Hartley Neita, Contributor

Jamaica College students were gentlemen in my time. So, too were the boys at Kingston College, Munro, Wolmer's, Cornwall, St. George's and Calabar. We all had strict headmasters who did not hesitate to use the cane to welter our bottoms. St. Andrew High School girls were ladies then. So, too, were their counterparts at Wolmer's, Alpha, St. Hugh's, Hampton, Manning's, St. Hilda's and Immaculate. They, too, had strict principals. And if I have left out any school, please forgive me.

Education privilege

At Jamaica College, and I suppose at the rest, we found that we were a privileged few. Most children in Jamaica then went first to elementary schools and there were no fees involved. At the secondary schools I have listed, fees were charged, and if your family was poor - and most were - education ended at age 15 unless the children won scholarships. There were, thank God, private secondary schools where the fees were less.

Private secondary schools did not have much land space. The schools listed above had acres of land. J.C., for example, had seven cricket and football fields. There were also other sports for the privileged at these schools: hockey, swimming, lawn tennis, rifle shooting and a gym for boxing and gymnastics. Some students played bridge and chess

To mould students into ladies and gentlemen, there were rules and regulations and an appropriate punishment, written and unwritten for each misdeed. Knives were called pen knives, and they were small; they were only used to peel oranges. Boarders had to be seated before the master-on-duty entered the dining room for breakfast, lunch, 'tea' and supper, and stand with bowed heads for prayers. Those who were late found themselves locked out of the dining room. They had to eat in the tuck shop if they had money.

We had religious services in the school chapel twice each day, except on Saturdays. We could not leave the school premises without permission from a master. We had to be accompanied by a master or a prefect to go to the movies. We also had to wear a suit to go to the movies, and all day on Sundays. After all, gentlemen had to be properly attired.

Past punishment

Punishment included the writing of "I must nots" one hundred times, picking up paper littering the cricket and football field, gating and caning.

My sister went to St. Andrew High School where she boarded while I was at Jamaica College. I made the mistake of visiting the school the first Saturday in her first term. I was met at the entrance to the main building by the headmistress, Ms. Gartshore.

"Who are you and what are you here for?" the lady asked.

I identified myself and told her I was there to see my sister.

She pointed to the gate.

"The next time you come through that gate to see your sister - if you are her brother as you say - you are to bring me a letter from your parents."

My sister was punished for my attempt to see her, and my headmaster was telephoned and told I had broken a St. Andrew rule. And, of course, I, too, was punished.