School Days

Hello readers. Darcy Fielding here. I'm filling in for Jackson whilst he's taking a deserved break. I thought I'd take a leaf from his book and tell you a tale about someone in my family. So here goes.

I had finished work early and was home enjoying some light reading when my eldest daughter, Una entered the room. Despite being over three years older than her siblings she hadn't gained any height or physical maturity to display this. That didn't apply to her incisive mind, which at times rivalled some of the better reporters I had known. Apt, given her ambitions. Also, Una had quickly realised she could use her youthful appearance to make interviewees underestimate her. I didn't fall into that trap. I glanced at her and she met my gaze. Something was on her mind and I was well aware that she'd inform me in her own way. Today I didn't have to wait long to find out what she wanted.

 

"Dad?"

"Yes?"

"I have a question."

I put down my book, smiling at her earnest face. "Of course you do. What do you want to know?"

"Well... Do you remember a few years ago when you told me that your school days were longer than they are now, and they were even longer before you were born?

My smile widened. "I do remember saying that, but it wasn't a conversation I had with you, daughter. You certainly have a reporter's ears."

Una responded with a grin, not the slightest bit embarrassed. I recognised my younger self in her. I gave her my full attention.

"So. What's behind your question?"

Sitting beside me, she snuggled to my side. "It's about my school project for Mellowdene Day. We're starting now so it's ready for November."

"Okay. What's the theme?"

"Well, it's about gratitude as normal, but we have to relate it to the school in some way."

I pulled in my chin and looked down at her. "Una. Surely you're not thinking of basing your work on being grateful that the school days are shorter?" 

She waggled her head in uncertainty. "Yeah, I know, Dad. It is a bit borderline. That's why I want your advice."

"Fine. My advice is that your teachers might find it funny but it won't be the sort of gratitude they'd be able to acknowledge."

 

"Oh, I know that. But there must be a reason why the length of school days have reduced over the years. Maybe it's because the teachers are better."

"And you're thinking that you can use that for your project? It sounds a bit risky."

 "But finding out the real reason sounds like something a good investigative reporter might check out."

"It sounds as if you've already decided."

 Una squeezed my paw. "If you really think it's a bad idea Dad, I'll try and think of something else."

"How long have you got before you need to present your work?"

"Ages. We were only given the assignment this morning."

I regarded my daughter.

"Then you can afford to spend a couple of days researching. Just remember to keep an open mind and be prepared to drop the idea if it should prove inappropriate. Just check out..."

"...the facts?"

 "That's my Una."

"Thanks Dad."

She leapt to her feet. "The library is still open."

 And I was alone again. I picked up my book.

o 0 O 0 o

It was a few days later and when Una hadn't come back to me I thought nothing of it. I was reminded when I met Alex Periwinkle in the village store. Alex is Una's teacher.

 "Oh hello, Darcy," he said, taking my attention away from the goods on the shelves, "I'm glad to see you. I wanted a quick word about Una."

"Hi Alex. What's she done?" I replied in mock concern.

 

"Nothing bad. I admit she piqued my curiosity yesterday when she didn't turn up at her private study session and I saw her leaving the school premises."

"Really? Do you want me to have a word with her?"

"Goodness no, Darcy. As one of our older pupils she has a greater leeway in her study methods. In any case, since I had to pop out of school myself I took it upon myself to follow her. She went to the library."

"Ah. That could be about her school project."

"So I discovered. I spoke to Mona Hazelnut - she was the librarian on duty - and she told me that Merlin Butterglove had given her permission to consult some historical documents in the Hansel room. As these reference documents can't be removed from the library she has to do the research there."

 "I see. So why did you want to talk to me about her?"

"Mainly to let you know that I'm impressed with her diligence. Mona said that Una's been spending a lot of her free time there. I'm looking forward to reading the results of her endeavours."

"That's good to hear. She can be quite tenacious following a story, so applying that same attitude to her schoolwork makes me proud."

"You should be." He put a packet in his bag. "Well, I must dash. I'm on my lunch hour. With regards to Una, I'll have to put my curiosity in check, although I'm intrigued how she'll interpret the gratitude theme. Bye for now."

I watched Alex as he went to pay for his shopping. And wondered if, in her search for a story Una had remembered that gratitude had to be the main feature of her work. I wasn't convinced.

o 0 O 0 o

I caught up with Una that evening when she returned to the living room after drying the dishes from our family meal. My other children - Daniel and Helen - were in their rooms doing their homework, and our toddler was in bed.

"How's your Gratitude project going?" I prompted. Bridget regarded us briefly before returning her attention to her favourite television programme. I lowered my voice. "Una?"

 I beckoned my daughter closer so that we could talk without disturbing her mother.

"I've uncovered some interesting facts. It seems the main reason the school days had grown shorter was practicality. As the population of Mellowdene increased, the size of the school and the fact we had insufficient  teachers meant they couldn't cope with things as they were."

"And so?"

"They introduced some apprenticeships for those children who were certain what they wanted to do with their lives. Learn practical skills with employers and return part-time for the academic stuff. That worked fine for family businesses. It also seems to have worked for Captain Seadog's crew. But that wasn't a complete solution."

 "No?"

"No. The schools started to teach in shifts. That still happens although not to the same extent. You know the start and end times vary due to the age of pupils? Yes? Well, they combined that with shorter school days and an attempt to be more efficient in teaching. They also reduced the time spent on some subjects or dropped them entirely."

"I suppose that meant timetables had to be more creative."

"I'm surprised how much the teachers had to do. They were working longer too."

 I smiled at her indignation. "So I'm assuming that you're grateful for their hard work in the face of all of this?"

"Oh yes. I'll say something about that. But we need to make it better. I think Mellowdene can best show it's gratitude by doing that."

"But haven't there already been some improvements in recent years? Employing more teachers? The extra wooden cabins built by the Waters brothers?"

Una nodded. "I acknowledge that. We've added Mrs Ivory and other teachers, and there are more schoolrooms. I know that. So much so that I think there could even be capacity to reintroduce some of the dropped subjects."

"Such as?"

"At first I thought cooking, but that's more a family thing these days. Maybe more geography - most kids don't have much knowledge of other villages. Apart from singing there's no proper music education. History is limited. Science is limited. We've got reading, writing, sums, nature, a bit of art. Is that enough?"

 

 

"You don't think so?"

"I know people can learn privately. I'm guessing Mr Butterglove had to learn his piano and songwriting elsewhere. And there are specialist colleges available in all sorts of subjects when you're older. But the school could do more."

I sighed. "You have suggestions I suppose."

"It might take a while, and I won't see the benefit, still... Bring back some subjects, find out what kids want, make the school day longer... that sort of thing."

"You don't see a contradiction there?"

Una grinned. "I know. Kids wanting longer school days when they could be playing? But I'll have left school and be working with you by the time that's sorted out."

I laughed and received a look from my wife. I lowered my voice again.

"You've been busy, I see. Although I'm not sure how you could tie such a campaign with the reason for your school project. Gratitude, remember?"

"Oh, dad. That's not going into my project. Apart from the hard work of the teachers, that is. I remembered what you said about things being appropriate."

"So what are you going to do, daughter?"

"Something about Dotty Dappledawn. In the library archives I found out she was the first proper teacher when Mellowdene was founded. And she only had one leg..."

I tried not to sound too relieved when I congratulated her on her work.

"Besides," said Una, "It's more appropriate to send my research on school days to the village council."

o 0 O 0 o

 

And that's my eldest daughter. Irrepressible, determined, gorgeous. A bit like me, really.

o 0 O 0 o