Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Prelude

The lifeblood of the classroom passed into my veins, that Easter Term in 1946. Chalk-dust, copybooks, inkwells, had scents which linked the chain of school days about my neck. They hung heavy, at the start. So much was new, as home became secondary and Teacher was the centre of the universe to the clusters of pupil-planets in orbit about her each day.

A gold star sat on a turned page when lessons went well… until knowing how, why, what, became an ongoing addiction… Where might this lead, if acquiring knowledge, passing exams, winning scholarships, meant  finishing the race to adulthood ahead of the crowd?

Written for IGWRT's, and it so happens a holiday snap of my great-niece and great-nephew fits the bill - sort of!
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15 comments:

  1. MarianMay 8, 2013 at 11:34 AM

    love this observation, it feels very true:
    "A gold star sat on a turned page when lessons went well."

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  2. Kerry O'ConnorMay 8, 2013 at 2:59 PM

    You have created that sense of time and place so well.
    'Teacher was the centre of the universe to the myriad pupil-planets in orbit about her each day..'

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  3. Maude LynnMay 8, 2013 at 3:29 PM

    Well done! I love that same line that Kerry quotes.

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  4. imacMay 8, 2013 at 3:30 PM

    Some say they were the days?

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  5. GraceMay 8, 2013 at 6:13 PM

    Those days, home was secondary as the school and teacher was the center of attention ~ Good one Jinksy ~

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  6. MillieMay 8, 2013 at 6:27 PM

    Seems appropriate as we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week in the States. Blogger doesn't like my open id, so I'm borrowing Millie's. Mine is here. http://razzamadazzle.wordpress.com

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    Replies
    1. JinksyMay 8, 2013 at 6:31 PM

      Teacher Appreciation Week? England could do well to think about having one here- teachers get a raw deal most of the time...

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  7. Grandmother MaryMay 8, 2013 at 8:28 PM

    This is such the perfect description of school for me. Teachers were the center we orbited around. I'm in.

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  8. Kay L. DaviesMay 8, 2013 at 9:23 PM

    Ah, a prelude to a lifetime of scholarship?
    K

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  9. Maggie GraceMay 8, 2013 at 10:19 PM

    The gold stars were my sense of self worth and teachers were my nurturers. I too love the phrase quoted by Kerry and others. You've definitely set the tone for this road to adulthood.

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  10. Susie ClevengerMay 9, 2013 at 3:55 AM

    This brings back memories of teachers I had growing up. Wonderful prelude to the question, "does learning ever end?"

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  11. AnonymousMay 9, 2013 at 5:17 AM

    Jinksy, excellent prelude. The line that stood out for me was, "scents which linked the chain of school days about my neck," and the list of things that held the essence. For me, it will always be chalk. Like a clarion call to learning... (I'm showing my age. They all use whiteboards and LCD projectors now!) Amy

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  12. EllaMay 9, 2013 at 1:01 PM

    I love the photo and you poem!
    I remember some of the teachers I loved and some I feared.
    Love this one
    :D

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  13. HelenMay 10, 2013 at 12:21 AM

    Your prelude poem makes me want more ... much more.

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  14. Dave KingMay 11, 2013 at 11:35 AM

    Ah, well, they ere the days, were they not? You have magicked them up wonderfully well.

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