I didn't like school when I first started because I was 2 years behind everyone else who had started at 5.I had a lot to catch up on...I did get bullied until the other kids found I had a beserker rage.
I could take pain for a lot longer than they could when I was in one of my rages and therefore I could do more damage.Eventually they realised it was more trouble than it was worth.It never seemed to get as far as a teacher intervening either.Mind this was in central London in the 50's.
Thereafter I never really had much trouble despite the number of different schools I went to..I guess I just had a look of confidence about me..I also wanted to learn more than I wanted to suck up to bullies or cliques...I learned early to not run with peer pressure because you can never satisfy that sort of mentality.Eventually I also determined that I would not allow them to bully others and began to champion the 'victims' more.I didn't have to get into a punch up every time, just use my increasing vocabulary and talk them to death...This was pre PC when pupils were more or less supposed to sort their own problems out.No anti-bully campaigns in the 50's or 60's.
I was also inclined to have my nose in a book whenever it was break time.Woe betide anyone who interrupted my reading.
After my father died I also decided that I needed an education as I watched my mother struggle to earn a wage to keep our heads above water without any qualifications at all.I decided that I'd be able to support myself no matter what the future held.I just rode above it all towards the end and then left to go to the sixth form.
Frankly I think my schooldays were character forming.I think they toughened me up.I did have some excellent teachers who got me to think that I could achieve my dreams.
I'm sorry that the rest of you were so unhappy..I had hoped things had improved.I guess all the antibully campaigns of the past 20 years have not achieved much anywhere...
