweight too, which resulted in a larger surface area.
I remember penis inspection day, too. That was embarrassing.
I thought it was one of the most beautiful things I'd ever seen - whenever I walked by the class I was mesmerised by it. Unfortunately being a 'November' birthday and an older starter I was never in that class and never got to go on it though.
We did have a sand and wet tray though - It gave offf a very distinctive smell.
reading back on some of my replies, an awful lot of them mention the smells.
certain smells are very evocative - school was full of the from the boiled cabbage at dinner time to the wet steaming raincoats/overcoats and wellies in the cold cloakrooms.
We had penis and balls inspection days. Some woman bought in from somewhere who squeezed all the boys private parts. I hated it - "right, trousers and pants down please".
We had penis and balls inspection days. Some woman bought in from somewhere who squeezed all the boys private parts. I hated it - "right, trousers and pants down please".
Sounds about right.
Slightly different varying on places though. At my school it was generally the same teacher for a few different boys. The rest were with different people I always assumed. Generally we were encouraged not to speak to our parents for obvious reasons. We all know how conservative parents these days can be when it comes to health issues.
We used to play
"Go and tell Aunt Mary
Go and tell Aunt Mary
Go and tell Aunt Mary
The old grey goose is dead"
I've often wondered what Aunt Mary did to that poor goose....
I've only just found this thread and working my way thru it - up to about page 17 at the moment. Brilliant!
The tune I remember playing on the recorder was "Little bird, I have heard, what a merry song you sing" and heard my neighbour's daughter practising it in the garden about 20 years later!
My worst memory of school is one of my primary teachers, she picked on me because I was quiet and shy as a kid and I was terrified of her. These days she'd be unemployable. Mind you she was quite old and still a "Miss" so probably a frustrated spinster looking for someone to take her bitterness out on (pardon the grammar!)
I got bullied and teased by other kids too, for the same reason. Fast forward a few years and I had a Saturday job at Woollies. A new lady started who turned out to be the mother of a boy who, although I wouldn't call him a bully exactly, used to pick on me mercilessly and because he was one of the popular ones, all his mates would follow what he did. Anyway I told his mum about this and she couldn't believe it (naturally). The following Saturday she told me that she'd mentioned it to him and his answer was "We didn't mean it, it was just because she was shy" :o
Sorry for the sob story, LOL. It took me years to conquer my shyness and now I think I've gone too far the other way
We had penis and balls inspection days. Some woman bought in from somewhere who squeezed all the boys private parts. I hated it - "right, trousers and pants down please".
I sincerely hope the woman was a medical professional and there were sound reasons for this? Otherwise the police should be getting involved!
We had penis and balls inspection days. Some woman bought in from somewhere who squeezed all the boys private parts. I hated it - "right, trousers and pants down please".
:o:confused: Not something I came across (sorry!) in my schoolboy career, thankfully.
I'm sure she was. There was a spate in the late 70's where the 'health authority' had a bee in its bonnet about 'correct development' in that area.
Yeah, I remember this from my last year at primary school ('77-'78). All the boys in the class were really worried about it and we all hoped it wouldn't be us.
Cue, one day, the teacher coming in after a break and saying "Kodos, can you go and see the nurse, please" and the the rest of the class turning round and giving me pitying looks. I was terrified and shaking like a leaf on my way there but when I knocked on the door and was let in I found my mum in there with the nurse and all they wanted to check out was my feet
Knocking on the staff room door and when it was opened being engulfed in a cloud of tobacco smoke.
Funny! I can remember that toone!
Just remembered the mash potato being dished up at dinner time. I don't think I'd ever seen one of those silver scoops which turned the potato into round balls. I was fascinated by it as there was a lever on the handle which when squeezed produced the perfect spheres. Hated the potato though and had never tasted anything like it.was it reconstituted? Those were the days that my dad grew all our vegetables so had never had to eat anything from a packet it tin. I am still fascinated by kitchen implements and have more than I could ever need.😳
I remember a school trip at infant school.getting a coach to bristol zoo.soggy cheese and tomato sandwiches (yummy!) and seeing polar bears and Wendy the elephant who was led around the zoo by the keeper.
