February 5th, 2017
Problems arise when a girl’s upbringing is at odds with her classmates
By Richard Marks
Ruth Barnes was 18 years old and in the Upper Sixth of Greenbank Girls’ Grammar School. She was shortly to take A Levels in History, Geography and English Literature.
Her father was the pastor of the local Evangelical Church and had strict standards of dress and conduct for his wife and daughter to accord with his interpretation of the teaching of his Church. They had to wear their hair long, could not wear make-up, drink alcohol, watch television and had to dress modestly with below knee skirts and tops with high necklines.
(more…)
Posted in School & College Stories | Comments Off on The Pastor’s Daughter
January 18th, 2017
Dealing with three pupils caught out of bounds leads to an unusual request
By Richard Marks
Southview was a mixed comprehensive school with a good academic record situated in an upmarket part of Midchester. The school adjoined a common which was used for school sports, and a number of footpaths crossed it which provided short cuts to the town centre.
In June 1983, a travelling fun fair took up temporary residence on the common and quickly became a major attraction for the pupils. The staff quickly became concerned at the number of pupils spending their lunch break at the fair and gambling on the fruit machines and penny cascades.
(more…)
Posted in School & College Stories | Comments Off on Emma
December 16th, 2012
Might a job as an extra lead to better things?
By Richard Marks
Lisa is a 21 year old student at Bristol. Like most students she is always broke, and this problem was made even worse just after Easter as she lost her weekend job when a discount store went into administration.
She heard that a few students earned some cash by becoming extras in BBC’s ‘Casualty’ which is filmed in Bristol. She quite fancied meeting some of the famous cast, especially one of the consultants, and one of her friends suggested that she should compile a portfolio and join one of the internet agency sites.
(more…)
Posted in Other Punishment Stories | Comments Off on Bristol Extras
December 16th, 2012
Two girls are caught cheating
By Richard Marks
(Based upon a true event in a girl’s private school in 1980 from the teacher’s perspective)
St Catherine’s School had introduced a new discipline system in early 1980. Demerits were awarded for minor infringements such as running in the corridor, and detentions for more serious offences. Three demerits in a term automatically resulted in a detention and three detentions in a term entailed a disciplinary interview with the Head, Sylvia Crawford. Mrs Crawford had decided to end the use of the cane and girls therefore expected to be suspended for one or two weeks. Teachers were encouraged not to use corporal punishment, but it had not been banned and the occasional slippering still took place.
(more…)
Posted in School & College Stories | Comments Off on Fiona’s Choice
