More About Schooldays In The 1940s
By Jabo
@jaboUK (64361)
United Kingdom
January 18, 2017 10:59am CST
I remember longing to start school as my two older sisters were already there, and I hated being left behind. The school was only at the end of our street, and I used to follow them there. When those big gates shut in my race I felt really forlorn.
When I was eventually old enough to start, my first day was a bit of a disaster - I wet my knickers. I was too embarassed and nervous to put my hand up to ask to go to the lavatory, so the inevitable happened. My eldest sister had to be summoned from her class to take me home to get clean clothes. She was all of 7 years old - I was 4.
Things did improve after that. There was a sandpit in the corner of the classroom, and we little ones were allowed to play in it sometimes. It had real shells in it, which I'd never seen before and I was entranced by them.
We were provided with a free bottle of milk at break time, and it was mandatory to drink it. We used to put them on the heating pipes in order to take the chill off them. I didn't like it then, and I don't like it now.
I remember being in real awe of those creatures from another planet that were called teachers. We wouldn't dream of disobeying them, and in those days there was always the threat of 'the cane'. Children that were really bad were caned in the headmaster's office. I'm not saying that children as small as we were would be caned, but we knew of the possibility and it was a real deterrent.
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I wrote this as a follow up to my last post about my schooldays in the 1940s as some of you seemed to find the subject interesting. I hope I haven't overdone it and bored you.
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49 people like this
49 responses
@Marilynda1225 (80185)
• United States
18 Jan 17
I went to Catholic school so my early introduction to education was by nuns. They didn't use canes but rulers were the weapon of choice for rapping knuckles on children who didn't behave. Of course they didn't use it on the younger grades but I do remember it when we got older. Everyone had tales to tell about what went on in school 
15 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
18 Jan 17
@Marilynda1225 My husband was educated by nuns and he says they were sadistic!
5 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (80185)
• United States
18 Jan 17
@jaboUK your husband is exact!y right...some were downright mean
3 people like this
@cacay1 (83237)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
19 Jan 17
@Marilynda1225 Our teacher used long thin stick to push the young pupils hehehe,but I have not whipped only the boys that bullied girls hehe.
2 people like this
@amadeo (111948)
• United States
18 Jan 17
@jaboUK no they use a bamboo stick call the rat hand.The principal was the one who did.
I put my hand out and then she gave me a couple of switch.that was my punishment
some one told the teacher that I broke the glass.Wrong.Teachers all they want to do is discipline. they were very cold.
2 people like this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
18 Jan 17
I haven't seen your previous post about school but thank you for sharing this one! I remember, too, the threat of physical punishment but it wasn't often used. We'd be made to stand in the corner or write on the chalkboard or skip recess.
One of the things I remember vividly about school back in the 50s (my elementary school days) is that a teacher would lunch with her class until 5th grade. She would make every child eat at least one bite of their vegetable and one bite of their fruit. School lunches were actually made from scratch by the cafeteria staff and we had meat, dairy, vegetables, fruit, grains, and dessert. Only white milk, no flavored. No choices, we ate what we were given or nothing at all. We could also bring our lunch if we wanted. I remember only 1 or 2 kids that were overweight. Lunch was $.25. I wish the kids nowadays got healthy lunches like that. Now they order out from fast food restaurants.
5 people like this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
18 Jan 17
@Fleura Things are different here in the U.S. It's all about "choice". The choice of school boards to choose a menu that fits their budget that often puts sports and extra cirricular activities ahead of nutrition. And God forbid the little darlings have to eat something they do not like!! Up until recently the kids could choose what they wanted from burgers, fries, tacos, all manner of disgusting, fattening stuff. Then Mrs. Obama imposed some rules and they still did not eat or if they did it was not enough calories to get them through the school day, especially for active kids.
Jamie Oliver, a British chef, tried to work with some California schools and most refused him. The schools that did let him in saved money and the children were losing weight, their grades were improving, and they had more energy. Jamie was ultimately ejected from those schools and they returned to their horrible menus.
I'm glad your daughter can eat healthy. Our brains depend on us just as our bodies do.
4 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
18 Jan 17
@dragon54u I remember those school dinners, and there was a teacher seated on the head table to supervise. If we were unlucky we had to sit with her/him! And as you say we were made to try everything - for a picky eater like me it was hell. (I'm still picky).
At the period I'm talking about (70 years ago) there was no 'fast food' as such, and everything was made in the kitchen.