What a brilliant idea. Lines were/are rather pointless - at least that got the old grey matter working had some educational value.
I remember having to write out incorrect spellings ten times under the heading 'Corrections' - I once spelt it corections and was ridiculed in front of the whole class. Never got it wrong since though;-)
I remember having to write spelling mistakes ten times as well but at least it meant I didn't get them wrong again. I hear that they don't use lines anymore as writing shouldn't be seen as a punishment
Needlework classes and at the end of the class having to put all the chairs on the desk and picking up pins from the floor ☺
Not to pick up pins but I remember putting our chairs on the table everyday before going home to make it easier for the cleaners.
Here are a few more memories (probably already mentioned but here goes)
Last day of term-not having to wear uniform and being allowed to bring a 'quiet game'
Watching TV in the dining room-Words and Pictures, Seeing and Doing, ZigZag, How we used to Live
Swimming lessons-the pool never being ready on time, walking through a footbath before getting in-not sure how clean it was by the time everyone's feet had been through it. Eventually they decided that it cost too much and we went to the local leisure centre instead
Christmas-nativity plays, parties, films
Harvest Festival-elderly people in the area were invited and we used to bring cakes, fruit e.t.c. to make hampers for them to take home.
I went to a grammer school and i remember our cleaners being the laziest ones in the world. It was quite a posh school so the pupils were generally well mannered so litter wasnt an issue.
When we started each week two pupils were in charge of tidying the form room. It had to be spotless after lunch which meant using the small hoover to get rid of any crumbs, and making sure the bin wasnt over full and that there was no litter.
Every single bloody term we had a speech by the headmaster about how the cleaners were complaining! We even got banned from eating inside except from the cramped canteen but they still moaned about their job.
I went to visit my grandparents one holiday who lived in a different county so their schools were still in. My grandad was a cleaner there and we went in with him one evening. The school was a bloody tip. Rubbish strew everywhere, graffiti on the outside walls, food everywhere and chewing gum stuck to tables and doors. By the end of the shift it looked completely different! I remember the cleaners being so friendly and unfazed by it and didnt mind at all because it was their job.
It definitely made my mind up about our cleaners who only had to run a hoover round! These cleaners had to move all the chairs, clean under then and the tables and do a lot more than ours ever did!
Comments
They had those liquid soap dispenser ones at my school. People used to pull the lever about 100 times till there was a little pile of soap on the sink.
The alternative were the ones you turned upside down to get the soap out. In theory they were balanced to return to the upright position, but nothing that a paper-towel wedge wouldn't prevent.
I remember penis inspection day, too. That was embarrassing.
I think the paper rationing was more to do with stopping all us oiks blocking every toilet with it if we had unlimited supplies.
Toilet paper also made fabulous wet pellets for blowing through a biro shell. Aimed at the blackboard they would make quite a lovely pattern until the teacher realised what was happening.
If one had time one could munch up a large wet 'super pellet' [about 2 inches worth]. This would be thrown up against the ceiling over where the teacher stood with some force, making it stick to the surface. At some time during the day. it would dry enough to fall, hopefully on the teacher at the time.
You didn't have penis inspection day?
http://www.classicrockinghorses.co.uk/ImagesAnt/Freweb.jpg
I thought it was one of the most beautiful things I'd ever seen - whenever I walked by the class I was mesmerised by it. Unfortunately being a 'November' birthday and an older starter I was never in that class and never got to go on it though.
We did have a sand and wet tray though - It gave offf a very distinctive smell.
reading back on some of my replies, an awful lot of them mention the smells.
certain smells are very evocative - school was full of the from the boiled cabbage at dinner time to the wet steaming raincoats/overcoats and wellies in the cold cloakrooms.
School was positively FULL of different smells.
We had penis and balls inspection days. Some woman bought in from somewhere who squeezed all the boys private parts. I hated it - "right, trousers and pants down please".
Sounds about right.
Slightly different varying on places though. At my school it was generally the same teacher for a few different boys. The rest were with different people I always assumed. Generally we were encouraged not to speak to our parents for obvious reasons. We all know how conservative parents these days can be when it comes to health issues.
