legendary teachers at your school

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legendary teachers at your school

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Forest Hillbilly in a hidey-hole 12 Sep 18 10.30am
They are all legends in one way or another. Almost a selfless profession. Apart from Miss Buckingham, who used to smoke at her desk (cigarettes, not like Ms Fielding), with her feet resting atop. (1970's) Taffy Lewis. On my first day at The local Comprehensive, I was shown a grapefruit-sized hole in a wall by another pupil. "Taffy Lewis did that. He held a kid against the wall, and punched that hole next to the kids head. Taffy Lewis has no nerves in his right arm, so he don't feel pain" 3 years later, I meet Taffy Lewis in my first lesson of Technical Drawing. A fellow pupil didn't stop drawing in the instant he was asked to. Taffy Took the wooden drawing board and punched it to bits, and made the kid put it in the bin. "When I say put down your pencils now. It means NOW" For reasons I won't go into, I was the first kid under his stewardship to fail a Technical Drawing O Level/GCSE. I had to grovel slightly to him in order to do a re-take the next year (which I passed). Under it all, he was a really top, top bloke and great teacher. Edited by Forest Hillbilly (12 Sep 2018 10.32am) I disengage, I turn the page.
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Forest Hillbilly

in a hidey-hole 12 Sep 18 10.30am

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They are all legends in one way or another. Almost a selfless profession. Apart from Miss Buckingham, who used to smoke at her desk (cigarettes, not like Ms Fielding), with her feet resting atop. (1970's)

Taffy Lewis. On my first day at The local Comprehensive, I was shown a grapefruit-sized hole in a wall by another pupil.
"Taffy Lewis did that. He held a kid against the wall, and punched that hole next to the kids head. Taffy Lewis has no nerves in his right arm, so he don't feel pain"

3 years later, I meet Taffy Lewis in my first lesson of Technical Drawing. A fellow pupil didn't stop drawing in the instant he was asked to.
Taffy Took the wooden drawing board and punched it to bits, and made the kid put it in the bin. "When I say put down your pencils now. It means NOW"

For reasons I won't go into, I was the first kid under his stewardship to fail a Technical Drawing O Level/GCSE. I had to grovel slightly to him in order to do a re-take the next year (which I passed).

Under it all, he was a really top, top bloke and great teacher.

Edited by Forest Hillbilly (12 Sep 2018 10.32am)

I disengage, I turn the page.

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Hrolf The Ganger 12 Sep 18 1.17pm
There is a lot I could say about my old schools and some of the teachers but I'd rather forget about them. A bloody disgrace to their profession and a sad indictment of education in the seventies. Bullies, perverts, criminals and incompetents. There were a few good ones but they were lost in the cesspit of daily school life.
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Hrolf The Ganger

12 Sep 18 1.17pm

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There is a lot I could say about my old schools and some of the teachers but I'd rather forget about them.
A bloody disgrace to their profession and a sad indictment of education in the seventies.

Bullies, perverts, criminals and incompetents.

There were a few good ones but they were lost in the cesspit of daily school life.

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Willo South coast - west of Brighton. 12 Sep 18 1.45pm
It is the model of plausibility that many of my teachers are currently "Pushing up the daisies".RIP I speak very highly of many of those who imparted their subject knowledge on me and helped me to develop academically.I respected each and every one of them. I went to school in the days of the cane,strap,ruler,Saturday detentions, 500 lines "I must not..." etc etc and witnessed students hauled out of classrooms by their ears - how times have changed.
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Willo

South coast - west of Brighton. 12 Sep 18 1.45pm

It is the model of plausibility that many of my teachers are currently "Pushing up the daisies".RIP

I speak very highly of many of those who imparted their subject knowledge on me and helped me to develop academically.I respected each and every one of them.

I went to school in the days of the cane,strap,ruler,Saturday detentions, 500 lines "I must not..." etc etc and witnessed students hauled out of classrooms by their ears - how times have changed.

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Cucking Funt Clapham on the Back 12 Sep 18 1.55pm
Originally posted by Hrolf The Ganger There is a lot I could say about my old schools and some of the teachers but I'd rather forget about them. A bloody disgrace to their profession and a sad indictment of education in the seventies. Bullies, perverts, criminals and incompetents. There were a few good ones but they were lost in the cesspit of daily school life. So you went to St Joseph's College as well. Wife beating may be socially acceptable in Sheffield, but it is a different matter in Cheltenham
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Cucking Funt

Clapham on the Back 12 Sep 18 1.55pm

Originally posted by Hrolf The Ganger

There is a lot I could say about my old schools and some of the teachers but I'd rather forget about them.
A bloody disgrace to their profession and a sad indictment of education in the seventies.

Bullies, perverts, criminals and incompetents.

There were a few good ones but they were lost in the cesspit of daily school life.

So you went to St Joseph's College as well.

