To want to send my son to school in the 1970's???

[HonoriaGlossop]

I am fed up with lots about my poor 5 yr old ds' school. Unofrtunately for him he is both the youngest in his year and also has hypermobility particularly in his arms and hands which makes writing and drawing and ALL gross and fine motor skills difficult for him.

He is at what is seen as an excellent school and his teacher is lovely....

but I just can't help comparing his experience to mine in the 70's, yes I am that old. We went in scuzzy old clothes, no uniform, we took NOTHING with us, no book bags, we had NO homework AT ALL, EVER! I remember lots of glue-ing and sticking and glitter...

ds has spelling homework every week and a TEST each friday, he is FIVE. Because he can't read fluently yet (at 5!) his literacy has been described as delayed which on further questioning is on comparing him to the class inc some girls of a full year older than him rather than to what is 'normal' for a 5 yr old boy.

He already tells me school is boring and he hates literacy and he is the most imaginative, enthusiastic child, so it's awful to hear that from him at 5!

i know what we need is an 'alternative' school but we can't bloomin afford private fees.

I think it all comes from successive governments' distrust of teachers (too left wing to be allowed autonomy).

Just wanted to moan

Ta

And here's another thing. State school hours were 9 - 4 when I was little, with two playtimes and an hour for lunch. In Edinburgh it now seems to be 9 - 3.30 (Monday - Thursday) and 9 - 12 (Friday). What's happened to all that lost time? And is it all just a plot to force parents to pay moonlighting teachers for after-school clubs?

I went to a super primary school in the 1970s, so have to agree with the OP.

Really, ½ day on a Friday?

dd's school no longer has a set afternoon playtime for KS2 (that's Junior school). It's now done on an if and when needed basis. Which doesn't seem right to me.

Re school times.

I went to school from 9-4.00

I now teach from 8.50-3.30, which looks like a better deal.

But in the 1970s school had an hours lunch, and 2 half hour breaks.

I now have 1 20 minute break and a 40 minute lunch.

i started school in 1970, and left in 1982. it was all pretty horrible. And at least now it is not so SEXIST. i Would not wish a 70's education on anyone!

Oh yes, sexism was rife.

My chemistry teacher always talked about 'boys'. ignored me completely. there were only 3 of us in the frigging class, so I was farking hard to miss!

Girls did needlework and cookery, boys did woodwork and metalwork.

In primary school the girls had to spend Friday afternoon sewing, while the boys got to play football.

MB, I feel just as much for the teachers as the children at the loss of an afternoon break. I know a couple of teachers would be required to supervise but at least it was a (very) little breather.

exactly martian, i hated sewing & cooking and was useless at it, pprobably wd also have been useless at woodwork & metalwork, but never had the chance to find out

our school didn't have any facilities to teach woodwork or metalwork....if you were 'academic' you had to do O Level Economics, if not you learnt how to type in 'Office Skills'

I know which one would ahve been more useful and it certainly hasn't been my Grade E Economics!