School Rules

[Richard1978]

Can anyone remember any school rules that seemed to only be in force at one school?

Sometimes they can produce funny looks when comparing school memories with people who went to different schools.

Ones I remember:

One of the primary schools had a rule that crisps couldn't be eaten at middle break (lunchtime). I guess this was to stop pupils snacking instead of having a full dinner, but this was never spelt out loud.

At seemingly random times it was forbidden at the same school to go behind a mobile classroom at breaks, though this didn't stop some pupils.

At one primary we had to walk on the left hand side of the corridor, but at secondary were had to walk on the right.

When I was at secondary school the head had changed in the year I started, so many rules were changed over the time I was there, which sometimes made it hard to keep up with them.

One thing phased out was the 2 school buildings being the upper & lower schools.

Originally in the upper school building each school year based there had it's own set of girls toilets, (for some reason the boys ones were shared) & in theory the girls from the other school years would have had to cross back to the other building, so that rule was quickly dropped, though the nameplates were still in place even when I left 4 years later.

[Solo]

Re: Strange School Rules

At my primary school, you weren't allowed to tie your school jumpers round your waist.

During milk break, we had to turn our chairs away from the table to drink it.

There was only so much of the school playing field we were allowed to go on - the furthest part away from the buildings was out of bounds. Weirdly enough there wasn't a physical barrier stopping us from going on it, but I guess kids had respect (fear?? haha) at that time!

Secondary school - standing up when a teacher walked into the room (even if it wasn't your teacher, just one come to pass a message on or something)

We always had to walk on the left on the stairs and I still do it to this day, it makes me feel really weird if someone is coming towards me on the same side!

I'm sure I'll think of some more!

[Marine Boy]

Re: Strange School Rules

I have some similar memories of secondary school. There were two staircases; one was suppose to be used for going up and the other for going down. This was a reasonable enough rule, especially at busy times. However, if you used the 'up' staircase to travel 'down', or vice-versa, the penalty was always overly severe. I think one boy was suspended for the rest of the week!

[Heather74]

Re: Strange School Rules

rules are one thing that have changed big time over the years, back when we were kids they were made up of a big list of DONTS,these days it DO be kind, DO be gentle etc,

also things like sports days you were encouraged to win and got rewarded for doing so, now its "The taking part that counts" and every single kid gets a medal for "trying" ....sod that , run for the flippin finish line!!!!!

[Marine Boy]

Re: Strange School Rules

...things like sports days you were encouraged to win and got rewarded for doing so, now its "The taking part that counts" and every single kid gets a medal for "trying" ....sod that , run for the flippin finish line!!!!!

Yeh, I know what you mean. But on the other hand, at the primary school where I work, we adopt the 'give everyone a prize' approach and it's wonderful to see the non-sporty kids get some kind of recognition.

[Heather74]

Re: Strange School Rules

dont get me wrong I was the kid who was always picked last when it came to sports, so I do appreciate that side to it

[Marine Boy]

Re: Strange School Rules

dont get me wrong I was the kid who was always picked last when it came to sports, so I do appreciate that side to it

Oh, that 'nominated captains choosing teams' thing where you were the last one to be picked. Hey, that was me too. I'm sure you know this one, Huggie...

YouTube - Janis Ian - At Seventeen

[Richard1978]

Re: Strange School Rules

I have some similar memories of secondary school. There were two staircases; one was suppose to be used for going up and the other for going down. This was a reasonable enough rule, especially at busy times. However, if you used the 'up' staircase to travel 'down', or vice-versa, the penalty was always overly severe. I think one boy was suspended for the rest of the week!

My secondary school tried that in one building for about half a week, but hardly anyone followed it.

It was tricky if you had classes at one end of the school on different floors, but the correct staircase was at the other end.

After 2-3 days it was abandoned.

[amethyst]

Re: Strange School Rules

Primary School

All the class stand up when a member of staff enters the room,all have to say good morning or afternoon to your teacher.
Put your hand up if you wanted to be excused from classroom
No running in corridors
Wait for the school bell before leaving the classroom
Spelling tests once a week if you had over 16 out of 20 you could go outside and play rounders,if you had less than 16 had to stay in class and do lines

No chewing in classroom if you were caught,then you would have to stand outside the classroom,until the lesson was over

[Disco Duck]

Re: Strange School Rules

I remember being at primary school and one if the rules were.......You were not allowed to have a sweetie in class unless you had enough to go round.

So...if you were caught eating a sweetie, teacher said "come up here and spit it into the bin, your not allowed to eat them unless you have enough for the rest of class."


Another one was......When it was icy, not being allowed to make a slide (but we did anyway )

[Marine Boy]

Re: Strange School Rules

How about not being allowed to cough or sneeze during prayers in assembly. Although, that rule was more ridiculous than strange.

[Palazzo]

Re: Strange School Rules

Some of the rules in my secondary school really got on my nerves, it got to a point where I genuinely believed the heads of year would sit in their offices for hours on end just thinking up what rules they could enforce next. I remember my total disgust in assembly one morning when it was announced that ties had to be to a specific length, down to the waist, no little and no less. This came after the rule that you couldn't wear a coat inside school at any time, if you were walking into any part of the school you had to remove your coat or a severe bollocking would be on the cards.

Thinking back it amazes me just how angry one teacher in particular would get about the coat rule. If you were lining up outside a classroom ready to be allowed in for a lesson and were wearing a coat, this one fella would go absolutely berserk. He was actually a pretty decent bloke once he was actually inside a classroom and teaching, just that when walking around the school he was a real disciplinarian.

We also had a one way system for making your way around the school, understandable when hordes of children are pushing and shoving after lunch to get to class, not so much if its one or two people being told to go right around the school just to get to the front office. I still have the voices of teachers bellowing "ONE WAY SYSTEM!" ringing in my ears.

The school clamped down on eating outside which was a real pain. There was one teacher who would appear from seemingly nowhere and pull you aside, carefully taking your name, year and form number down on a pocket notepad. Eating a packet of McCoys and a carton of Ribena was like mission impossible, it required such skill and awareness of surroundings it was unbelievable. Finishing a packed lunch never felt so satisfying.

[Marine Boy]

Re: Strange School Rules

In primary, we had a new block built which included changing rooms. A rule was introduced in fifth year, (now Year 7 - we did an extra year at primary, don't recall why,) where you had to bring a towel on days when you had games and all the boys had to shower. Few of us wanted to so didn't bring a towel and thus could not shower, so the rule was not enforced.

But showering after games in secondary was enforced, and many of us used to think it was a bit weird how one games master used to stand over you till you were completely undressed and in the shower.

If you got to the changing rooms before the teacher, you could wet your hair and insist, "Look sir, I did have a shower!"

[Richard1978]

Re: Strange School Rules

I remember hardly bothering with showers after games, mainly because the teachers hardly bothered to enforce it, & the weight of carrying a towel around. Also I always seemed to have most games lessons at the end of the day, so I could use the excuse that I would shower when I got home.

[80sChav]

Re: Strange School Rules

How about not being allowed to keep your Coat on in Class even if it was frezing?! Not being allowed to wear a Football Shirt under your school Shirt as a T-Shirt too!!? Crazy!