Recently reading about some of the problems with school uniform that another blogger had written about, made me cast my mind back to the difficulties I had at school.
This was because when I joined the school there was no policy back in 1958 for compulsory uniforms, so the fact that I didn't have one when I went to secondary school did not seem an issue.
Unfortunately the headmaster decided that year that henceforth everybody in the school would have to wear uniform, which for most was not a problem, and quickly the majority acquired the uniform so as not to be the odd ones out or penalised by the school, others just transferred to other schools.
This left a small number of pupils in actual fact I think it was five, of which I was one, they started a long protracted battle between the various parents and the headmaster of the school bearing in mind there were approximately 1000 pupils at the school.
I was frequently sent home with notes for my father from the headmaster asking him to come in and discuss the matter, which he repeatedly refused to do, because his feeling was that this did not affect my education in any shape or form.
When I talked to my father about the issue, he explained that he had been forced to wear a uniform by the forces during the war, after being forced to fight and having to give up his prosperous business, therefore losing everything he's ever worked for. As a consequence he decided that he did not want me to have to comply with the rigid rules that there was no actual reason for.
Although in a sort of way I understood what he was saying, it did not stop me from feeling the odd one out, which was made worse by the headmaster repeatedly singling me out at school to stand outside his office door, which really was not going to have very much effect on my father who was not there, also it meant that I often missed classes in school.
Well surprise surprise eventually the headmaster managed to get the numbers down to one, guess who, now this wouldn't have been so bad, if he had been willing to transfer me to the school at the top of the cul-de-sac I lived in, where there were no problems re uniform, but my feeling after all this time, was that this was now a battle that the headmaster had to win at any cost to me.
I soldiered on finding it was a waste of time to be in the choir or the violin classes because I could not take part in any public performance, but continued in the Grammar stream of the school and maintained decent results for the first four years.
In the final year, I had become wiser and had a spare coat of the uniform that some kind person given me that I could wear when needed, although I knew better than to wear it in the class because it would have fed back to my father. I was still doing okay and actively involved as the ink monitor, assisted in setting out for assembly and was also involved in anything theatrical backstage at the school.
I had learned to keep a low profile in school, and went to great lengths to try to be friendly and obliging to everybody so I would not be picked on, which I feel is still part of the person I am today, good or bad.
Sadly towards the end of the school year just before I was due to take my mock GCEs, one of the other boys brought some alcohol in to share with others, he wasn't a very popular person, but he suddenly acquired friends, I therefore added two & two and decided to copy him, knowing that my father had alcohol in the house.
A few days later I brought some in, and offered some to my best friend, explaining that we could share this with others in our class, but then got called away, and later went to my next classroom forgetting all about the booze, shortly after I was summoned to the headmaster's office, where he explained that my friend had collapsed in classroom and had to be sent home stinking of alcohol, but before he went he had explained that it was mine.
Well this was what the headmaster had been waiting for, because I had been a model pupil for all these years, I was instantly suspended after 6 strokes of the strap & a letter sent saying I was not allowed back in school until my father went to school to sort the matter out neither would I be able to sit my exams.
I gave the letter to my father & guess what another good hiding which to me at the time seemed a little unfair, but would my father go to school no way, so I missed some of the first most important exams of the year, until finally I was allowed back in to take what was left ULCI Geography & History were all I came out with, before being expelled from school.
What difference did it make, well I missed careers advice, not sure if that was good, learnt what its like to be the odd one out, that bullying is not helpful in any way, decided to support the underdog & to do whatever I could to make it easier for my children if possible, if ever I had them, that power corrupts.
For years after I decided that one day I would go back & confront the headmaster & explain to him what he had done to me, he could so easily of transferred me to another school at the beginning, but the irony was that just when I had reached that important point, I heard that he was dead, later the school was demolished.
The positive out of all this is for several periods of my life up to the present I have worked to enable people who have problems coping with authority & supporting the underdog, maybe it wasent quite so bad an outcome after all, the other point is that I decided me and alcohol were not meant to mix in any shape or form, see future blogs about evidence to support this.
I hope you enjoyed the read
Friday, January 11, 2008
Pams People & other Stuff
Well today has been a strange one, I woke up early & went on Sagazone, what else would anyone do first thing in the morning but no messages, had breakfast then had a shower, watched TV for a while, tidied up then fell asleep, to much time with the Owls (another blog to come) the previous evening.
Went over to my friends then into town to see Pams People who I have mentioned previously, they were supposed to be the entertainment at a local church hall, at a meeting I was attending about health issues.
The first person I saw I recognised but could not think who he was (senior moment) then we both realised who the other was, I had known him at a day centre I used to attend when my health was poor & he was another of the users, he had health problems but had fought to overcome them. He explained that he was now involved in water skiing as he had prior to having health problems & was now in the top people in the country, this was despite being told he would never walk again never mind water ski, shows what we can do despite the experts.
What saddened me was how many years had passed since our last meeting & that thing where we say I must make the effort but never quite make it until we bump into each other years later, I worked it out it was at least 8 years ago.
Well on to the main event, well no, Ring & Ride were late so nothing happened for another half hour, when we finally went into the other room & I came across my friend Jackie from Pams People, we had a chat & I am now the official number one groupie for them, we had a chat about the concert I am involved in which she is helping to provide the entertainment as well as act as compere of the show.
