All those involved with my primary school education asked serious questions of my ability. I was unable to spell and could not explain why I was different from an animal. In my stories I was not ‘Peter’ but ‘it’.
My loving parents [struggling to pay a mortgage] never gave up on me, however both my sisters were schooled privately [thanks to my grandfather’s generosity] *
*the backdrop to this is complicated.
In 1979 I ‘graduated’ to Firrhill High School:
I wish that my memory was better. My recall is not as I would wish. However, I can say with confidence, that a number of teachers at Firrhill High School saw beyond my ‘backwardness’. For this I am ever grateful.
At this crucial age, four teachers changed my life: Mrs Beaton [English], Mr Clooney [History] ,Mr Morris [Geography] and Mr Syme [Art]. Of the four, only one needed to ‘push me more’ and that was Mr Syme!
Image below: My registration class, second floor, with Mr Brand, Physics teacher [where I ‘registered’ each morning along with ‘THUG’ my friend]:
The Firrhill Stage: Elaine C Smith was Drama teacher. I was far too shy to ever get ‘near’ the ‘stage’!
[Below] the view from Mrs Beaton’s class:
[Below] Mrs Beaton’s Class [a temporary building just beyond view]:
This post is for Mrs Beaton. I wish that I could remember her better. Mrs Beaton's encouragement changed my life.