my first day at primary school

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 06 Feb 2006, 12:48

Some time in the late seventies I started at Leith Walk primary. I was 5.

On my very first day, we all gathered to sit on the floor as my teacher, Miss May, showed us pictures from a Ladybird book and asked us what they were.

I was sitting at the back, and unfortunately couldn't see the book or which item on the page she was pointing at, so I came up with a plan. I wanted to be able to shout out what the next item was too, you see. So I stood up, eyeballed what I judged to be the next picture and sat down and waited for the next time the teacher spoke.

"What's this?" said Miss May

"It's a strawberry" I shouted

"No Matthew, it's a television" she said.

foxy · Post by **foxy** » 06 Feb 2006, 19:19

Awww...I can just imagine you with your eager little face and your short trousers Dada

has the experience scarred you in any way?

Actually I'm impressed that you can remember your first day at school...most of primary school is a complete blur to me

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 06 Feb 2006, 19:49

Explains a lot......................!!

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 06 Feb 2006, 19:55

It's my blond hair I miss. Slowly but surely it went mousy.

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 06 Feb 2006, 20:46

My first day at school was traumatic too Dada! I unfortunately contracted mumps AND measles at the same time a few days before I was due to start school so I missed the first two weeks. Everybody had pals by then

. I was so shy that I wouldn't go out for my bottle of milk to the front of the class (in the days before Thatcher, Thatcher Milk Snatcher obviously) so a very nice boy went and got it for me. He was my hero til P7

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 06 Feb 2006, 21:03

so shy

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CatzVP · Post by **CatzVP** » 06 Feb 2006, 21:56

Does anyone remember that floride mouth swish stuff you had to use...? Was it to make stronger teeth or subdue us???

bellybabe · Post by **bellybabe** » 06 Feb 2006, 22:50

CatzVP wrote:Does anyone remember that floride mouth swish stuff you had to use...? Was it to make stronger teeth or subdue us???

Are you getting mixed up with "First day at the dentist", Catz?
I remember those red tablets they used to get you to chew to see which bits of your teeth you hadn't brushed properly though.

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 06 Feb 2006, 22:55

CatzVP wrote:Does anyone remember that floride mouth swish stuff you had to use...? Was it to make stronger teeth or subdue us???

I have a strong memory of the little plastic tubs/cups, but not of being made to gargle. Maybe they thought that was too complicated a task and that I should sort out the tv/strawberry thing first.

bellybabe · Post by **bellybabe** » 06 Feb 2006, 22:57

Was this a particularly Scottish thing then?

CatzVP · Post by **CatzVP** » 06 Feb 2006, 23:03

Bellybabe wrote:
Are you getting mixed up with "First day at the dentist", Catz?

God I remember that day....Mrs Footman the terrible....aaaaah bad memories!!!

CatzVP · Post by **CatzVP** » 06 Feb 2006, 23:04

Bellybabe wrote:
Was this a particularly Scottish thing then?

We look apon it as Chaser practice

teddygirl · Post by **teddygirl** » 06 Feb 2006, 23:19

I think I only ever once had to go to a school to do fluoride rinsing as it was called. It was pretty disgusting collecting all the spit outs in a pail

I was glad I didn't have to do it all the time.

I did however apply fluoride gel in trays that fitted over the teeth. The children had to sit with a dish that they drooled and dribbled into. What a glamorous job

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 07 Feb 2006, 00:12

CatzVP wrote:Does anyone remember that floride mouth swish stuff you had to use...? Was it to make stronger teeth or subdue us???

