I have kind of a "yes-and-no" outlook on this subject. I really enjoyed learning and studying about things in school; but I was so shy and introverted, that I particularly hated having to GO to school. Since I like learning, my grades were always good; but not all A's , because I only cared about learning, and not what my grades were. I never went to any of the schools dances or any extra-curricular activities, and usually spent any recess and lunch breaks somewhere quiet, and reading a book or drawing. After school, I would hurry home, change into my jeans, and go ride my horse until dark when I had to be back home. Summers were the best because there was no school at all. Our school dress-code did not allow girls to wear jeans, or any kind of pants or slacks at all, only dresses or skirts and blouses. Since I only had old dresses from the thrift store, there was nothing about my wardrobe that I enjoyed wearing, and the "stylish" girls always ignored me. In very cold weather, girls were allowed to wear pants (but not jeans) under their dress until they got to school. In North Idaho, winters were very cold, and zero tempuratures were a regular part of winter. Most of us that lived in town had to walk to and from school every day; so being able to wear pants while we were walking really helped. Once we got to school, we changed out of our snowboots and pants and put on regular school shoes. Nothing in the world could ever induce me to go back to school. I am so happy that we have the internet, and now I can study all I want, every day, and do it in my own home.
What you just wrote could be my story Yvonne, except I didnt come home and ride a horse. i did have a few friends though and even though I was shy and quiet everybody liked me. i got along well with all the different groups. My father was very strict though and although I was invited to dances, etc., I declined knowing what my father would say...wasnt worth the bother. So, I didnt even date til I met my husband when I was 19. I also had the same dress codes in grade school and high school as you. In fact it wasnt til the following year that girls were allowed to wear pants to school and I graduated in 1969.
It does sound like we had the same stories about school, @Chrissy Page ! I didn't date anyone either, although my folks might have let me if I asked, and providing that they knew the boy (and his parents). I didn't go on dates or kiss anyone until I met my husband either, and then we were married for almost 25 years; so by the time I was single, I still didn't really know anything about dating, or guys in general. Because I got married at 18, and in my senior year, I never finished school either. Back in those days, if a girl either got pregnant or married (or both), she was expelled from school, regardless of grades or circumstances. Mostly, the jobs that I have had have been commissioned pay; and those kind do not care if you graduated or not; just whether you can sell whatever it is they want you to sell. That is the main reason why I ended up with so little social security now.
My experience of school was similar in many ways, I enjoyed the learning especially English, Maths and Geography, I have never wanted to go back and at 18 couldn't wait to leave. I was offered a place at university but having had enough of academia and against both my parents and the schools wishes I left. I was always an avid reader and most of my spare time was spent reading, if not out with a gang of other boys causing mayhem in the neighbourhood. I started school at 4 and have vivid memories of us all having to go to bed after lunch for half an hours sleep, a camp bed was provided for each of us and mine had a card on it of Rupert Bear, a character from a comic. I hated any sports and the gym, I was never competitive, but I did get A's in maths and English, simply because I liked them and found them easy. I found the school experience in general poor and a waste of time, and feel I learnt much more about life and the world since I left. I did date at age 5 and took the girl flowers out of my garden/yard, I evidently I took her to meet my parents and told them we were getting married though I can't remember this bit. My dating went downhill after that and because I was shy around girls in my teens nothing much happened until I was 19 when I started getting involved with married women but that is another story.
My school career spanned the years from 1945-1958. Learning then was so boring and uninteresting, unless we struck out on our own. Loving to read and having a library card was the only thing that got me through school on time. The nuns in my school didn't much like me. They liked the jocks in my grade, and the kids with rich parents. I was neither. My last two years of high school was my best. Certain classes were often skipped, and the class time spent in the parking lot smoking. Somehow I passed all the tests, but didn't turn in many assignments. I think the nuns were happy to see me go.
I always hated school. I was extremely shy and really hated things like standing in front of the class and giving book reports. I hated homework too, but somehow managed to make decent grades. After high school and not finding a job, I joined the Air Force. After four years in the Air Force I started college. This time I really liked it and made almost all A's.
I don't remember hating school in my life. There are times I don't enjoy going to school but not really hating. What I feared then was the homework especially the school projects. In high school, it seemed to me that school was exciting because I had close friends already. It was like going on a picnic everyday. And when I went to college, school life was much better since I had more freedom - my mom used to bring me to school and fetch me during high school but I was on my own when I was in college. And Manila at the time was wonderful, not much traffic, too many shops and eateries. It was a nice place where I studied college - University of Sto Tomas, the oldest school in our country which was established in 1611.
I've never really thought as myself as hating school, but there were two periods during my school years when I was bullied badly by boys in my class, so I can't have felt too good about going to school at those times. I wasn't really shy until about the age of 8 when a 'friend' took control of my social life and persuaded me not to accept party invitations, resulting in my losing my other friends. That has impacted badly on my ability to socialise to this day. Despite being shy later on, I didn't object to going to school, though I hated having to get up and speak in front of the class. Fortunately it wasn't something I had to do very often. When I finished school my parents expected me to go to university and I didn't think to question their expectations because I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life. In the end I didn't enjoy university because I made some really bad choices while I was there. If I could have it over I'd certainly have followed a different academic path.