Wife beating may be socially acceptable in Sheffield, but it is a different matter in Cheltenham

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Badger11 Beckenham 12 Sep 18 2.36pm
Originally posted by Hrolf The Ganger There is a lot I could say about my old schools and some of the teachers but I'd rather forget about them. A bloody disgrace to their profession and a sad indictment of education in the seventies. Bullies, perverts, criminals and incompetents. There were a few good ones but they were lost in the cesspit of daily school life. You must have gone to my school. A certain music teacher all the kids avoided. I believe he was jailed some years after I left. I also think he abused my older brother who to this day wont properly talk about it. Then there were the leftie do gooders shameless pushing the Labour Party agenda. This extended to my politics teacher, balance didn't come into it. Most of the teachers I would put in the lazy / going through the motions category. The one shining light was my form tutor, mad as a march hare but all he cared about was getting us through the exams. He used to tell us you will learn about life on your own my job is to get you through the O levels. He was my history teacher and I took my O level a year early and got an A (this was against the wishes of the other teachers). They hated him because they felt that it was more important to produce well rounded individuals than exam results. He in turn would point out that the same pupils scored better in his class than their subjects. Of course they didn't like being showed up. Overall my school experience was an unhappy one and I have never been back. Leaving aside my personal grumbles about lefties it was a failing school the worst in Bromley. 30 years later it was still failing and was in the bottom 500 schools in the country until the government closed it down. Apparently the new school is doing very well so good luck to the pupils and teachers. One more point
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Badger11

Beckenham 12 Sep 18 2.36pm

Originally posted by Hrolf The Ganger

There is a lot I could say about my old schools and some of the teachers but I'd rather forget about them.
A bloody disgrace to their profession and a sad indictment of education in the seventies.

Bullies, perverts, criminals and incompetents.

There were a few good ones but they were lost in the cesspit of daily school life.

You must have gone to my school.

A certain music teacher all the kids avoided. I believe he was jailed some years after I left. I also think he abused my older brother who to this day wont properly talk about it. Then there were the leftie do gooders shameless pushing the Labour Party agenda. This extended to my politics teacher, balance didn't come into it. Most of the teachers I would put in the lazy / going through the motions category.

The one shining light was my form tutor, mad as a march hare but all he cared about was getting us through the exams. He used to tell us you will learn about life on your own my job is to get you through the O levels. He was my history teacher and I took my O level a year early and got an A (this was against the wishes of the other teachers). They hated him because they felt that it was more important to produce well rounded individuals than exam results. He in turn would point out that the same pupils scored better in his class than their subjects. Of course they didn't like being showed up.

Overall my school experience was an unhappy one and I have never been back. Leaving aside my personal grumbles about lefties it was a failing school the worst in Bromley. 30 years later it was still failing and was in the bottom 500 schools in the country until the government closed it down.

Apparently the new school is doing very well so good luck to the pupils and teachers.

One more point

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Willo South coast - west of Brighton. 12 Sep 18 2.53pm
Originally posted by Badger11 You must have gone to my school. A certain music teacher all the kids avoided. I believe he was jailed some years after I left. I also think he abused my older brother who to this day wont properly talk about it. Then there were the leftie do gooders shameless pushing the Labour Party agenda. This extended to my politics teacher, balance didn't come into it. Most of the teachers I would put in the lazy / going through the motions category. The one shining light was my form tutor, mad as a march hare but all he cared about was getting us through the exams. He used to tell us you will learn about life on your own my job is to get you through the O levels. He was my history teacher and I took my O level a year early and got an A (this was against the wishes of the other teachers). They hated him because they felt that it was more important to produce well rounded individuals than exam results. He in turn would point out that the same pupils scored better in his class than their subjects. Of course they didn't like being showed up. Overall my school experience was an unhappy one and I have never been back. Leaving aside my personal grumbles about lefties it was a failing school the worst in Bromley. 30 years later it was still failing and was in the bottom 500 schools in the country until the government closed it down. Apparently the new school is doing very well so good luck to the pupils and teachers. My wife used to teach in a London school which contained a predominance of 'Lefties' in their teaching force but I have no idea if they foisted their views on to the students and pushed a socialist agenda. My wife was certainly not, and is still isn't a 'Lefty' and she certainly never made her political views known to her students. Apropos her colleagues, I have lost count of the number of I had heated discussions with them about their political views and adverse comments they made about the Conservative Party and supporters,to the extent that they made it clear that it was best I never accompanied my wife to any staff function and my wife was in total agreement as she had enough of evenings that she viewed as being ruined by such contretemps. As I said to my wife "They start it...." but my wife commented that I was always far too willing to challenge their views and respond in prickly fashion. Certainy no political interference when I was in school - Teachers never revealed their political leanings. Edited by Willo (12 Sep 2018 2.55pm)
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Willo

South coast - west of Brighton. 12 Sep 18 2.53pm

Originally posted by Badger11

You must have gone to my school.

Overall my school experience was an unhappy one and I have never been back. Leaving aside my personal grumbles about lefties it was a failing school the worst in Bromley. 30 years later it was still failing and was in the bottom 500 schools in the country until the government closed it down.

Apparently the new school is doing very well so good luck to the pupils and teachers.

My wife used to teach in a London school which contained a predominance of 'Lefties' in their teaching force but I have no idea if they foisted their views on to the students and pushed a socialist agenda.

My wife was certainly not, and is still isn't a 'Lefty' and she certainly never made her political views known to her students.