2 people like this
@DianneN (247216)
• United States
18 Jan 17
I love your stories about your youth. Never bored. I wet my pants quite a few times in kindergarten during story time, lol, because like you, I was too embarrassed to ask my teacher to use the lavatory. There were no canes, but the threat of being sent to the principal's office. I never had to visit, because I respected my teachers. It was because of them that I chose my career.
6 people like this
@DianneN (247216)
• United States
18 Jan 17
@jaboUK I didn't even think of you getting caned! For some reason, it is usually those naughty and overly rambunctious boys who did. I'm never bored with your discussions. 
. By the way, we received milk at snack time. I never cared for room temperature milk. It made me retch.
I didn't even think of you getting caned! For some reason, it is usually those naughty and overly rambunctious boys who did. I'm never bored with your discussions. . By the way, we received milk at snack time. I never cared for room temperature milk. It made me retch.1 person likes this
@Daljinder (23233)
• Bangalore, India
18 Jan 17
My early introduction to school was at home. My aunt taught me at home for three months preparing me for enterance test for a big school (of that time). During that time I was sent to a local school to get the feel of school. So I could get used to be at school. In those three months I graduated Pre-Nursery and was admitted directly to Nursery after I have cleared the test.
We also had the fear of God installed in us when it came to disobeying teacher. It was a foreign concept to do so. The "canning" only went away in the last decade. It was very much part of our school life.
6 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
18 Jan 17
@Daljinder We didn't have Nursery schools at the time I'm talking about. The rule was that children started school at 5, though if their birthday occurred during the following term, they could start. So I started in the September, but I wasn't 5 until December.
As you say - to disobey the teachers was practically unheard of, and those that did got the cane.
2 people like this
@much2say (53941)
• Los Angeles, California
18 Jan 17
I remember in the kindergarten afternoons, we all had to unfold these brown mats and lay down on them for what seemed like an eternity. Was this naptime? I had no clue. I did not go to preschool where I think they do include a naptime . . . so that concept went over my head - I was quite bored during that segment. But otherwise, I think I liked school at the time - I just didn't know what would be coming years after 
.
.5 people like this
@allknowing (130292)
• India
18 Jan 17
There is so much more I bet that you can feed us with (lol)
My mother accompanied by her friend took me to school. I remember we were waiting in the parlour and a nun came. Asked my mother if I was last in the family and she nodded and exactly 9 months later my brother was born. (lol)
School life was pretty interesting. I can recall so many little happenings way back. We too had a sand pit with swings and a see saw. The kid at the other end of the see saw would purposely drop off and you know what that meant.
Talking of knickers I remember once mine was knotted - there was no elastic then - I had to seek the teacher's help.
The first sentence I uttered in English was when the teacher asked whose book it was and I said "I book"
I can go on and on.....................ending with, it was I who always belled the cat in school.
4 people like this
@allknowing (130292)
• India
19 Jan 17
@jaboUK Thanks for the encouragement. May be I will. There is so much that happens in our life in that each of us could write a book on them.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
19 Jan 17
@allknowing You could make your own post on this subject Grace
. Your sandpit was obviously outside - ours was actually in the corner of the classroom.
Yes, I could go on and on about the past, but don't want to overdo it. I've already written lots, but try to space them out a bit.
. Your sandpit was obviously outside - ours was actually in the corner of the classroom.
Yes, I could go on and on about the past, but don't want to overdo it. I've already written lots, but try to space them out a bit.2 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
19 Jan 17
@allknowing Look forward to reading yours.
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
18 Jan 17
we got free milk in the 60's which I liked, but was stopped by Margaret Thatcher. We never had the cane but there was the strap which hurt a lot too
3 people like this
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
19 Jan 17
@cacay1 some of mine would be struck off in today's changing climate
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@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
19 Jan 17
@arthurchappell Yes, I'd forgotten that it was Margaret Thatcher that stopped the milk. Did you ever get strapped yourself? I was never on the receiving end of the cane, thank goodness. It was mostly the naughty older boys that got it.
1 person likes this
@cacay1 (83237)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
19 Jan 17
@arthurchappell,teachers before were so cruel hehehe.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (74146)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
18 Jan 17
That was interesting. I started kindergarten in 1962 and those days children also had more respect for both teachers and for school. I was glad I went at a time before things really got out of hand. We also were given little milk cartons. Thanks for the memories.
