My father, John Ross, was appointed headteacher of the school in 1954(approx). Maisie Muirhead was my infant teacher and she was very fair and kind. Resources were few and as an early reader, I often read the same stories several times.
When my father moved me, and a few other children in my age group, into the ‘big’ class, which he taught, he began to use the tawse on me. As I was well behaved I could never understand this, and it was very distressing for me. After a while I got used to it, and it led to me losing all respect and affection for him. In later years I asked my mother why he did this, and she told me that he wanted the village to see that he did not favour me. I was a quick learner, but I took no pleasure in my schooling. I was happiest on my own, wondering up the hill and daydreaming by the shore.
During these years I developed serious asthma and spend long weeks in Glasgow Children’s Hospital. I actually enjoyed this as a break from the discipline of living and learning under my father’s tuition.
Hello Kirsteen, that is terrible to have such bad memories of your primary schooling and your time in this beautiful village. I hope you have managed to come to terms with what happened and now live a hoppy life.
My father, John Ross, was appointed headteacher of the school in 1954(approx). Maisie Muirhead was my infant teacher and she was very fair and kind. Resources were few and as an early reader, I often read the same stories several times.
When my father moved me, and a few other children in my age group, into the ‘big’ class, which he taught, he began to use the tawse on me. As I was well behaved I could never understand this, and it was very distressing for me. After a while I got used to it, and it led to me losing all respect and affection for him. In later years I asked my mother why he did this, and she told me that he wanted the village to see that he did not favour me. I was a quick learner, but I took no pleasure in my schooling. I was happiest on my own, wondering up the hill and daydreaming by the shore.
During these years I developed serious asthma and spend long weeks in Glasgow Children’s Hospital. I actually enjoyed this as a break from the discipline of living and learning under my father’s tuition.
Hello Kirsteen, that is terrible to have such bad memories of your primary schooling and your time in this beautiful village. I hope you have managed to come to terms with what happened and now live a hoppy life.