skooill ( School )


I wonder what it would be like to return to school again, as a student to learn, but not use the stuff we have to day for use , computers, biro's calculators,
I started with a slate and chork and one duster block between 4 kids Later it became paper and pencil, pencils were used all the way down to just an inch long.As one grew older pencils gave way to the "Inkpen" no biro's them days it was pen and knib with watered down ink in the inkwell. Blotting paper was green and teacher gave us a 6.x 4. peice cut from his large old plotter from his desk. Remember the times those dare devel in class who would roll up some blotter in a small ball like a pee, and use a peeshooter to blow it at who was not liked in class. ha ha teach got hit a few times. Shall I admit I was a bit of a devil but was well likes in class.
Oh yes it was a mixed school up to age ten then into what we called the "Seniors" an all boys school. My school I beleave, was and still is one the largest schools in the country how true that is I may find out some day. The boys had classrooms on the grownd floor and the girls above us, two large playgrownds either side the building that was layed out like an capital "I "
The boys did have a special top playgrownd well away from the classrooms. We used this as the footy pitch in winter and cricket in sumer,mostly used befor and after school each day. I broke two windows kicking a football over the years , owned up to it at assembly the first time and got one stroke the cane accross my fingers on each hand , never did own up for the last one, that cane bloody hurts,can still feel my fingers tingling over 50 years later.Played plenty interclass football with my class team on the ovel next to the school. and was in the school team for cricket playing interschool games mostly at the Halford playing fields behind the bus depot.Perry Barr.