Comments on: The Old Boys of '99: My Perspective

By: Jeff

Jeff — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 10:47:35 +0000

I would believe that it’s not just the setting of a school that determines the experience, but the faculty and board of directors and executive committee as well. Even different generations at the same school would experience it in a unique way. Public schools are all different, as private schools, as Catholic schools. We just happened to luck into the wrong ones, or perhaps ones that didn’t suit us.

By: xibee

xibee — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 22:49:43 +0000

I recall being on both ends of the spectrum in a terribly overcrowded public school. Teachers were overwhelmed. I either excelled and spent a lot of time acting out and being bored (any literary matters) or was invisible and bewildered without any recourse for help (mathematical end of things). Our school had a way of losing track of you and not really caring about where you ended up, no matter what happened. I think either of your situations might have worked better for me.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 10:44:12 +0000

Actually, I found Catholic school to be pretty good at helping the “less-equipped” students. The teachers would ask if there were any questions, and if so, they would stop the entire class to make sure that everyone understood. Fair and equal, I suppose, but I could see how this would hold back the students who already grasped the material. I’m not saying that one way is better than the other, just that each has it’s advantages.

I’d consider myself an outsider to general society now too, but when I was young and in high-school I yearned for a certain degree of acceptance, not as a desperate need to fit in but just to appear normal. It was probably something I sought out of a lack of attention from my parents.

By: Pearl

Pearl — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 13:42:50 +0000

Could it be that there’s a universal? That few teachers anywhere can draw out students who are reluctant to not jump in fully equipped to excel? Would not any situation seem structured for those who are positioned to step forward to use the resources to the most advantage?

Outcast or withdrawn? which frame benefits you how or why? I have traditionally framed myself as an outsider, fringe periphery person out of knee-jerk disassociation with mainstream or myriad other things. I’m unpacking why. I never felt I was excelling but that may be more my reading than reality. I can see I cut my feet out from under myself by times. I’m learning to watch for self-scything.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 12:27:10 +0000

Sorry, I meant to ask, what do I have for you to be jealous of, but now I understand what you were trying to say.

By: Reno

Reno — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 20:12:36 +0000

I meant you have my jealousy, haha. That school looks really neat.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 15:38:33 +0000

@fathima — Yeah, the school was always very open. There are security cameras everywhere, though they remain hidden. We found out one year when a student crazy-glued the locks and cost the school something like $12000 in damage.

I supposed I’d feel the same way about university if my university was more prestigious. I could see how you’d feel that way about Queens.

@Reno — Jealous? As a lamer, what do I have to be jealous of?

By: Reno

Reno — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 06:29:53 +0000

Drunk? Yes, again. You got the mad skills, and the jealousy of one public school fool right here. I’m much a lamer, more than you.

By: fathima

fathima — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 03:57:44 +0000

a few weeks back i was wandering around St George with a friend and we walked into what i thought i was just another building, but it turned it out it was UCC. and i was all, “you mean i just walked into a school and am now sitting on a bench in a hallway here and no one cares? is this even legal?”

in other news, one of my favourite teachers taught them part-time or something after he left my high school.

and also, i feel like this a little about Queen’s.
and now i need to read your other posts on the subject