I remember it vividly! And apparently a lot of people 'our' age who were made to do it now have fluoride overdose marks on their teeth (me included)

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 07 Feb 2006, 00:45

When I was in Primary 3, me and Richard got chosen to put the straws in the milk bottles. We decided to give everyone 2 straws. We didn't get asked to do it again.

teddygirl · Post by **teddygirl** » 07 Feb 2006, 08:40

Epykat wrote:
CatzVP wrote:Does anyone remember that floride mouth swish stuff you had to use...? Was it to make stronger teeth or subdue us???
I remember it vividly! And apparently a lot of people 'our' age who were made to do it now have fluoride overdose marks on their teeth (me included)

Tooth mottling caused by excess fluoride is usually due to the fluoride being taken intrinsically and not by topical application. Perhaps too many people swallowed instead of spitting out. Certainly the gel method we used was only applied twice a year and less likely to be swallowed.
There will always be a huge for or against fluoride debate.

CatzVP · Post by **CatzVP** » 07 Feb 2006, 15:00

teddygirl wrote: There will always be a huge for or against fluoride debate.

for some reason it never stressed me out....after swishing that is

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 07 Feb 2006, 15:10

I have no problem with all that coloured fluoride I swallowed as a kid. Gave me the added benefit of glowing in the dark too.

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 07 Feb 2006, 20:12

I remember my first day in Abbeyhill Primary School way back when quite well.
All the Mums, Dads and whoever were allowed to come into the classroom and see us kids to our seats.

I remember one boy was so distraught as the parents left us, that his Mum kind of held back and hid behind the upright piano which was near the door. She then proceeded to play peek-a-boo with him in an attempt to calm him down. This just upset him further.

I can clearly recall the teacher having to be quite forceful in getting the woman to leave and the lad cried right through the day.

And thus began 7 years of hell for the poor chap.

The flouride thing was gross. I remember the white-coated ladies placing the cups in front of us and we all had to gargle away en masse. I'm sure they had some kind of timer/alarm thingie as I clearly recall all of us spitting back into our cardboard cups simultaneously.
Barf.

I also remember being sent outside the classroom one time for making my pals laugh whilst "swooshing" causing a couple of them to spray fluoride over their desks and each other.
If I recall correctly, it was my "crossing my eyes whilst swooshing" manouevre. It was a classic.

In fact, I'm doing it right now but with a red wine substitute.

Skeely · Post by **Skeely** » 07 Feb 2006, 22:09

Having been given the build up about growing up and going to school, I found it surprisingly easy - I was expecting worse. The terrible shock came later that evening when my mother told me to fold my uniform carefully because I'd need it tomorrow. "Tomorrow? But I've been to school!" I wailed.

She explained that I had to go for the next 7 years, then I'd go to secondary school for at least another 5, probably followed by university. It was a terrible shock.

Gemini · Post by **Gemini** » 09 Feb 2006, 00:01

Does anyone remember being in the 'tufty club'? No rude remarks please... It was a school project, all about the care of ones teeth.
Tufty, was a squirrel, I think

foxy · Post by **foxy** » 09 Feb 2006, 00:16

Gemini wrote:Does anyone remember being in the 'tufty club'? No rude remarks please... It was a school project, all about the care of ones teeth.
Tufty, was a squirrel, I think

I remember the Tufty Club Gem but it was a road safety initiative rather than dental hygiene....in my day the drive to get us to clean our teeth was called the "Happy Smile Club"...I know cos I had my badge

tufty club

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 09 Feb 2006, 00:33

We got Darth Prowse.

teddygirl · Post by **teddygirl** » 09 Feb 2006, 08:21

Yep, Foxy, I was a member of both clubs too and had both the badges(probably still do somewhere as I throw nothing away)
To get the Happy Smile one you had a card that you had to get signed by your parents every day when you brushed your teeth. I remember that I missed a day once and pleaded with my Mum to sign my card so that I could get the badge

She did.

Gemini · Post by **Gemini** » 09 Feb 2006, 08:43

foxy wrote:
Gemini wrote:Does anyone remember being in the 'tufty club'? No rude remarks please... It was a school project, all about the care of ones teeth.
Tufty, was a squirrel, I think
I remember the Tufty Club Gem but it was a road safety initiative rather than dental hygiene....in my day the drive to get us to clean our teeth was called the "Happy Smile Club"...I know cos I had my badge

tufty club

Your right Foxy,

Happy Smile Club, KoKo the clown road safety
campaign - then The Tufty Club.
Can you think of any more?

