As a child in a British military family, it wasn't unusual to attend private school. Private schools had a lot more discipline and were strong believers in corporal punishment. You did not want to get sent to the office of the Headmistress, where hanging on the wall behind her desk was the dreaded 'withy stick'. (A thin branch of a Willow tree used to inflict pain across the knuckles of naughty children!)
I was six years old when I attended such a school...Elmhurst Private School in Shropshire. For whatever reason, possibly having been traumatized, I still have vivid memories of EPS.
One that comes to mind the most was the day during class, when the teacher, Miss Thomas, was speaking about having respect for things, especially for our school. The teacher repeated this several times starting each sentence with, "Here at EPS"...then it happened! My classmate made a remark that I heard clearly, which in turn, caused me to burst out with a laugh. Can you imagine the look on teacher's face? Can you imagine the look on my face, which had turned scarlet with embarrassment?
So there I was...in the office of the Headmistress, Miss Abrahams who did not appear to have a sense of humor. What had caused this outburst in class?...how could I have been so disrespectful? I apologized as profusely as a six year could, knowing, however that freedom was out of the question until a full confession was made.
Well here it is...among some students EPS was affectionately known as Egg Packing School and everytime the teacher said, "Here at EPS", my classmate whispered those words. Now keep in mind to a six year old, that was funny, over half a century later, it still makes me smile!
By the way, I still have my hat badge emblazoned with EPS...funny the things we hang on to!
4 comments:
When I was at a younger age of early 20s. I want to grow much older to claim my experience for work. And now I just wish time will slow down because there are just so many things that i haven't done. And going to my 50s, I just want to go on kicking and do what I still feel like doing and encourage my kids to enjoy their youth as much as they can, while putting education as the top list of most important thing.
An interesting and amusing post.
I'm sure I remember seeing kids wearing EPS blazers. My lad went to boarding school, the discipline did seem different there.
I wish I hung onto more. Weirdly there are a few things that I can't get ride of ...
Things are so different nowadays in schools, aren't they? I went to a Catholic grade school, and those nuns didn't take any nonsense, either. They'd use a ruler on you, if need be. I, fortunately, was never on the receiving end of it!
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