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Education, By Willem Traas
In the spring newsletter I wrote about the sport I do now; cycling. This time I will write about learning in schools. To begin I will write about my own school education.
First I went to baby-school at the age of four years. That was in 1940 when the 2nd World War started for Holland. We only played in that school; mainly in sand outdoors. We fought for the biggest wheelbarrow to bring sand from one heap to another. My friend Adrie always had the best one; a big red one. The baby-school was run by two ladies. The first day they told us to put up one finger if we wanted to ask a question, and two fingers if we wanted to go to the toilet. The first time in school I made a mistake. When I had to go to the toilet I put up one finger and the teacher ignored me. As Joe Rea later said to me: “It’s like talking to a politician, a nice warm feeling in the beginning, but left with an unpleasant feeling after a while.”
After baby school we went to primary school. That was from six until eleven years. We only went for half days because the German troops had taken over the school, so we had classes in Church. I remember the first day well. It was the first time I met children from our village and I must have talked all the time; the teacher put sticky tape over my mouth.
On the whole I was a good pupil. I know because I still have the reports.
In the last year of primary school it was decided what your further education would be. Most children went to work at the age of eleven or twelve. Only the teacher’s children and two of my brothers went to secondary school.
I was not so lucky: my father needed me on the farm. My friend Adrie and I worked in the orchard where we would see girls and boys cycle to secondary school nearby. I learned from nature and the people working on the farm. As Arthur Carter would say: “from the university of life”.
If I were young again I would keep going to school as long as possible. Education leaves you with something after you stop going to school.
So I am writing this also for the young people who are doing exams and will have to make up their minds what to do. I would study, and get summer work if I could. Many young people did that on our farm.
Philip Coleman picked strawberries and is now a lecturer in Trinity College.
David Hallinan thinned apples and is now an architectural technician.
Sharon Smith greeted campers, and is studying law. Seanie Lonegran is now a county councillor.
Siobhán Hyland packed apples and is now a dentist. Gary Hallinan is a Garda in Dublin. Martin Harrigan is a computer scientist, and his brother Peter a pharmacist. Mark O’Donovan is becoming a carpenter. I could go on, but now for the competition.
Q.1 How many fingers do you put up if you want to go to the toilet?
Q.2 What does Seanie Lonergan do now?
Q.3 What would you like to be when you grow up?
Send your entries, written on a postcard or in a letter, including your name and address (to reach us by July
30th 2005) to:
Summer competition,
The Apple Farm,
Moorstown,
Cahir,
Co. Tipperary.
Entrants should be aged 12 years or younger. First prize is a €20.00
Eason's voucher while the runners-up receive €10.00 vouchers for The Apple Farm.
Spring competition winners:
Congratulations to:
- Luke from New Inn
- Seamus from Shanagarry
- Benjamin from Ashbourne
- Ciara from Ardfinnan
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