I've only just found this thread and working my way thru it - up to about page 17 at the moment. Brilliant!
The tune I remember playing on the recorder was "Little bird, I have heard, what a merry song you sing" and heard my neighbour's daughter practising it in the garden about 20 years later!
My worst memory of school is one of my primary teachers, she picked on me because I was quiet and shy as a kid and I was terrified of her. These days she'd be unemployable. Mind you she was quite old and still a "Miss" so probably a frustrated spinster looking for someone to take her bitterness out on (pardon the grammar!)
I got bullied and teased by other kids too, for the same reason. Fast forward a few years and I had a Saturday job at Woollies. A new lady started who turned out to be the mother of a boy who, although I wouldn't call him a bully exactly, used to pick on me mercilessly and because he was one of the popular ones, all his mates would follow what he did. Anyway I told his mum about this and she couldn't believe it (naturally). The following Saturday she told me that she'd mentioned it to him and his answer was "We didn't mean it, it was just because she was shy"
Sorry for the sob story, LOL. It took me years to conquer my shyness and now I think I've gone too far the other way
I sincerely hope the woman was a medical professional and there were sound reasons for this? Otherwise the police should be getting involved!
I'm sure she was. There was a spate in the late 70's where the 'health authority' had a bee in its bonnet about 'correct development' in that area.
Yeah, I remember this from my last year at primary school ('77-'78). All the boys in the class were really worried about it and we all hoped it wouldn't be us.
Cue, one day, the teacher coming in after a break and saying "Kodos, can you go and see the nurse, please" and the the rest of the class turning round and giving me pitying looks. I was terrified and shaking like a leaf on my way there but when I knocked on the door and was let in I found my mum in there with the nurse and all they wanted to check out was my feet
Funny! I can remember that toone!
Just remembered the mash potato being dished up at dinner time. I don't think I'd ever seen one of those silver scoops which turned the potato into round balls. I was fascinated by it as there was a lever on the handle which when squeezed produced the perfect spheres. Hated the potato though and had never tasted anything like it.was it reconstituted? Those were the days that my dad grew all our vegetables so had never had to eat anything from a packet it tin. I am still fascinated by kitchen implements and have more than I could ever need.😳
Nor me, why? in the Army it was called "short arm inspection":D
did you play pinwhistle too?
I remember having to write spelling mistakes ten times as well but at least it meant I didn't get them wrong again. I hear that they don't use lines anymore as writing shouldn't be seen as a punishment
I remember my school getting its first computer-a BBC Micro
Not to pick up pins but I remember putting our chairs on the table everyday before going home to make it easier for the cleaners.
Here are a few more memories (probably already mentioned but here goes)
Last day of term-not having to wear uniform and being allowed to bring a 'quiet game'
Watching TV in the dining room-Words and Pictures, Seeing and Doing, ZigZag, How we used to Live
Swimming lessons-the pool never being ready on time, walking through a footbath before getting in-not sure how clean it was by the time everyone's feet had been through it. Eventually they decided that it cost too much and we went to the local leisure centre instead
Christmas-nativity plays, parties, films
Harvest Festival-elderly people in the area were invited and we used to bring cakes, fruit e.t.c. to make hampers for them to take home.
Will probably think of some more later
When we started each week two pupils were in charge of tidying the form room. It had to be spotless after lunch which meant using the small hoover to get rid of any crumbs, and making sure the bin wasnt over full and that there was no litter.
Every single bloody term we had a speech by the headmaster about how the cleaners were complaining! We even got banned from eating inside except from the cramped canteen but they still moaned about their job.
I went to visit my grandparents one holiday who lived in a different county so their schools were still in. My grandad was a cleaner there and we went in with him one evening. The school was a bloody tip. Rubbish strew everywhere, graffiti on the outside walls, food everywhere and chewing gum stuck to tables and doors. By the end of the shift it looked completely different! I remember the cleaners being so friendly and unfazed by it and didnt mind at all because it was their job.
It definitely made my mind up about our cleaners who only had to run a hoover round! These cleaners had to move all the chairs, clean under then and the tables and do a lot more than ours ever did!