Students interviewed their grown ups, their parents and grandparents
about what school was like when they were young.
The earliest account was from 1938.
“Many children walked and when it rained they ran.
Some drank a little bottle of milk at break time.
The boys wore shorts, a jacket and cap.
The girls wore a smock or pinafore
over their clothes to protect them.
When it was cold children
would wear their coats in school”.
This is an account from 1946:
“There were 55-60 boys in a class
and the classroom was heated by a fire.
The children all sat in rows of desks all facing teacher.
In the summer term, many children came to school barefoot”.
Some people remembered high windows.
They let in plenty light but the children
couldn’t look out and be distracted.
“There was wooden desk with a top that lifted up
where we kept our books, copies and pencils.
We enjoyed playing with friends, chasing,
football, hurling, skipping and hopscotch.
Great times, loads of fun no worries”
“When we are eager to grow up and leave school,
we hear people say that they are your happiest days
and we aren’t sure if we believe them but later
you realise they were right and your school friends are friends for life”
Thanks to all the ‘older people’, who agreed
to be interviewed about school long ago.
We can see that some things are the same
and some things are very different.