To think that our dd's very expensive boarding school ought to be capable of providing adequate medical care?

[sassyTHEFIRST]

And not requiring my dh (who happens to be a surgeon, but nonetheless..) to drive through several counties in the middle of the night to assist at an operation?

Not entirely happy with the French teaching either but that's another thread...

I have always adopted the maxim that anyone who has close set eyes must be a thief. (Daphne, second form at malory towers) And that scholarship girls will work themselves into a fugue of nervous exhaustion (Ellen)

Anyone remember the twins Connie and Ruth though when in the upper 4th I think? Connie was always speaking for her sister and then dreadful things happened and Ruth helped fix them (I think she might have been responsible in the first place) and then they all lived happily ever after when Ruth was put in a faster class. Darrell was very clever and found it all out I seem to remember.

Connor was "brazen"
And bad girls were also plump.

Yes, and it was Ruth all along. She resented being in Brazen Connie's shadow IIRC.

Didn't Gwendoline get fat? It was one of her many character flaws apparently.

And scare her mother and old governess with a fake heart problem?

The bit that really made me even as a very young child was how Jo (a second former in one of the later books) got treated. I seem to remember Darrell giving her a massive slap despite a large age difference, she got pushed into a pool when she was terrified of drowning, not to mention that because she was fat, and her parents didn't have RP voices they were outcast.

And yet...and yet... and yet ... Whyteleaf School was such a communist meritocracy sort of place. Sharing tuck boxes and pocket money even with the poor children.

While operating a group shaming system

Don't forget the basic Blyton premise that if you didn't like sport you were evil.

Ariesgirl I just remembered the rather Big-Brotherish mMnitors as well, making sure that every cog knew their place in the system

Panzee: you were evil or French (which was almost evil but not quite)

The healthcare may be lacking, but they do have a marvellous pool.....

The pool is not marvellous. They just dug out a rock. :o

I'm just really concerned about the measles outbreak going around dd's school. They've had to turn at least two of the dorms into extra San rooms and I'm worried they might have to cancel the Panto at this rate. I must wire my concerns this evening.

Personally I'm absolutely shocked that Alison hasn't bucked up yet. Doesn't she know that teasing strengthens the spirit, improves the mind, hones the conscience and is generally an excellent substitute for friendship?

Claudine was my favourite. She had character. And was also a leetle bit bad.

She has no honour, though ss. Not her fault really - only the English understand honour.

I would send my dd to whyteleaf for a chance with the hottest bloke in children's literature. Floppy black hair and green eyes that sparkle with intelligence. Sigh. Maybe one day they could share that head girl/boy study and have cocoa together.

Ah but she had a lot of fun

Americans had to be taught to speak properly, because they said "twenny" for twenty. Even the young sticky found that a little , but the fagging system was fine... Fancy not knowing how to build a fire, the shame.

Still sniggering at the "Gallic Laurel and Hardy"