Silly Conversation

[Caran]

We were just watching Michael Palin in Iraq in a school when we started talking about gces. I didn't take any at all due to me messing up my first year and having to do it again. So then I was 16 and my mother made me leave school and get a job as she needed my money.
Years later I thought I would have another go. So opted to do an English GCE. I started off great managing to answer a lot of questions, then I started the essay. I found it an interesting choice of subjects so got on with it. When I was tapped on the shoulder and asked outside. Then I was told I was taking the wrong board exam. I was offered the correct board exam but only had 20 minutes left to complete it, so I declined. It felt like I was not meant to have any exams under my belt.
Anyone else got a tale of woe of their schooldays?

[david small]

We moved house and school area just as I was about to take the 11 plus exam. The new school had already finished their 11 plus exams. I sat on my own in the gymnasium, given exam papers based upon the subjects taught at that specific school. I didn’t recognise the subjects or questions as they were nothing like I had been previously taught.
Shame, I would have liked grammar school.

[Caran]

That is such a shame David. Much better if you had been able to take it at the old school.

[david small]

It wasn’t to be Caran.

[Caran]

No David likewise my experience.

[10ClarionSt]

Nothing to do with exams, but I was useless at art. However, one day, in art class, the teacher said we could start a project whereby we could make a book on a subject of our choosing. It would be called My Book On.......whatever you chose. I chose astronomy and drew my own star maps, drew the planets, did a section on space exploration. I bought a book called The Observers' Book of Astronomy and cut photos out, stuck them in my book and expanded on the detail in the photos. I was really proud and pleased with it. I thought it was fantastic, as did my art teacher. When it was completed, we had to place it in a locked cupboard, ready to be collected the week after. However, when we came back the next week, it was missing and the teacher didn't seem very concerned. I was heartbroken. It was the best thing I ever did in art class and the teacher didn't appear to care less. Her name was Miss Lees and I'm convinced she stole it. No-one else had access to the cupboard. It must have been her. The only suspect would have been the caretaker, but how would he know what was in the cupboards? Miss Lees, I've never forgiven you to this day, and as you can see, it's left an indelible mark on me. My Book on Astronomy ended up in a teachers' illegal possession. Shame on you.

[Ken4155]

This is not about schooldays or exams, but driving tests. In the early 70s, when i was about 16 and a half, i enlisted in the JLRRA and was stationed in Bramcote, just outside Nuneaton. One Saturday night, some of us squaddies got into a bit of a scrap with some local youths. On the Monday morning, i was behind the wheel of a long-wheel base landrover, heading out of the camp gates on my way to taking my test. As the gates were about to open, a Regimental Policeman stepped in front of the vehicle and ordered me to stop. He then told me he had orders to place me under 'close arrest' for what had taken place over the weekend.
A few months later, Saturday night, and those same youths thought they would exact some revenge for the beating they had previously taken. Monday morning, i was in the back of the landrover, designated as the 2nd person to take the test, when i was arrested once again!
I never did get around to taking my test :-(

[Caran]

10ClarionStreet, that is absolutely disgusting, how on earth could a teacher do that?

[10ClarionSt]

Caran, the thing is, I can't prove it, but the evidence points strongly at her. I was only 14 at the time, so what was I supposed to do, except say mine was missing? She didn't seem very concerned. Who else could it have been? No-one else, in my opinion. Git.

[Caran]

Ken4155, that is awful. So many tales like this show how the older people of today were short changed about education.

[Ken4155]

10Clarion; i have a very similar story. Young art teacher gave us a choice of painting or clay modelling. I chose painting (though like you i cannot) and the guy sat beside me chose the clay. I had recently seen the image in the link, which i replicated, painting it in various colours. The guy beside me had made a model of whatever and he had a few 'crumbs' of clay left so i pinched them and scattered them onto my painting. Towards the end of the lesson, the teacher came round checking our work. He absolutely loved the trash i had produced and asked if he could keep it. I said yes, of course, i certainly didn't want it. Don't know what he did with it?

[david small]

A little bit of Karma maybe Ken. That’s a sad experience 10clarionst it obviously still grates. Could you not recreate the book again, but better? It might be therapeutic.

[Gromit]

// we started talking about gces.//

Were you ever tested for dyslexia?

[Ken4155]

Soz, forgot the link;

https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-illustration-face-to-face-silhouette-black-white-vector-image93103259

[Ken4155]

Karma?

[10ClarionSt]

I have thought about it over the years David, but even now it still upsets me. I was very keen on astronomy in those days and was a memebr of the Junior Astronomical Society whose branch was in Cheadle, a fair trek from where we lived in Middleton but I still went. I don't think I could apply myself likie I did then. I even made my own star map in those days which fitted on the full wall of my bedroom, something like 12ft x 8ft. Tis true. My mum and dad were very impressed but thought I was crazy!

[david small]

I was at woodwork class and distractedly started quietly sing Ave Maria. The teacher said who is singing that? It’s beautiful. The class thug and thicko said I did Sir. Bemused, and slightly indignant I let him have his moment to shine. I think he believed that he had sang it.
Little things, stay in the memory of no consequence.

[10ClarionSt]

Thanks Ken. Maybe a member of his family has it, like I hope a member of Miss Lees' family has. And I still want it back!

[10ClarionSt]

I've no doubt he was soon found out David.

[10ClarionSt]

And My Book on Astronomy was all done by hand in the early 60's. No printers or Google and such like. It was definitely a labour of love. Definitely.

[bobbinwales]

What's wrong with gces gromit...ik maybe should be capital letters but its plural of GCE