As some teachers only taught in the morning or afternoon, and others needed a break at lunch, I had to do lunchtime supervision. This included walking around the playground but more importantly meal supervision. Food was scarce and must not be wasted. Boys were made to clear their plates and must say at times the food by todays standards was poor, but it was healthy.
I would ring the bell at 1.20 to mark the end of lunch. Their was no problem about boys being late back from lunch as none went home or were allowed out of school at lunchtime. Those boys who were naughty over the lunch period had to see me at the end of school along with those who had to report to me following a complaint from an outside person and had seen the boy after assembly. From 1.20 to 2pm was my lunch break which was taken in my study and it was a very unwise person that would disturbed me during this time.
From 2pm to about 2.20. I would have to follow up the absence notes or if I had none would walk around the school checking on what was taking place. Boys found in the passage because they had been sent out of class were slippered as I have already described .
Most of the time being the only male or fit male in the school (rather fitter than the others) I then took the boys from certain classes for PE. These classes would be about 40+ in number and it was a period of exercise, as with this number it was impossible to play football or cricket. (clubs for these took pace sometimes after school but often over the weekend for those that wanted to attend and were very popular) I use to take two sessions in the afternoon from 2.25 to 3.20 and from 3.20 to the end of school at 4.15. These sessions were taken in the playground or on the field. If wet they were conducted in the hall. No set kit was required for pe OTHER THAN BOYS COULD NOT WEAR THEIR SCHOOL CLOTHING. When it was a warm day or in the hall boys did pe topless. Those that did not have their shorts could try and borrow them or if they were wearing pants (which was rare) could do it in these but not wear them after the lesson. If they could not borrow shorts or do it in their pants they did it nude. Before anybody gets the idea that the whole class was naked on average this was just about two or three boys out of all the classes per term. It was a rare event. Those that did not have shorts even if they could borrow them were given two of the slipper. After the lesson boys were given 15 minutes to shower and dress. Those that did not have a towel hsd to borrow one but again resulted in two of the slipper. Showers were important for it made sure boys had at least ne body wash a week, and certainly after a lesson in the hall would be dripping with sweat, more so if it was a double class (80+) boys due to staff shortage and of course to wash mud off if we had been on the field. I took these lessons on a weekly basis with each class and of course when the boys were showering I would see them naked ad by seeing the number of boys hat had cane marks n their bottoms (marks lasted as a rule for 7-10 days) I knew which classes were the ones that were causing most of the trouble.
I would bring the boys back into the changing room at 4pm from the last lesson which gave them 15 minutes to shower and change. Once I sent them home I had about 5 minutes to get to my office for the last part of the day.
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