4 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
18 Jan 17
@RasmaSandra We didn't have kindergartens or nursery schools when I was small - it was straight into proper school. Glad you remember some of the things I mention, even if you did have milk cartons instead of bottles.. As you say - the main thing was that we respected our teachers, were in awe of them even.
. As you say - the main thing was that we respected our teachers, were in awe of them even.2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40098)
• Laguna Woods, California
19 Jan 17
@jaboUK - Isn't it amazing what we remember from elementary school. I only remember the names of a few friends, but I remember a couple of times I was embarrassed.
3 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
21 Jan 17
@DeborahDiane Thanks Deborah, I'm happy that you like my tales.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
19 Jan 17
@DeborahDiane I amaze myself how much I remember, and the more I write about it the clearer it becomes. But don't ask me what I did last week!
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40098)
• Laguna Woods, California
21 Jan 17
@jaboUK - Ha Ha! I can still remember things I did decades ago, but not remember what I ate last night! LOL I love your stories of the past, though.
2 people like this
@velvet53 (22528)
• Palisade, Colorado
24 Jan 17
@jaboUK Some of my teachers had a big wooden paddle with holes in it. I hated even seeing it. i felt so sorry for the ones that had it used on them. One boy got whipped for something he didn't do and the teacher wouldn't listen to any of us. Then when the boy wouldn't cry the teacher hit him harder.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
19 Jan 17
Not at all, it is very interesting. I remember going to school my first day but not about the day in school itself.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
19 Jan 17
@jaboUK lol Well that is all part of the aging process but me, I remember neither but I can remember every restaurant meal and castle we have visited in the last 30 years lol
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38723)
• Midland, Michigan
18 Jan 17
Not bored at all. You went to school when you were rather young. Was that allowed because of the war or was it common practice in your area back then?
Here, we didn't attend until we were at least five and it wasn't until much later that preschools started up and took kids as young as three if they were potty trained.
3 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
18 Jan 17
@MarshaMusselman The rule was that children started school when they were 5, but if your birthday was before the end of term you could start. So I started in September, though I wasn't 5 till the December.
1 person likes this
@asfarasiknow (3341)
• Bournemouth, England
19 Jan 17
Not overdone at all. They still had those little bottles of milk in the 60s and I remember that we also had to drink them. At least at one school they had a sort of tuck shop where, for a couple of old pence, we could buy individually wrapped plain or milk chocolate McVitie's Digestives to go with them.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
19 Jan 17
@asfarasiknow I never went to a school where they had any sort of shop. That milk we had to drink put me off for life -I won't drink it neat now, only in tea and on cereals.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
19 Jan 17
@asfarasiknow Yes we had straws - I'd forgotten about them
@asfarasiknow (3341)
• Bournemouth, England
19 Jan 17
@jaboUK Crates of those little bottles, hopefully without the odd sour one, and then all those discarded bottle tops, probably recycled for charity. Did you have little straws to drink it with? I can still remember the sound of dozens of them gurgling away as we got to the bottoms of those compulsory bottles.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60682)
• Perth, Australia
4 Apr 17
@jaboUK I often wonder what it would be like if the cane was brought back. I don't mean it in an evil way. I just mean because the majority of children nowadays are very rude and disrespectful. Sometime last year, I bumped into a teacher from the high school I went to and she told me how times really have changed. The a huge amount of kids are down right rude. A lot of them come to school drunk and / or high.
Things really are getting out of hand in the world for so many reasons.
2 people like this
@Daljinder (23233)
• Bangalore, India
4 Apr 17
@VivaLaDani13 You can bet there will be lots of lawsuits and shut downs flying around. 
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@FayeHazel (40246)
• United States
18 Jan 17
No, it's interesting. Wow. I can't imagine of things like being made to drink the milk or "the cane" now....
3 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
23 Jan 17
@FayeHazel I agree completely - they should be taught respect, and that any disobedience will have negative consequences for them.
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@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
18 Jan 17
@FayeHazel The milk was the government's way of ensuring that all children had something good for them. In the period that I'm talking about - wartime and the years immediately afterwards - food was scarce, and what there was, was rationed.
I don't know how long ago the cane was abolished, but teachers aren't allowed to physically chastise children now.
2 people like this
@FayeHazel (40246)
• United States
23 Jan 17
@jaboUK Oh, that makes sense about the milk thing now. They were trying to be sure you got some nutrition. While I don't think children should be caned ... I think they need more discipline than a lot of them seem to be getting now. What do you think on that aspect?
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