Well the show started & despite the small audience the cast were really enthusiastic in the various numbers they sang mainly from musicals, so I was in my element very quietly singing along & the audience showed their appreciation to the group.
One of the problems I have with this group is that certain of the members have something about their facial expressions that I really enjoy, to be fair all really got into their songs & roles but when Rob was singing there was something kind & fun when he sang as there was with Jackie, with a twinkle in her eye, even more so in the comedy songs. As always I had a problem with Barbara who has such a lovely smile, but also puts so much enthusiasm into her parts, even when in the background
Having said that Eddie really impressed me with his rendition of “If I loved you” from Carousel & it brought back a whole range of memories to me from the past, but the best was yet to come, Jackie sang “Once You Loose Your Heart” from Me & My Girl beautifully, but suddenly the pianist stopped, Jackie continued unaccompanied, realised there was a problem with the sheet music, carried her copy over to him & he picked up again whilst she continued to sing in tune with no hint of concern, what a person.
Well then we had a medley from the group when various people sang various songs until Barbara sang “Wouldn’t It Be Lovely “ from My Fair Lady”, which includes a small dance, sadly the floor was slippy & she ended up on the floor still singing, got up & whilst not missing a beat, even better went back to her little dance, a true professional, fortunately she had done no real damage to herself.
I felt everyone had truly enjoyed the performance, so now down to business of the night, well no Ring & Ride had come so that was the end of that, so we said our goodbyes.
I think its worth mentioning that a local councillor who I have known for over 15 years was at the venue, so we had a chat, I have always been impressed that he seems a fair person & always willing to help people over the years. We reminisced about the fact that apathy seems to rule in life, people complain to him & feel that is the end of their involvement & if he cannot resolve he is of no use, whereas if they became involved in the process & made effort themselves there was a greater chance that change could be effected, its nice to see people like him still exist a reminder that there are still caring people in politics.
Came back home guess the first thing I did, yes turn the computer on have a look for new posts on Sagazone, WHAT nobody has sent me a message all day where am I going wrong, so this is why I have done this blog just to remind you all I am still out there, thanks for reading this
Went over to my friends then into town to see Pams People who I have mentioned previously, they were supposed to be the entertainment at a local church hall, at a meeting I was attending about health issues.
The first person I saw I recognised but could not think who he was (senior moment) then we both realised who the other was, I had known him at a day centre I used to attend when my health was poor & he was another of the users, he had health problems but had fought to overcome them. He explained that he was now involved in water skiing as he had prior to having health problems & was now in the top people in the country, this was despite being told he would never walk again never mind water ski, shows what we can do despite the experts.
What saddened me was how many years had passed since our last meeting & that thing where we say I must make the effort but never quite make it until we bump into each other years later, I worked it out it was at least 8 years ago.
Well on to the main event, well no, Ring & Ride were late so nothing happened for another half hour, when we finally went into the other room & I came across my friend Jackie from Pams People, we had a chat & I am now the official number one groupie for them, we had a chat about the concert I am involved in which she is helping to provide the entertainment as well as act as compere of the show.
Well the show started & despite the small audience the cast were really enthusiastic in the various numbers they sang mainly from musicals, so I was in my element very quietly singing along & the audience showed their appreciation to the group.
One of the problems I have with this group is that certain of the members have something about their facial expressions that I really enjoy, to be fair all really got into their songs & roles but when Rob was singing there was something kind & fun when he sang as there was with Jackie, with a twinkle in her eye, even more so in the comedy songs. As always I had a problem with Barbara who has such a lovely smile, but also puts so much enthusiasm into her parts, even when in the background
Having said that Eddie really impressed me with his rendition of “If I loved you” from Carousel & it brought back a whole range of memories to me from the past, but the best was yet to come, Jackie sang “Once You Loose Your Heart” from Me & My Girl beautifully, but suddenly the pianist stopped, Jackie continued unaccompanied, realised there was a problem with the sheet music, carried her copy over to him & he picked up again whilst she continued to sing in tune with no hint of concern, what a person.
Well then we had a medley from the group when various people sang various songs until Barbara sang “Wouldn’t It Be Lovely “ from My Fair Lady”, which includes a small dance, sadly the floor was slippy & she ended up on the floor still singing, got up & whilst not missing a beat, even better went back to her little dance, a true professional, fortunately she had done no real damage to herself.
I felt everyone had truly enjoyed the performance, so now down to business of the night, well no Ring & Ride had come so that was the end of that, so we said our goodbyes.
I think its worth mentioning that a local councillor who I have known for over 15 years was at the venue, so we had a chat, I have always been impressed that he seems a fair person & always willing to help people over the years. We reminisced about the fact that apathy seems to rule in life, people complain to him & feel that is the end of their involvement & if he cannot resolve he is of no use, whereas if they became involved in the process & made effort themselves there was a greater chance that change could be effected, its nice to see people like him still exist a reminder that there are still caring people in politics.
Came back home guess the first thing I did, yes turn the computer on have a look for new posts on Sagazone, WHAT nobody has sent me a message all day where am I going wrong, so this is why I have done this blog just to remind you all I am still out there, thanks for reading this
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
