Читать книгу Lost Voices of the Edwardians: 1901–1910 in Their Own Words - Max Arthur, Max Arthur - Страница 127

Being a church school, there was a strong accent on religion, and the headmaster, Mr Weston, opened school with prayers in the morning, and closed school on Friday in the same way. We learned the Church of England Collects, the Apostles' Creed, and the Confession, and I enjoyed the Scripture lessons under Mr Allen. Our Geography lessons demonstrated the greatness of our empire, and our History lessons the greatness of our military and naval victories, and the prowess of our explorers. The portraits of King Edward and Queen Alexandra decorated the walls, and at the end of the hall was a large Union Jack with the caption ‘For God, King and Country’.

Our misdemeanours were dealt with by being sent to Mr Weston, to be caned across the palm of the hand, which was quite painful, but not degrading or brutalising. We were usually proud to show our weals to our classmates and I never saw anybody taking it out on another boy. Mr Burgess, of Standard 5B, was the only teacher who didn't send us to the head for punishment. He administered it himself, with a hardwood blackboard pointer, which he referred to as his ash plant, but we liked him as well as respected him. My favourite teacher was Mr Birkbeck. He was the only teacher other than the head to wear his gown. Mr Birkbeck was a master of sarcasm and was quite cutting, but his wit brought humour to the lessons. He once told me that my writing looked as if a spider had come out of the inkwell and crawled across the page. Mr Birkbeck took Standard 6B, and he developed our musical knowledge. Up to this we had sung traditional songs such as ‘The British Grenadiers’, ‘The Vicar of Bray’ and ‘The Lincolnshire Poacher’ – but Mr Birkbeck taught us to sing treble and alto parts, and Schubert's ‘Greeting’ and Gounod's ‘Nazareth’.

On one occasion the class was divided into two halves. One half was taken to visit the Cunard liner Franconia,' while my half were taken to Hightown. We walked the five miles there through the countryside, and then we made tea on a fire in our billy cans on the sand hills at Hightown, then walked back along the shore.