Do you miss secondary school?

_Kaiser_ · 23-01-2016 08:01PM

No I don't. Left in 95 and never looked back really. When Facebook arrived of course half my old year added me (and each other) but I haven't talked to any of them since the Leaving.

Avatar MIA · 23-01-2016 08:19PM

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

"since the Leaving".

That sounds so ominous

BrianD3 · 23-01-2016 08:56PM

I did my LC in the mid nineties so school is a long time ago now. I have not kept in touch with anyone, I've bumped into a few, said hello and had short awkward conversations with them but that's the extent of my contact with anyone from school since the day I picked up my LC results.

Do i miss school? Up until fairly recently I would have said no way and would have cited reasons like being bullied, doing badly with girls, homework, exams, bad teachers and so on. Now though I see things a bit less in black and white than I used to and am probably starting to get nostalgic too. Homework and getting stressed over the LC and regularly being called a queer f*ggot were bad but adult life obviously brings its own stresses.

I think I miss being naively optimistic about the future. For instance when I was in school I never once thought about the fact that I will die someday. Whereas now, with family members dropping like flies, I am very aware of my own mortality and how my life is close to being half over based on average life expectancy.

spurious · 23-01-2016 09:04PM

Means Of Escape wrote: »

You can gauge the popularity of secondary school by the attendance numbers at reunions .

We get very big numbers at ours. Left school in 1980. I think reading some of the other posts here we were kinder to each other back then.

iguana · 23-01-2016 09:18PM

I love history, absolutely adore it. When I find about an historical event that's new to me but sparks an interest to know more I get so excited and go into over drive. I learn all about it, read books on it, various theories about unknown details. I read accounts, biographies, well recommended historical fiction about that era and just soak it all up for months. I was like that as a child but then I went to school and I forgot. From the age of 10 until I was 27 I actually completely forgot that I loved history so very much. Lucikly, 10 years ago I needed a book for the tube home as I'd finished what I was reading that morning and I picked up an historical novel. As it turns out, it was in all probability very inaccurate but it lit a fire in me and I needed to know more and I remembered how much I love history. And for the last decade I've scrambled to catch up on all the years of historical discovery that I missed out on.

So no, I don't miss secondary school. Not one bit because it was the tedious way that subject is taught that made me lose that love. I remember how bored I was during history class in school. I didn't hate it but I was just so insanely bored. Not only that but quite a bit that is taught in school is dumbed down to the point of inaccuracy. And a lot of teachers take it very badly if a pupil points out that inaccuracy. I had a teacher throw one of my books across the room when I brought it in to show her why I had disagreed with what she had told us the previous day. She had no interest in the subject she was teaching, she just didn't want a child to show her up by knowing more than her. Nothing especially bad ever happened to me at school. Unless you count losing my natural desire to learn, which is actually really messed up when you think about it.

I will never force my son to attend school. If he wants to go then I'll support him through it. But if he doesn't I will guide him through learning what he needs to know and show him how to follow the subjects he is passionate about.

Lithium93_ · 23-01-2016 09:20PM

In short, No, no I don't miss secondary school, 6 years of absolute hell.

FluffyMcCardy · 23-01-2016 11:47PM

iguana wrote: »

I love history, absolutely adore it. When I find about an historical event that's new to me but sparks an interest to know more I get so excited and go into over drive. I learn all about it, read books on it, various theories about unknown details. I read accounts, biographies, well recommended historical fiction about that era and just soak it all up for months. I was like that as a child but then I went to school and I forgot. From the age of 10 until I was 27 I actually completely forgot that I loved history so very much. Lucikly, 10 years ago I needed a book for the tube home as I'd finished what I was reading that morning and I picked up an historical novel. As it turns out, it was in all probability very inaccurate but it lit a fire in me and I needed to know more and I remembered how much I love history. And for the last decade I've scrambled to catch up on all the years of historical discovery that I missed out on.

