Housemistresses

[kerrensimmonds]

It's not teachers we are talking about, JR. It's the Housemistresses. They did not have a teaching role.
In the main they were recruited through 'The Lady', and were usually single/widowed/divorced women for whom a residential job was what they needed. But they had little or no training in the care of children, and I don't know of any of them that any 'qualification' for the job.

[J.R.]

It's not teachers we are talking about, JR. It's the Housemistresses. They did not have a teaching role.
In the main they were recruited through 'The Lady', and were usually single/widowed/divorced women for whom a residential job was what they needed. But they had little or no training in the care of children, and I don't know of any of them that any 'qualification' for the job.

I see what you mean kerren.

Could two more words possibly apply to your description of them, one being frustrated and the other possibly having reference to a small island in the Med ??

[Euterpe13]

It's not teachers we are talking about, JR. It's the Housemistresses. They did not have a teaching role.
In the main they were recruited through 'The Lady', and were usually single/widowed/divorced women for whom a residential job was what they needed. But they had little or no training in the care of children, and I don't know of any of them that any 'qualification' for the job.

Which meant, as we know, that care received depended entirely on character - for example, Fanny was a martinet, but genuinely cared about her girls.

This lack of qualification is not generalised : when my mother joined Roedean as geography/swimming teacher + assistant housemistress, one of the requirements was specific training as youth counsellor, which I remember she did in a local rehabilitation centre.

In passing, the then-Headmistress of Roedean ( with whom I was biden to take tea ) had some very scathing remarks to make about DR ( who had a stint there before joining CH)...

[Euterpe13]

Since this is the "Housemistress" thread and the boys have been talking about punishments, it might be interesting to discuss ithe inventiveness of certain Housemistresses, from a more light-hearted stance:

for instance, when Fanny caught you talking after "lights out", her usual attitude was that you obviously were not tired enough, and needed some exercise - so you were duly trotted down to the dayroom to polish the tables or chairs before being sent back to dorm - to the delight of whoever was on day-room duties next day !

I remember when she instituted a swear-box.... the very next day something had gone wrong and I was on my way from the study to the dayroom muttering " damn, damn, damn, damn, DAMN !" ... out walks Fanny from her sitting room, looks at me , " that will be 2s 6d, Barbara" and walks calmly back inside . It was so neat, I actually laughed !

She was tough, but she did have a sense of humour, and certainly a sense of justice.

[englishangel]

She certainly never did anything when she caught me in the loo at 2am trying to complete my 'drawn-thread' needlework. She just told me to hurry up and finish so I could go to bed.

[englishangel]

Did Piper not belong to the Steward or whoever she was in the house on the right at the end of the drive?

[cj]

I don't remember any pet animals at all when I was at Hertford. I do, however, remember spending a pleasant maths lesson looking out of the window at the roofers who were all over 4s.

[icomefromalanddownunder]

Hi Munch

How was the concert? Did you get to speak to Cathy? Any luck with mastering the technology?

Have just spent two hours 'counselling' a fellow student - oh how I hate being old and unwise

Drove her home to pick up some clothes (being young and fit, she rides a bike to uni), as she is staying with another student for a few days to think through her marriage woes. What was in her letter box when we got there? An anniversary card from her parents

Love

Caroline

[Angela Woodford]

It's not teachers we are talking about, JR. It's the Housemistresses. They did not have a teaching role.
In the main they were recruited through 'The Lady', and were usually single/widowed/divorced women for whom a residential job was what they needed. But they had little or no training in the care of children, and I don't know of any of them that any 'qualification' for the job.

My early days with Millie were a shock, I agree. Once in 6s, the Hag never spoke to me. But as I continued in the school, the redoubtable Pot needed me as an intermediary and ally. On saying goodnight to her, I'd be trapped for at least half an hour or the duration of a cork-tipped Craven "A" if one was burning behind her back.

Whilst I was a junior, it was the members of the Study who subjected me to continuous punishment after frank savage evaluation of my inadequacies. I was careless and untidy, I know. And various members of staff - well, I had little ability in their subjects and resorted to comedy to compensate.

I'd like to go public with another Act of Kindness by Sarah Titcombe; she who wrote for me a superb "Untidiness" punishment essay.

She's recently reminded me that I'd been punished by being forbidden to enter the Poetry Competition! I had wept copiously - sob, sob, sob. (What had I done? Don't remember!). Sarah T had left the School, rushed to a bakery and purchased for me a cream doughnut as consolation. She writes (embarassment!!) that "a watery smile broke through the tears". How kind is that?

Back to a riveting memory from Barbara

In passing, the then-Headmistress of Roedean ( with whom I was biden to take tea ) had some very scathing remarks to make about DR ( who had a stint there before joining CH)...

What did the Headmistress of Roedean say, Barbara? Oh, do tell, if you are allowed...

I have mellowed a bit towards DR after reading "Half To Remember.

Love to all

Munch

[Vonny]

I don't remember any pet animals at all when I was at Hertford. I do, however, remember spending a pleasant maths lesson looking out of the window at the roofers who were all over 4s.

Nicki Dallison & Ruth Bryant from 2's both had pets (hamsters I think ) kept behind the science block

I remember the painters who came in towards the end of our time at Hertford One of them even agreed to get us some booze but we chickened out taking it off him when he rolled up at the front of 2's with it in full view of everyone including Fatty M's house

[gillieg]

I remember Two's housemistresses being
Mrs Dean and Mrs Laurence and a Mrs Homan who stood in on Tuesdays.

and what about Flo the cleaner? with her amazing polisher. :lol:

[Vonny]

Laurie was still there in the 80's and despite everyone assuming she would retire when we left Hertford she wen ton to be housemistress at another school
The only other person I recall in 2's was Mrs Ferris who generally just floated around doing I don't know what Apart from sending us over to get new uniform when she thought we needed it. And making sure we used our cutlery correctly.

[englishangel]

I remember Two's housemistresses being
Mrs Dean and Mrs Laurence and a Mrs Homan who stood in on Tuesdays.

and what about Flo the cleaner? with her amazing polisher.

Welcome Gill, great to see another old 2's, we need some support against all these 6's. I had forgotten Mrs Homan, a small woman with unlikely auburn hair. I think I mentioned Mrs Dean (Lucy's Mum) and Miss (I think) Laurence somewhere. Miss Laurence broke out the Rum and Coke on our 18th birthdays, and used to give us tea and crumpets in her study on a Saturday while we watched the rugby.

I do remember Flo who got half the 3rd Form (14 as we were at the time) agreeing that withdrawal was the best form of contraception, as it was "down to 'im and don't mess with yer body".

Needless to say I was in the other half.

By the way Gill, your dates must have been 70-76 or so were they not?

[Alexandra Thrift]

"I remember the painters who came in towards the end of our time at Hertford One of them even agreed to get us some booze but we chickened out taking it off him when he rolled up at the front of 2's with it in full view of everyone including Fatty M's house "



Ha Ha Ha Vonny ........ Bless! I can just picture that lovelorn painter and his doomed hope.

That's more like the kind of naughtiness I got up to at the end of my days there.......though one or two of my stories are unmentionable on the www

[Vonny]

Ha Ha Ha Vonny ........ Bless! I can just picture that lovelorn painter and his doomed hope.

That's more like the kind of naughtiness I got up to at the end of my days there.......though one or two of my stories are unmentionable on the www

He did look very p*ssed off but there was no way we could have taken the bag - he was trying to pass it to us through the kitchen window Anyone could have seen

Unmentionable? Go on - you know you an trust us!