School 1945-1955 vs 2014. Author Unknown
SCHOOL-1945 -1955 vs. 20
Scenario :Johnny and Mark get into a fight after school.
1945 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up best friends.
2012 - Police called, and they arrest Johnny and Mark. Charge them with assault, both expelled even though Johnny started it. Both children go to anger management programmes for 3 months. School governors hold meeting to implement bullying prevention programmes.
Scenario :
Robbie won't be still in class, disrupts other students.
1945 - Robbie sent to the office and given six of the best by the Principal. Returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2012 - Robbie given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. Tested for ADHD - result deemed to be positive. Robbie's parents get fbi-monthly disability payments and school gets extra funding from government because Robbie has a disability.
Scenario :
Billy breaks a window in his neighbour's car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.
1945 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.
2012 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy removed to foster care; joins a gang; ends up in jail.
Scenario :
Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school.
1945 - Mark gets glass of water from Principal to take aspirin with. Passes exams, becomes a solicitor.
2012- Police called, parents' car searched for drugs and weapons. Mark expelled from school for drug taking. Ends up as a drop out.
Scenario :
Johnny takes apart leftover fireworks from 24th of May, puts them in a paint tin & blows up a wasp's nest.1945 - Wasps die.
2012- Police & Anti-Terrorism Squad called. Johnny charged with domestic terrorism, investigate parents, siblings removed from home, computers confiscated. Johnny's Dad goes on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly in an airplane again.
Scenario :
Johnny falls over while running during morning break and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. She hugs him to comfort him.
1945 - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing football. No damage done.
2012 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces 3 years in prison. Johnny undergoes 5 years of therapy and ends up gay.How stupid we have become!
Three Winghams
My old friend Brian's latest has finally prompted me to contribute. I have visited both of the other Winghams. My only claim to journalistic fame resulted from an article published (front page, no less!) in The Wingham Advance Times folowing a visit to Wingham, Kent with my then flatmate Bill Bryson in 1962. Beat you Bob! My mother preserved a copy for posterity.
In March, 2006, I was driving back to Sydney after visiting an old friend in Brisbane with whom I had worked in London during my five years there. He had emigrated in 1963. The trip is almost 1,000 km, so I stopped overnight at a Travelodge in Tralee, and discovered that Wingham was nearby. It was unremarkable, unlike Wingham Kent, so I didn't take any photos. I should have at least taken one of the name sign.
I will briefly relate my Wingham history. I was born in Toronto, and moved to Wingham in 1949 when my dad took up the post of organist at the United Church. We initially rented a "wartime" house on Carling Terrace. We then had a house built at the east end of town on Highway 86 just past Diagonal Road. I first met Brian Rider in Grade 2, and a life long friendship ensued. Following High School, I decided to see the world, and boarded a freighter to England, arriving in November 61. What was intended to be a short stay ended up as five years.
I have returned to the UK dozens of times since both on business and holiday, and Brian and I continue our friendship after an amazing 64 years. I had dinner with him and Angela as recently as last September.
Paul Bennett
Paul Bennett
