Part one

Primary school

 

When I first went to school at the age of three, kindergartens were not play-schools. I played in the playground, but before I got to primary school I had learned to read and write. At the primary school, there were 42 children in the class; nowadays, the average is 25. We had regular tests, with marks, and discipline was strict. The teacher had a cane, which he used if anyone talked or did not pay attention. We did not wear uniforms, like the children at preparatory schools, except for a cap, which had the school badge on it. The school's main aim was to prepare children for the 11-plus exam. In the days before comprehensive schools were introduced, all the children in the country took this, and according to the results, were sent to different types of secondary school. I went to what was called a direct-grant school; this was a public school that accepted over 80% of its intake from state primary schools; the Local Educational Authority paid the fees, instead of the parents.

 

Vocabulary:

primary - начальный;

nowadays - в наше время, в наши дни;

average - средний;

strict - строгий;

cane - палка, трость;

attention - внимание;

uniform - форма;

except (for) - за исключением, кроме(чего-то, кого-то);

cap - фуражка, кепка;

badge - значок, эмблема;

aim - цель;

to introduce - здесь: открывать;

secondary - средний (об образовании);

to accept - принимать;

intake - прием;

fee - плата за обучение.

 

Comprehension check: answer the following questions:

 

1. Did you go to a kindergarten or play-school? What did you do there?

2. How many children were there in your class at primary school?

3. Did you have a lot of tests and exams? Were you given marks regularly for your work?

4. Did you wear a uniform?

5. Was there corporal punishment of any kind?

6. Do you think the system at that time was a fair one? Do you think children should be separated at the age of 11 according to an estimation of their ability based on one examination?

7. The primary school was co-educational, with boys and girls, but not in the same classes! The direct-grant school only accepted boys. What advantages or disadvantages do you see in co-educational schools?

 

Part two

Public School

 

Life at public school was quite different. We had uniforms, and if we did not wear our caps, we were put in detention or given extra work or some other form of punishment. Instead of hours of arithmetic and reading and writing, we had 45-minute periods of various subjects. We went to school six days a week, and there were compulsory games on Wednesdays and Saturdays, always the same two games, rugby and cricket. We had an hour's homework every night, and sometimes it took longer because we had to learn speeches from Shakespeare by heart. But the hours were short. I cycled the five kilometres to school and was usually home by 4.15. In one respect, this school was like a primary school in those days; it was very competitive, though at public school those who got the best marks got prizes. All of us were expected to specialise at an early age in order to concentrate on the subjects that we would need for university entrance. As a result I can count almost as fast as a pocket calculator - I learnt that at primary school - but I know nothing of algebra or geometry or physics or chemistry.

When I was about 17,1 began to like the school. It had beautiful grounds and magnificent playing fields, and suddenly the principal and the teachers began to treat us like grown-up people. We had to arrive on time so as not to be marked absent in the attendance register, but otherwise we were free to pursue our studies more or less as we liked. There were no more compulsory games, but plenty of opportunities to take part in other sports we preferred. The only thing we were expected to do in return was to win a scholarship to a university so that the school could put our names on a big “honours board” in gold letters!

 

Vocabulary:

public school - государственная школа;

to wear (wore, worn) - носить (об одежде);

detention - оставление после уроков (в виде наказания);

extra - дополнительный;

punishment - наказание;

instead (of) - вместо(кого-то, чего-то);

various - различный, разнообразный;

compulsory - обязательный;

night - здесь: вечер;

to learn by heart - учить наизусть;

in one respect - в одном отношении/смысле;

in order - (для того) чтобы;

to concentrate (on) - уделять основное внимание;

entrance - здесь: поступление (в вуз);

pocket - карман;

competitive - состязательный, соревновательный;

principal - директор школы;

to treat - относиться, обращаться (с);

grown-up - взрослый;

attendance - посещаемость;

attendance register - классный журнал (где отмечается посещаемость);

otherwise - иначе;

to pursue - здесь: заниматься;

plenty - много, множество;

opportunity - возможность;

to prefer - предпочитать;

in return - в ответ;

to win a scholarship - выиграть/завоевать стипендию;

hono(u)r - честь, почет;

board - доска.

 

Comprehension check: answer the following questions:

 

1. Did you/do you go to school six days a week? Were/arc games compulsory?

2. How was/is the curriculum organised? How many periods did/do you have of

different subjects?

3. Is it common for children to have to learn things by heart in your country? What sorts of things?

4. Is there a lot of specialisation in secondary schools? Do you think this is a good thing?

5. Why do you think there is a difference in meaning between a playground and playing fields? What are grounds in this context?

6. What do you think an 'honours board' was, and why was it important to the school? Why do you think they used 'gold letters'?

7. What sort of sports facilities do you think a school should have? Should games be compulsory? If so, what choice of games should be offered to students?

 

Part three