CASTLE ROCK BY SUBJECT - PART 2

TECHNOLOGY

In addition to Science we has one lesson a week called Technology which was as close to Science you can get in terms of content. I actually enjoyed it more than Science in the first year as that lesson was an absolute shambles. I don’t remember the lesson in much detail but there was a lot of problem solving type tasks involved.

REPORTS

DECEMBER 1988 - Matthew has worked well in this subject. He has found difficulty with reporting on his work and must try to improve his presentation.

MAY 1989 - Matthew has produced a reasonable standard of work. He works as part of a group and finds solutions to the problems offered. His presentation is fairly neat and homework satisfying.

FEBRUARY 1990 - Matthew has made good progress. He works in a quiet manner and does rely on others for ideas at times. However he has produced some good ideas on practical problem solving on projects about cranes and windmills. I hope he will continue to make similar efforts.

NOVEMBER 1990 - Matthew has been working steadily. He is able to handle tools and materials well but needs more time in order to become competent.



ENGLISH (language and literature were combined unlike King Edward VII)

I was always average at best all the way through school and this didn’t change at Castle Rock. I suppose I got less pressure as the overall standard was lower. In the first year we had Mr Epp who was an exchange teacher from Canada. In the following 2 years we had Mr Bailey who was much more hard line. I can’t argue with any of the comments on any of the reports I got.

REPORTS

DECEMBER 1988 - Matthew can do fine work in English. He is a capable reader and expresses ideas well. He does need to complete a higher percentage of homework. Completion of all homework will insure a better than satisfactory achievement next term.

APRIL 1989 - Matthew has begun working well in the last few weeks. However over the term he has missed some assignments and his attitude did on occasion appear negative. Both these factors contributed to less progress this term. Matthew needs to work at submitting work he is proud of. He has shown that he is capable of good work. Assuring that all homework is completed should be a priority for the summer term.

MARCH 1990 - Matthew is making progress but his written work is somewhat erratic in both presentation and content. I would like to see a little more consistency and a little more thought as to subject matter. He needs to cultivate the habit of proof reading his work since too many irritating mistakes are left unchecked.

NOVEMBER 1990 - Matthew’s standards seem to fluctuate somewhat. Weakness in presentation and checking do not help. He is capable of more effort which would more accurately reflect his ability. Most of the work is done on time but to a level which only just satisfies requirements. He is more able than he shows at present.

HUMANITIES was the three separate subjects of History, Geography and Religious studies so we only averaged one lesson a week of each.

HISTORY

“I’m Mr Miller and i’m horrible” was his greeting the first time we entered his classroom. He was easily the most strict hardline teacher in the school. We all sat boy, girl, boy girl in numbered seats. There was never any trouble in his class and few were stupid enough to forget their homework for him. He was famous for his weird obsessions with exact 2 centimetre margins. Most hated him, he knew it but he didn’t care......in fact I think he thrived on it!!!!!

As for the subject itself I didn’t hate it but I didn’t like it either I just got on with it. Most of the work covered ancient history such as how stonehenge was built and of course the battle of Hastings. It was not until the age of 25 when I visited the World war one battlefields that I realized how much of modern history I wasn’t taught.

See the entry “WORLD WAR ONE BATTLEFIELD TOUR” located in the chapter HOLIDAYS AGE 20 - 32 for more details.

REPORTS

DECEMBER 1988

Quite a fair and pleasing terms work, however he now needs to ensure that he gives complete answers to questions and covers all the points required. This is really a matter of practice.

MAY 1989

He has continued to make steady and pleasing progress. He now needs to elaborate on the straightforward statements that he makes in his work and inject more analysis.

OCTOBER 1989

He has certainly shown some improvement with regard to the bolting of source material, however his exam result was a shade disappointing and lowered his overall grade fractionally.

OCTOBER 1990

His work is a little weak at times but he could improve his capabilities if he really set his mind to the problems of history. He now needs to work on the accuracy of his use of source material.


GEOGRAPHY

Out of the three Geography was my favourite, we had several different teachers over the three years the most memorable being the strict but slightly crazy Mr Steer in the second year. His favourite story was how he survived the East coast floods in 1953 in which more than 2500 people were killed.

REPORT - (not sure why I only have one)

DECEMBER 1988 (Mr Baker)

Matthew has worked quite well producing reasonably accurate results. He has taken an interest in the topics covered and progress has been good.

RELIGIOUS STUDIES

Strict but strange would be the best way to describe Miss Crockford. Religion was taught very differently to primary school. Instead of one religion being taught as fact we learned about religion. This is what a muslim believes, this is what a Hindu believes, this is what a sikh believes etc.........

The effects on my own views on religion are covered in the later entry RELIGION PART 2 SECONDARY SCHOOL. As the teacher was strict I just simply got on with the subject the best I could. My parents were baffled as to why I got good reports for this subject and bad ones for Maths and Science.

REPORTS

DECEMBER 1988

Matthew is a quiet student. I would like him to relax more in class and develop the confidence to answer questions. His written work is usually satisfactory and test results good.

APRIL 1989

Matthew has worked well in this subject over the term. I am pleased with his attitude to work and the progress he is making.

NOVEMBER 1989

Matthew is a lot more confident this year. He makes a very good contribution in class discussions and he is keen to show an interest in this subject. His written work needs more detailed information though.