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I was talking to Shane today and asked him a couple of questions about school and uniform. Using the typical questions which get asked (neither of us felt we were sent away but people always seem to assume that is the case for some reason). I've given his replies and then given my response. May be of interest, maybe not but I've thrown a few lines together. They provide a good idea of what Shane and I thought about our boarding experiences.
It was my choice and I could not wait to join up with my mates who were already boarding. I wanted to board from 11 but our parents were not so keen and I had to try the local secondary first. Looking back it was the best thing ever when I was allowed to board. We had loads of fun, did things we could not possibly do at home and had the advantage of not only a good education but so many other activities at school and when at home all the attention. Best of both worlds. Boarding may not be for everyone but it suited my personality and interests. I missed home sometimes but there was always so much else to do and the holidays were only ever a few weeks apart.
At first I was not too happy with the prospect of boarding as I wanted to stay at home but it was never a case of being sent away. It is a little scary at first going into the unknown, even though my brother had told me about pretty much everything many times over, but it is also really exciting and as a boy I remember thinking of it as a real adventure and very grown up. It was my choice as much as my parents that I join Shane as there was a good day school not too far from where we lived I could have attended but it was going to be more settling for me and easier for my parents if I boarded. I started to board on and off at my prep school but was a full boarder when I moved on to my senior school. It was a little strange getting used to the rules and regulations and quite strict discipline but it was also a lot of fun and better to be with the other boys than on my own at home. I can only remember getting homesick a couple of times; usually after lights out or when we had to write our letters home.
I never gave it any thought as it was just part of the package. Ricky used to get on my nerves about wearing the school cap when I first started but I believe he still has the bruises where I cured that. Not having to wear a tie except on formal occasions was brilliant. We wore shorts but as everyone did it was nothing special. In my last few years we would grumble to our Housemaster if we we had to go out in uniform as it was not 'cool' to be seen by girls in uniform but that would have applied no matter what the uniform was. the shorts and sporty image worked more to our favour than against, especially if we made out how hard done by, beaten and poorly treated we were! Of course none of that was true, discipline was strict compared to nowadays but we did not see it like that even when receiving the cane after being caught.
I never really gave a great deal of thought about uniform. I was very pleased and proud to wear my first uniform when I joined my first senior school, especially the school blazer, as it made me feel special and grown up. When I changed schools the blazer was even better but not worn everyday and the only other significant change was to wear shorts instead of trousers. I did not mind and can only remember being conscious about doing so a few times when travelling to or from school on the bus. If we were on school trips or using the town swimming pool it was not something I even thought about as it was simply just what we wore. My senior school was somewhat remote and as we all wore pretty much the same there was no issue. I can't say I was especially proud of my uniform but I was and still am fiercely proud of my school and house. uniform was just what you wore and as long as it wasn't uncomfortable or silly, I have seen boys in pink striped blazers at some events, I can't recall anyone being against it even as older pupils. When the proposals for changing the uniform were mooted quite a few old boys as well as a good number of the current boys (at the time) did not want to break with tradition but by then most boys wanted to wear long trousers. Strangely when visiting now many of the current boys spend most of their free time in sports kit.
I probably needed it! It was fair but it was better when you weren't caught! Kids today would be mortified about what used to happen but if you did the crime you had to man up and accept the consequences.
At the time I don't think it even occurred to me. It was simply instilled that you did as you were told and you knew right from wrong so should expect to be punished if you did something wrong. Things like talking in class, not working hard enough, being late, failing to produce homework on time and so on were all taken seriously. much more so than today. We would never challenge a teacher or even a senior, especially a prefect. These were the days when children knew their place and it was most definitely not above or equal to any of their elders. Things such as good manners, being polite, ensuring you were properly turned out and had all your equipment such as pens etc were regarded as very important. I remember housepoints being awarded for good behaviour but there were never that many rewards though at senior school we were able to gain extra privileges through hard work, creeping and keeping our House Staff and prefects happy. their happiness usually being our not being present!
At primary level it was really common to get a clip around the back of the head, a wooden ruler over your knuckles or for a teacher to smack your backside. Punishment was usually to be sent to stand facing the corner or outside the classroom and get a really good telling off. What was really scary was whether your parents would get told what you had been up to; that, even though we were very rarely smacked. It was just wrong and embarrassing to be told off, sent to bed early or whatever. When I attended Eastbourne (my first senior school) we were shown our housemasters collection of canes and that was enough to scare me into submission or at least not getting caught. I recall being in dread of the senior staff through no other reason than they were the senior staff and always seemed so serious. There were several in my class who received the cane, some very regularly. From memory I seem to remember one group of girls and a couple of lads who never seemed to learn and who often returned to classes unable to hold a pen properly or on occasion in the case of the boys unable to sit. Through being a perfect angel and clever enough to evade detection it was a fate I never experienced. At Hurworth House the cane was also in operation but only for serious offences; usually it was the slipper (actually a plimsoll) which was applied. Detentions and having to spend breaks and lunchtime facing the wall, noses and toes just off the wall and hands behind our backs, outside the Headmasters study near the main entrance where everyone could see you was about the worst I can remember other than having to get ready and go to bed really early. Having to go to bed at the same time, or worse, earlier than the younger boys was a terrible ordeal and invariably led to tears. Only happened to me a few times but I would never have dared tell my parents or they would have given me the same again for embarrassing them. At my senior school the cane was available but it was not used very often. In class it was not uncommon to have to duck incoming board rubbers, pens or anything else that the teacher had nearby when they wanted to gain your attention. Prefects and the Staff would usually impose other punishments such as detentions, community service, early beds, gatings (not being allowed out of grounds or house), not being allowed to attend activities or matches or other loss of privileges. being caught out of bed at night or not being in bed on time meant an automatic early where we had to get up early and do a morning run. I remember some of my friends really enjoying those and doing them anyway but always hated them, especially when it was a cold, dark morning. Messing about after lights out was one of the few rules I regularly broke along with most of my friends. LOL I remember one member of staff in particular who had a habit of lifting you by one of your ears. Funny on recollection but scary and painful at the time.
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