Apropos her colleagues, I have lost count of the number of I had heated discussions with them about their political views and adverse comments they made about the Conservative Party and supporters,to the extent that they made it clear that it was best I never accompanied my wife to any staff function and my wife was in total agreement as she had enough of evenings that she viewed as being ruined by such contretemps. As I said to my wife "They start it...." but my wife commented that I was always far too willing to challenge their views and respond in prickly fashion.

Certainy no political interference when I was in school - Teachers never revealed their political leanings.

Edited by Willo (12 Sep 2018 2.55pm)

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Badger11 Beckenham 12 Sep 18 3.05pm
Originally posted by Willo My wife used to teach in a London school which contained a predominance of 'Lefties' in their teaching force but I have no idea if they foisted their views on to the students and pushed a socialist agenda. My wife was certainly not, and is still isn't a 'Lefty' and she certainly never made her political views known to her students. Apropos her colleagues, I have lost count of the number of I had heated discussions with them about their political views and adverse comments they made about the Conservative Party and supporters,to the extent that they made it clear that it was best I never accompanied my wife to any staff function and my wife was in total agreement as she had enough of evenings that she viewed as being ruined by such contretemps. As I said to my wife "They start it...." but my wife commented that I was always far too willing to challenge their views and respond in prickly fashion. Certainy no political interference when I was in school - Teachers never revealed their political leanings. Edited by Willo (12 Sep 2018 2.55pm) Interesting and to be fair a lot of my teachers did keep their politics to themselves. However there were a few very vocal ones including my politics teacher. Anyway this was all a long time ago and I sure things are different now, hmmmm. One more point
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Badger11

Beckenham 12 Sep 18 3.05pm

Originally posted by Willo

My wife was certainly not, and is still isn't a 'Lefty' and she certainly never made her political views known to her students.

Certainy no political interference when I was in school - Teachers never revealed their political leanings.

Edited by Willo (12 Sep 2018 2.55pm)

Interesting and to be fair a lot of my teachers did keep their politics to themselves. However there were a few very vocal ones including my politics teacher. Anyway this was all a long time ago and I sure things are different now, hmmmm.

One more point

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Pete53 Hassocks 12 Sep 18 3.06pm
Most of my teachers when I started secondary school in 1964 had joined the profession after demob from the army post WW2. I don't think they even had to get any qualification to teach then. One of the younger breed was a chap called John Cooper. Within a few weeks of me starting school he was winning silver medals at the Tokyo Olympics in the 400m hurdles and 4x400 relay. I remember there being a banner placed outside the school to welcome him back.He also showed us his medals in a lesson one day. Sadly he died in the Paris Orly air crash in 1974.
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Pete53

Hassocks 12 Sep 18 3.06pm

Most of my teachers when I started secondary school in 1964 had joined the profession after demob from the army post WW2. I don't think they even had to get any qualification to teach then.

One of the younger breed was a chap called John Cooper. Within a few weeks of me starting school he was winning silver medals at the Tokyo Olympics in the 400m hurdles and 4x400 relay. I remember there being a banner placed outside the school to welcome him back.He also showed us his medals in a lesson one day.

Sadly he died in the Paris Orly air crash in 1974.

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Midlands Eagle 12 Sep 18 4.30pm
Originally posted by Pete53 One of the younger breed was a chap called John Cooper. Within a few weeks of me starting school he was winning silver medals at the Tokyo Olympics in the 400m hurdles and 4x400 relay. What a co-incidence as my sports master was Robbie Brightwell who also won silver at the Olympics in the same relay race
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Midlands Eagle

12 Sep 18 4.30pm

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Originally posted by Pete53

One of the younger breed was a chap called John Cooper. Within a few weeks of me starting school he was winning silver medals at the Tokyo Olympics in the 400m hurdles and 4x400 relay.

What a co-incidence as my sports master was Robbie Brightwell who also won silver at the Olympics in the same relay race

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Pete53 Hassocks 12 Sep 18 4.54pm
Originally posted by Midlands Eagle What a co-incidence as my sports master was Robbie Brightwell who also won silver at the Olympics in the same relay race Who married Ann Packer the 800m gold medalist. They went on to produce Ian and David who both played at Man City.
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Pete53

Hassocks 12 Sep 18 4.54pm

Originally posted by Midlands Eagle

What a co-incidence as my sports master was Robbie Brightwell who also won silver at the Olympics in the same relay race

Who married Ann Packer the 800m gold medalist. They went on to produce Ian and David who both played at Man City.

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Willo South coast - west of Brighton. 12 Sep 18 5.02pm
Originally posted by Pete53 Who married Ann Packer the 800m gold medalist. They went on to produce Ian and David who both played at Man City. I recall the blonde-haired Ian Brightwell. He actually played in the same Walsall team as current Walsall manager Dean Keates.
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Willo

South coast - west of Brighton. 12 Sep 18 5.02pm

Originally posted by Pete53

Who married Ann Packer the 800m gold medalist. They went on to produce Ian and David who both played at Man City.

I recall the blonde-haired Ian Brightwell. He actually played in the same Walsall team as current Walsall manager Dean Keates.

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