While we were chatting in the office this evening, one of the ladies found an old wooden 50cm ruler on someones desk. We started talking about what everyone remembers about this ruler.
And everyone in the office has the same recollection! Frightening, considering all of us in the office went to school in the Apartheid era (for at least part of our schooling). All of us, and I mean all… white, black, coloured and indian clearly remember being hit with rulers exactly the same as this.
And all of us remember being hit over the knuckles with the ruler being upright (iow, not flat).
I went to primary school at Boskop Primary School which is a dual medium school (both English and Afrikaans). I clearly remember being hit by my blond Afrikaans teacher for speaking in English in class.
Absolutely frightening what memories that simple object can conjure up.
Comments
hanlie
You’re kidding me! I went to Boskop Primary. I was in Std 3 in 1980 in Mrs Marx class. My friend, Marita was there until Std 5 – we’re still friends today, even though I was only there for a year!
Corey
wow….what a post. deep……
madi
Yah- hey ouchie!!
magneto bold too
when I was in Primary school only the boys got the strap. No rulers. The full on strap. I was so glad I wasn’t a boy.
supermom
lol That was my first thought!!!
Huckdoll
Yikes! My mom has stories about being hit with a ruler in elementary school, too.
MAURICE DUTOIT
ATTENDED BOSKOP 1971 – 1974, TASTED THE RULER MANY TIMES BY MR. EIZELE AND MEV. VERMAS. I REMEMBER ONE INCIDENT WHEN TWO BOYS WERE PLAYING WITH A STUFFED BIRD. THE AFRIKAANS TEACHER LOST HIS MIND AND MADE BOTH BOYS SHOVE THE BIRD IN THEIR MOUTHS. IMAGINE IN TODAYS TIMES ….WHAT AN UPROAR IT WOULD CREATE, MOSSIE
Loren Eales
What an interesting website!
I did a quick Boskop Google because I’d just been having this conversation with a friend… telling him of all things … about getting hit with a ruler on our hands .. grade 2 – around 1975. I was at Boskop 1974-1981. We were spanked for every little misdemeanor and without a doubt a lot of us were very scared of the teachers.
Lee Gristwood
Painful memories!..I went to Boskop.76/78 and frequently felt Mr Van Loggenburgs ruler!.We wopuld get dragged to the front of the class and get a wack on the behind..woe betide those that cried..you got another one!. well it never did me any harm, But my kids dont believe me when I tell them!!!
Gerald Oelofse
What an amazing accident of the internet finding this web page. I attended Boskop from grade 1 in 68 till the middle of standard 5 in 74. I think I even remember Maurice! All I can say is those teachers had us in fear but at least there was discipline and learning (I felt the cane/ruler on occasion)
Carolin Tuffnell
Incredible that this conversation has been running for over a year! I also attended Boskop in 1980/81, and as an English kid from Zambia my afrikaans was non-existent. I got to know that ruler really well – every time we got any spelling wrong the afrikaans teacher would remind us with a whack across the palm for each word. I think I have a mental block against the language now, I still can’t speak it! Otherwise, I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the school – I can still smell the pancakes they made on fun days – I’ve never had as good since!
Angela Manon Ernst
Hello everyone,
I just came back from a visit to South Africa. Mostly work-related but I got a chance to visit my old school and house – after 32 years!!
Wow, have things changed. I also remember the ruler/cane. Mr. Venter, Mrs. Vermaas, Mrs. Maria (although she was nice), …
The school hasn’t changed that much. It only doesn’t give me the creeps as it used to. And to think that I sat in the same desks as they still have. Amazing.
Anybody remember me? I went to Boskop from 1973 to 1977 (I was in the English classes). Then my family and I went back to Holland.
Would like to get in touch with some old classmates.
By the way, next year Boskop will celebrate its 90th anniversary.
Manon Ernst
Lindsey Young
Hi I went to Boskop around 1985 to 1986 before moving to England. I remember the ruler as well and a long white bit of wood. In my first year there I remember my teacher using what looked like a drum stick on use……..how times have changed!
Lindsey Young