This past week I was just thinking about how things were so good when I was growing up. When you're young you did not have to worry about many things unlike when you're an adult. I did like school and got good grades throughout all the grades. I'm an only child and at home I got everything I wanted even a brand new tv when it first came out. I liked the good grades that I got and when we were going to elementary school we got to work in the cafeteria for free lunch and free snacks. Those were the good old days! I got good grades that helped me get discounts for my driving insurance that helped a lot. I like growing up and being a child just had no worries at all unlike today at age 61. At 61 there is nothing but worry.
When I was going through grade school at good ol' St. Mary's, I set a record that has never been broken. None of my school's jocks can say that. It happened when I was in the 7th grade. One fine spring day, I received a detention for some infraction of the many rules of behavior. This detention was to be served at the end of the school day, 3pm, and meant staying over for a half hour, doing chores like cleaning the blackboard erasers. To do that, we collected the erasers in a box, took them outside to the back of the school, then beat the chalk dust out of them by hitting them against the brick school wall. Well, I made up my mind I was walking home with my friends, so I threw the box of erasers on the ground and hightailed it across the playground and down the hill to freedom. The next morning the NIC, (Nun In Charge) informed me I had traded in one detention for two. She was doubling my original sentence. As the afternoon wore down and was approaching dismissal time, I knew I had to act fast. With 30 minutes left in the school day, I ask permission to use the restroom. I got the nod. Out the door, down the hall to the restroom I ran. Right through the restroom to the door that opened out to the playground, across the yard and on to freedom. The next day, I was told I now had four detentions. That day at dismissal time, I simply fell in line with the other kids and filed out the door as the NIC was chatting with one of the girl students. I now had eight detentions. My last great escape was one of my best. Dismissal time. The NIC was standing right beside the door, watching the students as they filed out, making sure I didn't slip through. When the last student had passed, the NIC stood in the doorway, back to the classroom, talking to another NIC who was standing in the hallway. Since the spring days were getting hot, all our classroom windows were open. We were on the ground floor. NIC had her back to me. I didn't need a written invite. Out the window and down the hill to freedom I ran once again. I now had sixteen detentions but, we only had five days of school left, then summer vacation. NIC come over to my desk and stood there, glowering down at me. I was thinking, " oh crap, I'm gonna get it now". Finally NIC spoke saying that if I served the original one detention, she would forget the others. I agreed, and she gave me a light slap aside the head as a parting gesture. And that's how my year in the 7th grade ended, with me as the holder of the all time highest number of detentions record.
My biggest dislike was having to attend school on Saturdays. True, we finished just after midday, but it cut into the weekend.
I hated school but I loved learning. I hated the social aspect of it. Didn't fit in, didn't have proper clean clothing etc. I did not know how to handle myself around other people at all. My dad was an alcoholic and my mom was very ill, she suffered from cancer and depression, not to mention trying to take care of 5 kids. I usually had one other misfit girl at school that would be my best friend and that was it. Oddly enough I just happened to go to school 2 years in each town and then we'd move on. I was always glad to move, thinking it might be better in the next town. I missed a lot of school, due to illness or depression. Sad people tend to get sick a lot. I made it about 2 months into high school and then left. I have always read a lot and have loved to learn new things and travel. Before I turned 30 I said I had to get a drivers lic and a GED. I got the drivers license and then I went to take a class that was suppose to help me pass the GED. The teacher, was shocked after I took the placement test cause he said I could pass right then. I was a bit weak in math so worked on that a couple of classes. He was a good teacher and by telling me I'd pass easily gave me a lot of confidence and courage. I passed the GED in the state of Oregon, where I am from, and then went on to take classes in community colleges in Oregon and later in California. I never got a degree but I knew I could have if I had wanted to devote the time to that. I was involved in raising 4 children and reading and painting which I loved to do. I've traveled a lot and I'm pretty happy with how it's all turned out. I have learned to get along in social settings pretty well so I think I've come a long way. But I hated school with a passion. I went 8 years in grade school and 2 months in the 9th grade, which was high school. I still read, paint and travel.
When I was in my elementary school I was the quiet type of student in our class that is why most of my teachers always asked me to list down the names of those who are noisy when they are not around which always prompt me to go to school because I knew that my teachers trusted me and are good to me. But when I reach my high school I am no longer the quiet type and I became more outspoken and active in class. Maybe because my other siblings are all honor students and I want to be like them that is why I should study hard so that my parents will also be proud of me. That is why when I graduated from College I am so happy because I do not let my parents to get disappointed and to them I owed what I had reached in my life.
I can't say that I hated school but for some reasons trouble always seemed to find me. It started in elementary school, you know, half day. I played hooky because I didn't like wearing anklet socks. I got in trouble for that. Then my grades were not good so I had to wear glasses, you know what that brought me, four eyes. I hated being called that and got in a couple of fights behind it, got in trouble for that. In junior high I was skinny and had 'blossomed' that the boys would always try to touch me, I got in trouble for that. Then a girl pinched me there once and I punched her. I got in trouble for that. The only classes that I liked was math, English and Spanish because the teachers liked me and would take up for me. I was a good kid in school but boy I was glad to get out of there.