1960’s primary schooling!

[Knittingnanny]

Just found this in a file, my school “ report” aged 10.
Look at the number in the class, how on earth did that teacher know who we all were!
So glad I was a teacher in an era where numbers were far more reasonable.

Since there wasn't a choice and it wasn't for charity ... no there was no payment beyond the cost of producing costumes.

On the subject of charity dressing up days, the school I taught at decided not to put money in the hands of the supermarkets for shoddy costumes we would ask children to bring their favourite book instead and celebrate World Book with books instead of Disney and the complaints poured in from parents. Similar experience with Children in Need and Red Nose Day, parents demanded costumes!

Thankfully there was no dressing up at any of the four schools I attended in the period 1966-79 except for the very rare Christmas or musical shows or plays. My mother can't sew and neither can I (nor can my Dad) so the idea of having to make costumes fills me with horror. Fortunately my children were at primary school before the monthly dressing up event mania had really taken hold. Most parents I know loathe it and it doesn't seem to me to have much to do with reading.

I do remember having a white dress made each year for maypole dancing in the infants.

Primary in the 60s - class positions were in reports and we sat in order of our position with the brightest kids the furthest from the teacher. Also moved schools and went from a county which employed very progressive techniques (such as learning English through ITA - initial teaching alphabet) to a very traditional county which was a huge change.

Secondary school - our exam percentages and class positions were given for every subject with very direct comments. None of the relentlessly positive waffle you get today. Parents and children knew exactly how the children were getting on without having to try to read between the lines.

@Norestformrz

I also remember going to the teachers house in the next village to rehearse after school ...

Yes Lower 6th form we had to go round to the English teacher's house on Saturday evenings to perform poetry or bits of prose. Just can't imagine kids or teachers agreeing to that anymore.

I remember being hit by teachers in my 1960s primary. I was only 5 the first time.

yes, it wan't all rosy.

@SpindleWhorl

I remember being hit by teachers in my 1960s primary. I was only 5 the first time.

This makes me feel so sad. I'm all for firmer discipline in schools I think we've gone a bit too far the other way now but the thought of anyone hitting my child simultaneously makes me want to cry and rip their bloody heads off at the same time.

Thank goodness this is no longer acceptable!

It was normal where I lived in the 60s and 70s. I was hit at home as well from around that age. This was a 'nice' school and I was from a 'nice' family.

A schoolfriend was hit with a cane her policeman father kept in the cupboard under the stairs. She had a stutter. The cane really didn't help her anxiety.

As a mid-eighties born baby I also had a smack on the bum from time to time again as a child, normal parenting for the time and my parents were nice too. Everyone did it.

I'm glad this isn't how we do things now though, especially in schools. I cannot imagine hurting or frightening my children.

@SpindleWhorl

I remember being hit by teachers in my 1960s primary. I was only 5 the first time.

Yep still going on in the 70s and I remember being hit my teacher for making a mistake not being naughty and I think afterwards it was the teacher who had got it wrong