Same here. I do remember once in primary school getting 99% in history. Everyone gasped as I was practically the class dunce in everything. Later in secondary school no one noticed my capability in history and art. Those were the times, pitiless. Once because as I said earlier the school was quite progressive we all did aptitude tests. Apparently I scored highly and it led to an interview with the school career guidance teacher where he told me I scored highly yet that wasn't reflected in my academic results. He queried me as to the reason. But I was fourteen I hadn't clue and in retrospect wasn't that his bloody job?
So I had no career guidance and drove up some spectacular blind alleys in my life since. It wouldn't happen these days.
But I still adore history, soak it all up. Read anything and watch inpulsively anything on the subject on TV particularly the BBC. School did nothing for me. I sit here with no job no career. Why go back?

dd972 · 23-01-2016 11:49PM

Probably obviously adolescence that causes it but I remember being taken aback by the contrast between a friendly primary and a hostile secondary school. ''Jesus, what's all this fighting and spitting at each other all about?...''

megadodge · 23-01-2016 11:50PM

Absolutely not!

Mainly because of the curriculum.
It was without doubt the most useless, utter waste of time in my entire life. When I think of all the useful things I could have been learning instead of all the nonsense that I have never used since. The BOREDOM was near-unbearable.

The only thing Secondary school actually taught me that I still use is how to daydream when listening to somebody speaking, a disastrous habit I'm still struggling to get rid of.

As for the destruction of curiosity, creativity and any interest in learning... don't get me started.

Rhea Rose · 24-01-2016 01:44AM

Not at all. I was bullied the whole way through secondary school and had a pretty awful time of it. What kept me going was knowing I was moving 4 hours away to college and could start over and leave all that **** behind. I don't actually talk to anyone I went to school with anymore. I simply moved on from it.

jim-jam · 24-01-2016 02:24AM

Hated every second of it. There were a few teachers in there that genuinely cared and tried their damnedest but the majority in my year were more into destroying the will of anyone who attempted to learn. I walked out in my leaving cert year after telling the principal how I was suffering from panic attacks and depression to due to awful (and I mean fcuking terrible) bullying and, as I look back, the ridiculous pressure of the leaving cert. I was told I needed a good nights sleep and I'd feel better in the morning. I knew I wasn't going to get the support I needed to at least see out the year so I walked out and never looked back. Did my leaving the year after somewhere else and 8 years later I couldn't be happier. Today I'm only in contact with two guys from my class. The rest of them I really couldn't give a toss about.

Sgt Hartman · 24-01-2016 10:42AM

I utterly hated it, It was a school in Limerick from 92-97. Being a shy, moody, awkward teenager meant that I was relentlessly bullied for 5 years and made feel like a worthless, useless piece of ****. I still keep in contact with a small few nice people from my class but the rest of them can f**k off straight to Hell. There's 2 in particular who were so horrible that if I found out that they died in the morning I would go out and celebrate. I'll probably get no luck for saying that but that just sums up how I feel about them.
The school itself is closed now which is a shame to be honest. There were some really good teachers there and it had a great swimming pool and sports facilities.

Ursus Horribilis · 24-01-2016 12:50PM

The only thing I miss are the physique and metabolism I had back then

I didn't mind secondary school when I was there but that's because I was a kid and knew no better. The only time after the leaving that I missed it was my first few weeks at university. That was quite a shock to the system! I missed the familiar faces and the routine from school. Once I settled, that was the end of that.

I don't think it's healthy for people to miss secondary school to be honest. It means that you've not grown as a person and that your current life isn't any better than it was when you were a teenager. Secondary school works when you're a teenager and still not savvy enough to exist safely in the outside world. Most young people need to be cosseted at that age because they don't have the wherewithal to deal with office politics, responsibility, finances and all of the weird and wonderful things life throws at you. Sometimes real life p!sses me off but never to the extent that I want to get back into that horrible school uniform, move home to my parents and start watching Home & Away again.

I've not spoken to about 95% of my old classmates since we left school. It doesn't bother me. They weren't friendships that were made to last. We were just a bunch of people who happened to be born around the same time and spent 13 year sitting in the same classrooms together. I don't have anything in common with most of them any more.

Ursus Horribilis · 24-01-2016 12:50PM

The only thing I miss are the physique and metabolism I had back then

I didn't mind secondary school when I was there but that's because I was a kid and knew no better. The only time after the leaving that I missed it was my first few weeks at university. That was quite a shock to the system! I missed the familiar faces and the routine from school. Once I settled, that was the end of that.

I don't think it's healthy for people to miss secondary school to be honest. It means that you've not grown as a person and that your current life isn't any better than it was when you were a teenager. Secondary school works when you're a teenager and still not savvy enough to exist safely in the outside world. Most young people need to be cosseted at that age because they don't have the wherewithal to deal with office politics, responsibility, finances and all of the weird and wonderful things life throws at you. Sometimes real life p!sses me off but never to the extent that I want to get back into that horrible school uniform, move home to my parents and start watching Home & Away again.

