I nearly went to High School, but we moved...

[gillo]

I went to three Grammar Schools and a Comprehensive instead. Even the basic terminology is different when you cross the Atlantic.

Comments

[trepkos]

Burglars stole your prefect's badge? Bizarre! Must be horrible being burgled.

[gillo]

It was pinned to my jewellery box, which the bastards swiped. Very little of value, but several things I can't replace. It was about six years ago. They nicked my old laptop too.

It was horrible at the time, but I'm over it now, thanks.

[kazzy_cee]

So many differences between education in the US and U.K. Wearing school uniform was the biggest I noticed at the time. I was so jealous that the American children could wear their own clothes although when I got older I realised how much bullying that helped to stem.

Huh - enigmaticblue isn't under that name on Lj?? Are they on Dreamwidth now .... ??

[gillo]

I always seemed to be in a sort of half-uniform, and the schools generally allowed one to wear previous school stuff till it was outgrown or outworn. I never did get a blazer for my last school. I've always disliked uniforms per se - there's a lot of tripe talked about how they contribute to discipline (in my experience they don't) - especially since 'academies' often choose expensive types because they can. Did you see that news item about the boys wearing skirts in the heatwave? What really struck me was how expensive and impractical they were, and impossible to make at home to save money. The boys looked daft, but so would a fair number of the girls, especially those too tall, short, wide or thin, because those are not skirts you could easily alter.

My bad - I have now added the 's' which makes all the difference. She's on both currently.

[kathyh]

Unsurprisingly that all sounds very familiar but I only went to one school. I don't think I'd have enjoyed having to change schools as much as you did. As it is I still know people that I was at school with for more than 12 years.

[gillo]

I hated it, and I think it caused lasting damage. But at least I could go from one grammar school to another, as it was in the same county.

[curiouswombat]

Remarkably familiar to me, too. Although the small island 'went comprehensive' in 1947 by the simple expedient of building a couple of new schools and declaring that henceforth everyone would go to the grammar school, if up north, or one of the high schools if anywhere else.

So the Grammar continued to have high academic standards, but also had interesting classes for those who planned to be 4th form leavers, rather than staying on to do their GCEs, in horticulture (aka digging), bricklaying and childcare - yes, very sexist, but this was 1970 :)

[snogged]

It was fascinating to read this. I feel like I learned more about the UK's education system.