My siblings and I caught a bus in Barkley Street (walking from home in Carlisle Street) that took us to Elwood High. The first thing I did was to take off my hat and sit on it. I didn't like hats!

I remember school as being very structured-students listened to teachers and didn't argue - it seemed natural then. I also enjoyed the freedom to go out of the school grounds to buy lunch at the local shops! Students were of various nationalities. Being of Chinese descent; albeit, Aussie born, I alw...

School was a routine we were subjected to for so many of our formative years.

Was it a fair system? Was it fun? How I can on answer that? The rules were set and applied by the paid employees of the education department. Such individuals came from all walks of life. They had many different personal standards and values. Like with all things in life, luck played a part in deciding who the controllers of our days were. However one thing was certain, the power was with the teachers.

I attended the...