I can still remember the smell of the pencil shavings. The smell of my school bag and freshly polished school shoes. I remember setting out all my school clothes the night before and the excitement of the first day of school. Yet, if I have to be totally honest, excitement is not exactly the word I’d use to describe my feelings of going back to school…
You see, the first day back at school was never pleasant for me. Not only was I a very shy, reserved child, but I have some pretty awful memories which make me shudder every time I think of them.
Three in particular that I recall…
The first was when all the Grade 2’s were waiting for their names to be called out by their new teachers. Someone insisted they heard my name, and so I excitedly followed my new teacher to my class only to find that my name was not on her list. I frantically raced back to the other children, but they had all left. I was stranded and had no clue where to go.
The second memory was Std 2 when the teachers were calling out the names of the kids for their new classes and instead of calling Bronwynne Loots (my maiden name), my teacher called Bronwynne Boots. Laughter ensued and I was mocked for many years to come by all the cruel boys (and girls).
My third memory is Std 3 when a good family friend who was in Std 5, dared me to run across the athletic field and if I did so, he would give me R5 (trust me, in 1985 this was a hell of a lot of money!) So I did. I ran and ran and ran! As I got halfway across the field, I heard the school bell ring for the start of class. But this didn’t stop me. Unfortunately, as I got to the other side and turned around, I saw that everyone was gone. GONE, including Roger and that when I finished my run and got to my class, I got detention. Roger still owes me R5!
Oh how I sometimes wish I could go back to school with what I know now! The first thing I would tell myself is that silly little events like these don’t matter. That in life, there are much bigger things to worry about. In fact, it’s the attitude and coping when things don’t go the right way that has made me the person I am today!
Good luck boys and girls!
Keeping up with the Walkers... 
Most of my primary school memories are of me getting beat up. Then again, most of my high school memories are the same.
I have sometimes wished that I can go back to then knowing what I know now. Especially since I’m now an agnostic and having spent 4 years in a Christian school it might’ve been fun.
A lot of time people will ask if you would change things if you could go back… Not a chance. All those years under Christian education, all those years getting my arse beat up helped make me who I am today.
Rather ask me if I want to change who I am today. Yes, I’d love to. But after 36 years it’s not all that easy. I still fear getting beat up. It might not be a physical beating now, ,more emotional. I still need my “safety blanket”, but sometimes she’s out of town.
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Your advice (about what you know now) is very true, but at the time it is such a big deal to a little child – thank goodness we grow up!
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I didn’t love school that much either and have similar memories!
But we all have to go through it and we all survive – so far my 2 seem to be doing ok. (we shall ignore the fact my oldest got into a small fist fight today)
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and in spite of it all you excelled at everything! must be all that reading you did.
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I enjoyed reading your stories from your school days. It brought back alot of my own memories. Good and bad 🙂
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I can so relate to your feelings surrounding school. I hated school and never will I ever miss it. Yes, I will miss being dependent in the way of not worrying about money so much but other than that, I will not miss being a child or school.
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Hey Bronnie, please man you gotta let that story go I profusly appologise for making you run across the athletics field, but if you look deeper you’ll see what a true friend I am, as I noticed your talent as a runner at such a young age and it was the only way I knew how at that age to push you to find your passion, as for the R5 and your sisters tuck money which i supposedly stole, well just write it off to friendship fees. Remember always though you and Gwynn provided me with alot of entertainment in my primary school days. Thanks for always being my friends.
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You just gotta luv him!!!!!!
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I hated school. It started off ok, but then I was bullied by a girl who joined my small group of friends. It was an insidious, evil, covert type of bullying and none of it was taken seriously by the school. As a result, my grades suffered and I would use any excuse not to go to school. It affected my entire life. Saw her the other day at Woolies and I realised that I completely loathe her (in the full sense of the word)
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