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Posted: 30-12-2011 10:30 Post subject:

Oh yes! Another memory from all those years ago Wink

The headmaster at our school was a real space nut and made us listen to War of the worlds one (very long) summer afternoon in the school hall. I remember it didn't have much impact on me, until they made *that* noise. Can't bring myself to listen to it...not yet Shocked

lol

I wonder if it was just to keep us out the way while the teachers had a meeting or to test us to see who would freak out...

Posted: 13-01-2012 04:18 Post subject:

Hi,

I've been reading the forum for a while but have never really posted. I'm not sure if this may explain some of the tests a few of you seem to have had in school that you never heard about again as I probably attended school a few years after you.

On first starting high school in 2001, aged 11, everyone was subjected to a lengthy all day test which seemed to be a mix of 'what would you do', logic and problem solving questions. We were never told what the tests were for and were never given results, and the teachers would change the subject when questioned on them. However, around 3 years later I was having a meeting with my mum and a maths teacher where he had a list of all the names of the pupils in my maths class with a number next to each name. He informed me this corresponded to the tests we did aged 11 and they were actually IQ tests. He said that they don't really tell pupils about it but he wanted to let my mum know as I had got the highest score in my borough and one of the top in the country, and this was the reason I was put into special G+T classes and put forward for certain youth organisations. Not sure if this test has been going since the 70s/80s or not but this may be the same test as others have described?

Posted: 13-01-2012 09:08 Post subject:

Interestingly enough - and I remember things like this quite clearly, at age 10/11 we were marched out into the playground to hear a sonic boom for some reason - what for I don't know. I remember all the Nuclear armageddon stuff as if they were going to drop the bomb on us any minute. The early eighties was a very odd time. And with reference to the last poster I was also classed as Gifted & Talented along with only a few others.

Posted: 14-01-2012 20:42 Post subject:

The sonic boom stuff is VERY interesting indeed. Growing up and going to school in Wigan in the 1980's, I don't recall any strange tests at all and I have a fantastic memory. If anything, whilst my education was adequate, I don't recall anyone being given gifted and talented status or anything similar. We had sets, but that's about it. I was always bright but didn't really get encouraged in any way and in fact, I always got the impression that teaching was just a 'job' for the teachers and that they really didn't give a toss.

I used to hear those air raid sirens being tested all of the time and it would always freak me out more because I could never pinpoint where the noise was coming from. Interestingly, I heard one the other day in Upton Park, East London!!!

Posted: 14-01-2012 21:32 Post subject:

Interesting point there, you did used to hear air raid sirens in the seventies. I remember there was a siren nearby.

Posted: 14-01-2012 21:40 Post subject:

Gifted and talented is a fairly new thing.

The ridiculous thing is that we have to put some children down as being gifted and talented regardless.
I think it's something like 2%. So even if all my class were average I'd still have to put someone down on the gifted and talented register.

Posted: 14-01-2012 21:54 Post subject:

Posted: 14-01-2012 21:59 Post subject:

Posted: 18-01-2012 21:32 Post subject:

A variation on this is the story which went around my primary school in Wigan in the early 80's and was actually spread by the teachers:

'A man has been seen with an air rifle near to the school and has been taking shots at the playground'

I recall that we were not kept from playing out however and also, that the police were not called! However, we were told to be on our guards and look out for him.

Was this some kind of test? It seems inconceivable that someone could be in the area with the intention of shooting at kids yet the Police were not called, nor was the school closed/placed on lockdown!

This was circa 1983/84.

Posted: 28-11-2012 21:55 Post subject:

breaking news !!! although not as outlandish as some of the posts on this thread

my fortean apprentice is year 4 primary ... this evening she started to describe a really exciting series of events from school earlier on ... i didnt get the whole thing yet but it seems that when they entered the classroom this morning the chairs had been upended their papier mache volcano had been destroyed and there was paper and quote green goo everywhere ... the class and apparently teacher were a bit mystified and various people came to check into it including the caretaker ... when they came back from morning break they heard that there had been similar disturbances in the year 3 classroom while the children were out in the yard ... there followed a lot of drama and the teachers led the class around the school checking into things ... at one exterior door they were checking a huge green finger started to poke through the keyhole (?) and some of the girls started crying ... a green and black figure was seen outside trying to get in and more green goo ... the lady who opens up the school ( the caretaker i suppose ) said that everything was fine at 6am ... eventually the teachers owned up to setting everything up in an attempt to promote creative writing ideas based up on the situation !

Posted: 28-11-2012 22:10 Post subject:

Posted: 28-11-2012 22:16 Post subject:

she was still quite excited about it all at lights out ...

Posted: 29-11-2012 00:19 Post subject:

Posted: 29-11-2012 13:06 Post subject:

It's a bit different to potentially scaring the shit out of little 'uns though.

Posted: 29-11-2012 16:10 Post subject:

I think I'd have found that rather scary as a lil un.

I love this tho: my fortean apprentice
Laughing