Student/pupil

[Theyreeatingthedogs]

When did we start referring to children at school as students? I absolutely hate it. They were always pupils in my day, which I'll admit wasn't yesterday. It doesn't improve anything just causes confusion. There was a post on MN where someone said they had taught a student. I automatically thought of college or uni. Someone asked if it was a schoolchild or an adult. If we didn't refer to school children as students the world would be a much easier place to navigate.

It's 'Scholar' on my DC's bus pass!

I think pupil sounds more like a role within the school. You come to school, you are a pupil, that is your position, and teachers provide you with specific information, skills and facts. Student to me, implies greater ownership of learning - you are not just waiting to be filled with knowledge but are a more active participant in finding, studying and interpreting information. That's my feeling and rationale for saying pupil at school and student beyond. Although as a primary teacher I refer to them as children mostly, but would use learners if im referring to something specific about learning. Eg, "The back playground is being painted today, so the children played in the front area." The Hub has been painted and has brand new furniture to make it a more welcoming and comfortable environment for our learners". Who knew I had so many opinions?

Yes, you may be correct. It certainly varies across the UK. Even different regions in England but High School as a catch all term is not what I grew up with. It was always referred to a secondary school. It is still secondary education.

Enjoy 😎

But I suspect that is to do with the predominant name in your area. I was surprised when I moved to England and people didn't talk about 'when you go to high school...'. As a general term, that was all it was ever referred to where I lived in the 1980s and 1990s. Even politicians would use phrases live 'high school pupils' (not students!). Talking about going to secondary school would have got you strange looks.

You are correct. The term "high school" that is used almost universally in the US for secondary school came directly from Scotland.

The first school to call itself a high school was (and is) the Royal High School in Edinburgh. An early school in the US was modeled on the Royal High School and the name spread.