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?

[sadielady]

When I was 7 we moved from the middle of London to 'the countryside'. First day at school we were told to draw an owl, I had never seen an owl so just drew a bird. The teacher took great delight holding my picture up in front of the class asking the other children if this looked anything like an owl. I remember bursting into tears hearing the other children laugh. That was 68 years ago and I still remember it so clearly

[10ClarionSt]

sadie, that is typical of how teachers behaved back then. I always thought they were trying to embarrass people rather than teach. I'm sure many others will have had a similar experience, myself included.

[Peter Pedant]

English master misread Henry IVth part 2 for king John so they did the wrong play. solved with a letter within time to the exam board

Part 2 Maff ( adv for 12 y olds) full of log, sine and tans
Invigilator said - No log books and did NOT seek advice
so we basically cdnt do the exam ( 1964)

Chem A level -I misread 2 h for 3 h so cdnt complete the paper - lost 2 grades on that

Maff A level - the maff master said as we waited to go in: I havent told you of two infinite series you may need....
I passed out of ten


2016 AAT accounting - they kept on changing the syllabus which meant we were tested on stuff we hadnt done. 91% failed. No redress. Dont go near AAT reader !

Medical exam - wasnt told where the short cases were, ( Glasgow) failed.

but I had luck as well !

[Peter Pedant]

Sadie I am sorry it has such an effect on you.

I said to my brudda - when did you realise that sometime the teachers were ( trying) to teach stuff they didnt understand, so you had no hope of understanding it yourself.

and he said - er never and I said - eight ( y of age)

[Peter Pedant]

I sat on my own in the gymnasium, given exam papers based upon the subjects taught at that specific school.

we were bussed and herded into St Dunstans I think - and took it with all the other kids. we had er done alot I mean ALOT of latin ( not tested) and no Geog ( tested). We took it philosophically see above. Some passed.

My sister had exams in the first week of term - aaaaagh !
Did test what the kids knew tho'
The girl I was giving a leedol bit of help to in arith, I warned her that they might be tested post covid as the teachers would have to find out what the kids had learnt over 2 y. She was the only one who cd do fractions and was called to the head of the class to show the rest how it was done ! ( bloody hard work, reluctant 9 y o, an hour a day for 40 days)

[Peter Pedant]

Bored 14 y o this year
I turned to his doting gran, and asked "Does he know the teachers used to hit us?"
and Gran said " and hit us again if we squawked"
his eyes widened to dinner plates

[Peter Pedant]

missed education
yes no - there was 13+ and people did pass that
and COFE
Wilts and Dorset they did a great job - part time day release - I got Zoo A level half a day a week, for one year !

[pimplyteen]

All my English teachers had such scrawny hand writing you could never understand any of their corrections that they made in my books/ essays if you dare ask what they had put they would hit the roof.

[vulcan42]

Too many tales of woe to recount. I've always had a bad memory so my Grammar school's method of teaching by a combination of rote and fear certainly didn't help.