By 1956 we were living in Allesley Park and while licensed to drive a car, I went to school on a motorized bike often dropping off my two year old son at day care while my wife worked at Hayes the hairdresser in Broadgate.
Yes, even in 1956 we needed two incomes and a baby sitter.
Each parent was given a Prospectus. This my 1956 teacher's copy. For pupils and teachers of the new millenium some interesting comparisons can be made on reports, homework, fees, dress and conduct etc.

 

Fees
Bablake History
Independent School
Medical Inspection
Homework
Games & Charity
Reports & Absences
Meals & Bicycles
Appointments
Conduct
Dress & Curriculum

 

 

 
The conduct policy is outlined at the end of the Prospectus but the official rules of the school were carefully delineated by Seaborne and pupils were admonished to keep a copy in their desks. It was considered beneath the dignity of a Wheatlyan to eat or play on the streets and delivering newspapers for a wage was forbidden. I was a vice-principal at a high school in California when a boy was stabbed to death on the school grounds. The perpetrator carried an eight inch army knife and I often wonder what Seaborne would have thought of that.

Terry Nicholls and dubious dealings with the school rules

Comparisons with today's society and school behaviour would make a sociologist happy. Not that Seabornean strictures are to be emulated or admired but the crime/punishment structure without the psychological caveats constrained much bad behaviour. "Boys must always carry their report cards on which will be entered work or conduct that is to be deplored or commended". Entries could be made by masters or prefects. The school archivist provided this original report or conduct card for a boy in Shell Y in 1960-61. Its condition with front and back entries from July 7th. 1960 to July 13th. 1961 show that this unknown eleven year old was not monitor or prefect material. On the 18th. of February in 1961 he was brought before Headmaster Seaborne who stamped and initialed in red that the miscreant was to be brought before him for any future behaviour infraction. In spite some praise in March E.A.S. saw him again in May. The boy's name in Shell Y has been blanked out but it would be interesting to know how he made out in later life but hope lay in the entry for good work. As a pupil in 1941 my card was full and included entries earned while on the streets of Lincoln where we were under surveillance twenty four hours a day while evacuated. As a teacher at Bablake fifteen years later I too made entries on other poor unfortunates' cards.
Bablake pupils' behaviour and use of school equipment and facilities were well monitored.
Reasons for absence
Library cards
Bicycle permits
The cane and how I became a legend
Dinner ticket

Seaborne's "audience" room where report cards were assessesd and punishments decreed.
The Wheatlyan was edited by Seaborne and he was fond of including samples of his hobby, photography. Bowls made in the handicraft shop 1957.

His editorials often pontificated upon aspects of current society that irritated him as in this one that chose Princess Margaret, the Press and "This is your life." as targets.
I was mentioned a number of times in the 1955 and 1957 editions which, for the purposes of this website, I am grateful.
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