Wondering if my secondary school was just odd, or does anyone else remember this?

[Mycatishere]

When I started secondary school (in 1992) it was expected that we would ‘back’ our exercise books. This could be in leftover wallpaper, wrapping paper, plastic covers you could get from WH Smiths. Geography books had to be backed in a map. Some kids used cling film.

I remember being annoyed with my mum for backing all my books in brown paper. I wanted something pretty.

Just me?

We had to in the 60s

Yeah I remember backing our books too. I left school in 2007, I wonder if it’s still a thing! I guess not.

I started secondary school in1976 and yes we had to do this

I started in 1991 and remember “covering books”.

We used to too left in 1999

I soo remember this! I actually backed mine in wallpaper

My school didn’t, but I had friends at other schools that had to do this.

We had to do it as well. My own dc have never had to but then it seems they don't really have many books.

Schools still do this! Has to be sticky back plastic though

We did this in first and second year but it didn’t seem to follow on after that. Left school in 2003.

Yes. This was in the 80s. We used a few sheets thick of newspaper. My mum would get yesterdays paper for free from the newsagent whenever we had to refresh the cover/backing. Couldn’t afford to actually buy anything to use.

We used to do this. Could sometimes cadge a sample book from our local wallpaper shop, which gave us endless possibilities for different book covers!

Australia here.. are used to do it and still a requirement at my daughters school!

yes all books had to be covered, they had to last for many years of use and were expensive to replace. We didn't have to cover them in specific stuff but we were taught how to do it without using sellotape. Cling film didn't exist at the time!

I’ve never known a school do it since I started teaching in 2003! But I’m glad it isn’t just me - I was telling some colleagues about it and they looked at me askance

In the 1970s yes! I used to enjoy covering books.

Absolutely- I had books covered in anaglypta wallpaper. Very sturdy 😅

oh I just re read...the exercise books? no we had files and file paper. the only exercise books we had were a GNB (general note book), a maths work book and an english workbook. They were very rough paper that wouldn't take fountain pen ink and were interded to be written in in pencil....we called them scribblers.

We did it too.
DC are supposed to, but they are only allowed to use sticky back plastic. No pretty paper for them.

Both my children’s secondary schools still do this. Text books and exercise books need to be covered. I buy the reusable slip-on covers.

Yes in 1976.
My mum was a physiotherapist and had ample access to stay material.
It was great because I covered by books in robust stuff but could still see through it to identify my text books

Yes! My dad was a painter and decorator so all mine were wallpapered. Was v envious of the pretty wrapping paper ones!

I started secondary in 1991 and we had to.

I used the plastic covers from WH smiths and added stickers at some point. I also used sticky back at some point too.

I can't remember which way round though. I think the plastic covers came out later and were the genius solution to not having to use a ruler to remove bubbles from sticky back!

had to do this in the 80s/90s

I started secondary school in 1995 and we had to do this, the practice had pretty much stopped by the time I left. Both kids have never even seen a text book or exercise book in Secondary school never mind backed one.