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 09 Feb 2006, 08:56

Green Cross Code is as far back as I go, whipper snapper that I am.

bellybabe · Post by **bellybabe** » 09 Feb 2006, 10:06

With the green cross code man ads, D? Ever think it was a bit weird that we had all those ads with the scary paedophiles watching kids in school playgrounds etc, and Charlie of course telling us not to go with strangers or play with matches, and yet we were supposed to trust the green cross code man, who also hung around school playgrounds approaching kids...?!

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 09 Feb 2006, 10:53

Bellybabe wrote:With the green cross code man ads, D? Ever think it was a bit weird that we had all those ads with the scary paedophiles watching kids in school playgrounds etc, and Charlie of course telling us not to go with strangers or play with matches, and yet we were supposed to trust the green cross code man, who also hung around school playgrounds approaching kids...?!

Not at that age, no! They were certainly different times back then.

I'm still slightly puzzled at being allowed to play with matches cos nobody has ever come and told me that it's ok now.

foxy · Post by **foxy** » 09 Feb 2006, 23:37

Dadaist wrote: I'm still slightly puzzled at being allowed to play with matches cos nobody has ever come and told me that it's ok now.

...it's not okay...please put them down...and ask a grown up if you need your fag lit

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 10 Feb 2006, 19:39

At Towerbank we had regular visits from Uncle Bob and Uncle Malcolm (how dodgy is THAT?). They were actually two local bobbies who came into school in full uniform to tell us all about road safety, not going with strangers and general info on how to be model citizens.

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 10 Feb 2006, 20:06

Epykat wrote:At Towerbank we had regular visits from Uncle Bob and Uncle Malcolm (how dodgy is THAT?). They were actually two local bobbies who came into school in full uniform to tell us all about road safety, not going with strangers and general info on how to be model citizens.

I remember Malcolm and Bob visiting my Abbeyhill school too, Epykat. Didn't they have an animal, or maybe a toy animal, as part of their act?

or am I getting muddled up and thinking of Shari Lewis?

Mate of Marya · Post by **Mate of Marya** » 11 Feb 2006, 08:16

ECM,
What year did you go to Abbeyhill Primary?
I went there. My first teacher was Miss Lobbin. My mother spent hours/days with me pronouncing RRRRobin. I kept saying no it's Lobbin. At parent's day my folks were eventually introduced to Miss Lobbin.
Happy days!

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 11 Feb 2006, 13:51

ecm wrote:I remember Malcolm and Bob visiting my Abbeyhill school too, Epykat. Didn't they have an animal, or maybe a toy animal, as part of their act?

Don't remember that

ecm wrote:...or am I getting muddled up and thinking of Shari Lewis?

Funnily enough there was a stuffed lamb in the cupboard at Towerbank and if we'd been really good the teacher would get it out and let us pull the cord to hear it baaaing

. Strange.....but true. In fact, there were loads of stuffed animals in that cupboard. A Jay was another one I remember and possibly a squirrel. No seagulls though surprisingly.

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 11 Feb 2006, 17:09

Mate of Marya wrote:ECM,
What year did you go to Abbeyhill Primary?
I went there. My first teacher was Miss Lobbin. My mother spent hours/days with me pronouncing RRRRobin. I kept saying no it's Lobbin. At parent's day my folks were eventually introduced to Miss Lobbin.
Happy days!

I would have started there in 1966. Miss Lobbin was the headmistress then.
I remember a Miss Kirk, who was lovely and Mrs. McAndlish who was my P7 teacher as she was very strict and scary.

Were you around during the year spent decanted to the old Royal High School on Regent Road? That was an adventure.

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 11 Feb 2006, 17:45

ecm wrote: .......decanted .

ecm.......that's a bad word in these parts.........shame on you! I'm surprised it's not been added to the profanity list

Talk Porty ~ Portobello

my first day at primary school

my first day at primary school

First day at primary school