I've not spoken to about 95% of my old classmates since we left school. It doesn't bother me. They weren't friendships that were made to last. We were just a bunch of people who happened to be born around the same time and spent 13 year sitting in the same classrooms together. I don't have anything in common with most of them any more.

Galwayguy35 · 24-01-2016 01:44PM

We had a class reunion a few years ago, was like meeting a crowd of strangers I had nothing in common with.

OnTheCouch · 24-01-2016 02:15PM

Not particularly, I'm quite a different person now to when I was 18.

Of course I would love to have the advantage of being that age again in terms of my world being a complete open book with no worries about bad decisions or life passing me by. Plus the possibility to once again re-live the complete open mindedness and myriad opportunities to go out and meet others which are rife in the late teens and a lot less so not that long after, let alone in the 30s, does kind of appeal to me. In addition, there is a sort of guilty reminiscence about the stupid things we did, erroneously thinking these were 'cool' or 'edgy' at the time.

However I suspect like many people, I would only want to revert back to that age if I could keep the wisdom and experience I have gained in the interim period, which would be impossible.

A lot of my school years could be described as very vanilla and dull, with the odd funny moment here and there. I was very much an 'inbetweener,' ie I was not a complete outcast nor someone who was picked on, but on the other hand nor was I particularly sought out socially or anything like that, so popularity would not really be a reason to feel nostalgic either.

So as mentioned earlier, I'm a very different person now than I was before. I luckily still have some very good friends from school, but all of us instinctively know that we are have all changed and in order not to fall out we tend to keep our reunions short and sweet. I also sense that many feel uncomfortable with the cliched stereotypes from before not being true any more, that their memories are inextricably linked to the person when they were 17-18 and have difficulty recognising that people change over time.

Therefore as much as it is important to not to forget your past, plus be proud of where you come from, I don't think I miss those days hugely and in many ways am very glad I have evolved as a human being.

freshpopcorn · 24-01-2016 08:57PM

School for me was okay. There was times when I hated it and times I loved it at times.
I did get bullied a little bit a lot of stuff I took offence to at the time and a lot of it was just messing.
My class was generally good. We all nearly got on and could work together if we had to.
The teachers were generally nice or good or both. There was one teacher who was awful but he retired at the end of first year.
The subjects/leaving were fine I loved geography/Business and CSPE/SPHE(if you could call the subjects). I hated maths/history. I'd still feel the same now regarding those subjects. As for the work load. I never had much homework apart from a French teacher who I had for my junior cert. The whole leaving cert wasn't made into to big of a deal off.
So I thought college was going to be great because people on Boards.ie uset give secondary school such a slating and college was brilliant.
I went from an all guys schopl into a small enough college course. There was more girls than guys and there was a lot of bullying. Lots of people excluded and a good bit of bitchnes. Even with group assessments people would really let you down. Lectures were constantly on about attendance and assessments. The course its self wasn't too difficult. My college experience was similar to a lot of people's secondary school experience. The only good part was you could go drinking and do extra things.
If I had to spend a week in my old school or college I'd probably pick my school but I wouldn't really want to go back to either.

sryanbruen · 25-01-2016 12:04AM

Well I'm in third year in secondary school and no I don't miss any of the two years I have completed in the kip.

beks101 · 25-01-2016 12:23AM

Nope. All girls Jesus & Mary secondary school overrun by cliques of hormonal teenage girls and all the nastiness that comes with that.

Secondary school wasn't really the place for me. I was quiet, self-conscious and couldn't really find my group. Had a best friend here and a best friend there...until I finally went on to college and found my tribe. There's a place for everyone in college. I definitely miss those years.

Bongalongherb · 25-01-2016 07:44AM

Best time of my life it was. All male school in belcamp college great laugh especially at science class learning how to sniff thinners I think it was that the science teacher handed around to us all. We were all laughing and so was the science teacher, but I don't think he understood the science about it all.

Great bunch of lads.

Bongalongherb · 25-01-2016 07:44AM

There is a bug with boards still as it double posted my comment.

To Elland Back · 25-01-2016 08:54AM

Never, worst period in my life

cowboyBuilder · 25-01-2016 10:22AM

sryanbruen wrote: »

Well I'm in third year in secondary school and no I don't miss any of the two years I have completed in the kip.

I love this.

