Where I live in Helsinki Finland,there is a secondary school right across the road from our house.No big deal you may say,but with youth finding and setting their own limits tends to make the surrounding area a little vivid at times.The students or school kids are not able to smoke cigarettes on the grounds of school so they walk across the road and end up smoking under our bedroom window.Not bad in itself as I am up in the days.Not the same for my wife who is a night nurse and needs to sleep through these hours.We constantly strive to move these kids on,as they use bad language,drop sweet wrappers and generally cause a nuisance.It got me to thinking of my school days and that a little more discipline is required for these and all youngsters attending schools.Who is in control the masters or the dog
The Royal Hospital School,Holbrook set a firm foundation
RHS clock tower
I was sent to The Royal Hospital School in 1975 as the son of a Royal Navy seaman.I remember my first impressions when turning up laden with suitcases,of the place being huge but then every thing looked bigger than they do today.We as new pupils were given one week to settle down and learn the ropes before the older boys returned to the school from there summer vacations.We were issued two uniforms;a traditional seamen’s navy suit and a daily outfit of clothes in a drab grey hue.At the time it felt as though your whole life had suddenly been turned upside down.One had no parents to make recourse to if unsettled.You just had to grin and put up with it.
The school daily routine consisted of being woke at 0600,make your bed,take a communal shower and then clean the house.Such cleaning as polishing the brass,wiping the floors,clearing the outside area of the house in which we lived.Then and only then after this had been completed and passed inspection could we think of going for breakfast.Mustering in the courtyard we were inspected for our appearance and then marched up to the dining hall for food.We all marched along,no talking aloud following in the wake of the leading step man.Typically you would be balled at if you were to march out of step and given hours of rehearsal after school which was your only real free-time.
School lessons commenced at 0800 and finished at 1700 with a short hours break for lunch.Then it was back to your house and enjoy some free time,if you were not on punishment.Evening dinner was at 1800 and after,it was back to school to do your homework.This lasted 2 hours under the supervision of a school master.He was the only one that was allowed to be spoken to.Then it would be a slow walk back to our individual houses,of which I was in Drake House where we enjoyed some free time until we were forced to go to bed at 2200,after saying prayers
Our first torment at The Royal Hospital School
I had been at The RHS for about two months when unexpectedly two older boys(Prefects) came in to the dormitory late one night. They marched me out and in to their private study,where I was told that I was useless,made to hold water jugs full of water with my arms outstretched and parallel to the floor.If your arms dropped you would be hit with something close by,a stick,book or some such thing
This went on for the first year of the school period as we were termed the new boys.I think this was the lowest point for me,seriously considering running away back home.I did manage to restrain myself and last through the first year.Looking back,I had actually very little free time this in due to being constantly on punishment.Punishments consisted of either facing a wall for all you free time for a week,brushing the quadrangle,cleaning the toilets or some such menial task for the prefects like brushing their shoes.
At all times we were made aware of the history of The Royal Hospital School and the privilege we had from being there.For those interested an account follows;
King William III and Queen Mary II founded The Royal Hospital for seamen at Greenwich in 1694.It has a Royal Charter which includes provision for “The maintenance and education of children of Royal Naval Seamen”who are either slain or disabled whilst serving their country.
- 1715: The school began with the taking in of 10 orphans of the sea.From here they received an education and were looked after
- 1758: The Hospital built it very own school on King Williams Walk
- 1798: An Orphanage School named the British Endeavour was founded in Paddington,London for children made fatherless as a result of The French Revolutionary War
- 1806: The British Endeavour was granted The Queens House,Greenwich.It was named The Royal Navy Asylum.In 1807 extensions were added to enable the housing of 700 children
- 1821: The Hospital School and The Asylum were amalgamated and were known informally as The Royal Hospital Schools.The school had an upper and lower level.The upper level boys were destined to learn navigation and pursue a career in the Royal Navy.The lower level boys were trained as seamen the girls as house domestics
- 1841: The girls school was closed as part of national reforms
- 1892: The name of the school was adopted and changed to “The Greenwich Royal Hospital School”
The Royal Hospital School at Greenwich was Britain’s largest school of navigation and seamanship.This is why I joined the Merchant Navy as an Officer Cadet.The Royal Hospital School actually moved from Greenwich to Holbrook,Ipswich,Suffolk in 1933
The old school at Greenwich is now today the home for “The National Maritime Museum”.The Royal Hospital School,Holbrook” now sits in glorious surroundings,but its relationship to Greenwich and its history go back much further.The school instilled in me a sense of independence and a lot of pride.I wish these kids in the school across the road from me in Helsinki would be taught some common manners and etiquette.Or are they a reflection of the teachers lack of control and a decaying school system?I am proud to blog this post
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