In ways I miss it, but I think it's nostalgia lying to me, some funny moments
and great craic - I miss the laughs.

What I don't miss is the prick Irish/French teachers , and the year head who loved screaming in my face to intimidate me.

c_man · 25-01-2016 12:47PM

Means Of Escape wrote: »

You can gauge the popularity of secondary school by the attendance numbers at reunions .

Ah I wouldn't agree with that. I've never been to a reunion yet two of my best friends are guys I met in secondary. I still keep in somewhat regular contact with a lot of the group I hung around with there, and I run into the odd head from back in the day here and there. I'd see no point in going to a reunion, anyone I wanted to keep in contact with... well I did!

VoodooSupreme · 25-01-2016 06:32PM

I actually do miss secondary school at times. However, I certainly wouldn't agree with the notion that school days are the best of your life. Not a hope.

I was considered clever. I did well in all my subjects and was a high achiever. However, now in college, I'm far from elite or special or extraordinary. I'm just me, struggling to pass let alone get the equivalent of an A1. This took some time to adjust to. I also had more friends in school, seeing them every day was just easy, and then going out with them on a Saturday night. Good memories. Now I definitely have less, although I'm attending a much larger college than my school.

Primary school is another question though. Wouldn't step inside them gates if you paid me a winning lottery ticket, I still have nightmares about the bullying, beating and exclusion that little me endured. Totally uncalled for, and this was up to 2009. Seeing some of those people continue to the same secondary as I definitely hindered the experience as a whole.

sryanbruen · 25-01-2016 07:26PM

cowboyBuilder wrote: »

I love this.

In ways I miss it, but I think it's nostalgia lying to me, some funny moments
and great craic - I miss the laughs.

What I don't miss is the prick Irish/French teachers , and the year head who loved screaming in my face to intimidate me.

Yeah I don't think I miss it at all one bit, reasons why

*Doing punishment work because of others whilst I'm being just a silent owl and doing my work as the teachers want us to do. Sometimes I get extra homework because of others and twice this year, I have had to take down the classroom code of behaviour even though I did not do one thing wrong.

*Irish teacher, I'm better at Irish than him... Jesus Christ... he is terrible. Is múinteoir dána é (he is a bad teacher) - LOL

*Doing PE even though my feet and my stomach were in absolute horrible state at times (still happening)

*Rude and ignorant principal (god... the voice principal is much nicer and easier to talk with)

RayCon · 25-01-2016 08:34PM

Rawr wrote: »

Miss secondary school?

That Orwellian Nightmare Factory that was overseen by a man who both looked and enacted rules like a miniature Mussolini?

That CAO Points Factory that shredded away any sense of education for the sake of "What you should answer on this question..." ?

That Apartheid Regime that assumed that you were automatically a rule-breaking tosser simply because you took Ordinarly Level core-subjects, while absolute ass-hats taking Higher Level were given the benefit of the doubt?

That Monument to Hypocrisy that offered those same Higher level tossers College selection advice, and ignored my requests for the same. Only to find out years later that while I managed to get my degrees (with distinctions to boot), many of those tossers ended up washing out in their first year?

Do I miss secondary school?!!

...yea...It was a bit of a laugh I guess...

I was enjoying that post .... then I got to the bolded part and was reminded of the Father Ted Golden Cleric speech .... so I enjoyed it a little more.

That_Guy · 25-01-2016 09:16PM

I liked it up until transition year. Turns out my supposed friends transitioned into almighty cúnts.

The pressure of the leaving cert was crazy though from all angles. Teachers, parents, classmates. It was bloody unbearable.

I'll be finished college in May of this year. I'll miss that more than secondary school.

Rawr · 26-01-2016 11:59AM

RayCon wrote: »

I was enjoying that post .... then I got to the bolded part and was reminded of the Father Ted Golden Cleric speech .... so I enjoyed it a little more.

(Flips through notes)
...and now we move on to 'Liars'

gormdubhgorm · 26-01-2016 01:13PM

I enjoyed the first three years. Then transition year killed my momentum. It was the first year it was tried at the school.As a result I difted through fifth and sixth year. Looking back I needed guidance/motivation but there was none for me. Thankfully things improved in college.

There was plenty of funny moments from school that I still laugh about. But there were Also plenty of moments of pointless teenage bravado (all boys school). Looking back I wish I realised that most were just as clueless about life as I was.

Do you miss secondary school?

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