SECTION 2 GROWING UP

UNIT 5: SCHOOLDAYS

PART ONE

C. FACT CHECK

a. Make a timetable for the Tideway Comprehensive School day similar to

the one for the conventional British school.

b. What are the advantages of the Tideway system, according to the

headmaster and some of the pupils of the school? Write a list.

c. What are the disadvantages of this system? What were the objections to
it before it began? (Những phản đối với hệ thống nuớc này trước khi nó bắt
đầu là gì?)

A. TEXT

Which of the two schooldays described in the text is more like the
typical school days in country?
Note similarities and differences as you read the text.

Bright and early does it

A conventional British school timetable

 Morning Afternoon
Children arrive for
9.00 1.15 - 2.15 lessons
registration
afternoon break
9.30 - 10.45 lessons 2.15 - 2.30
*
10.45 - 11.00 morning break 2.30 - 3.30 lessons
children go
11.00 - 12.15 lessons 3.30
home *
It is mainly primary schools, for children of 5-11
years, which have an afternoon break.

For one school, Tideway Comprehensive in

Sussex, the continental eight till two school day has
been part of the curriculum for more than five years,
and, according to parents, teachers and kids alike, it
gets full marks.
“When we first suggested a change in the school
hours”, remembers headmaster Mr. Ken Saxby, “We
had particularly everyone against us. Nobody
thought it would work”.
“The police predicted an increase in vandalism, and big shops in the town
talked of increased shoplifting. Thankfully”, laughs Mr. Saxby, “they were
wrong”.
Vandalism in both the school and town decreased, cases of shoplifting fell, and
in fact youngster at Tideway went on to improve their examination results.

Kids keep fresh

Even the parents who had been worried about children arriving home early to
an empty house, had a change of heart. At the end of the first year 80 percent
voted to keep the system whereby children arrive at school at 8.10am for
registration, lessons begin at 8.25 and run until 12.20 with a short break of 15
minutes. Lunch lasts just 35 minutes, then it's back to class until 2.15- and home
time while there are still a good few hours of daylight left.
The beauty of the system, explains Mr. Saxby, is that the children stay fresh
right through the day.
But of course there are some disadvantages. The school has to make special
arrangements if it wants to play sports matches against any neighboring schools,
and, as 11-year-old first year pupil Nina Saunders says, “I have to get up at 6.30
in the morning now-much earlier than when I went to primary school. I
sometimes get a bit tired in the afternoon-but I never have to rest”.

Worth traveling to

Happily, by the second year the youngsters have adjusted to the early start, and
the majority love the routine. “I really love the short lunch hour and afternoon. It
goes so quickly. I never feel bored”, says 11- year-old Lynda Guyton.
Fifteen-year-ld Tracy Arnold likes the routine so much that she travels from
Brighton- nearly nine miles away-to attend Tideway. Paul Gray, a fourteen-year-
old, who is taking his exams in the summer, loves the long afternoons. “I can do
so much”, he says. “I can go home and get my homework out of the way before
tea, or stay on and go to the music and drama clubs after school”.
If this system works so well, why isn't every school adopting it permanently?
“You can't just make the switch overnight”, explains Mr. Saxby. “It took us
years to plan the system; and even then treated the first year as a trial. Having
said that, though, a school in another part of the country has made the change
after looking at our system”, he says with some pride.

B. EXPLANATIONS
conventional [adj] : thông thường, dựa trên tập tục
: một mẫu mã/phương pháp thông
a conventional design/method
thường
register[v] : đăng ký
You must register with the police, the : Anh phải đăng ký với cảnh sát, với đại
embassy, etc sứ quán, v.v.
registration [n] : sự đăng ký
: thuộc lục địa châu Âu. (Người Anh
dùng từ continent hay Continent để chỉ
continental(Br) [adj]
phần châu Âu trong đó không có nước
Anh)
curriculum[n]: (pl curricula hoặc các môn học trong một khóa học;
curriculums) chương trình học
: có kết quả hoặc tác động mong muốn
work (on sb/sth)
(đối với ai/cái gì)
Did the cleaning fluid work (on this (Chất nước tẩy đó có hiệu quả (đối với
stain)? vết tẩy này) không?)
predict[v] : dự đoán
The earthquake had been predicted (Trận động đất đã được dự báo từ nhiều
several months ago. tháng trước)
vandal [n] : kẻ phá hoại các công trình văn hóa
: thái độ đặc trưng của những người phá
vandalism[n]
hoại các công trình văn hóa.
shoplift[v] : ăn cắp hàng hóa trong một của hàng
shoplifter [n] kẻ ăn cắp vặt (trong cưả hàng)sự, thói
shoplifting [n] ăn cắp vặt
arrested for shoplifting : bị bắt vì tội ăn cắp ở cửa hàng
youngster : người trẻ tuổi
keep/stay fresh : giữ tươi tắn, tỉnh táo
: sự thay đổi lớn trong thái độ hoặc tình
change of heart cảm, nhất là hướng về một sự thân ái
hoặc hợp tác lớn hơn
vote [v] : bỏ phiếu
whereby[adv] : nhờ đó
She devised a plan whereby they might (Cô ấy đã nghĩ ra một kế hoạch mà nhờ
escape đó họ đã có thể trốn thoát)
home time[n] : thời gian ở nhà với gia đình
daylight[n] : ánh sáng ban ngày
worth [adj] : đáng; bỏ công
He felt that his life was no longer worth (Nó cảm thấy rằng cuộc đời nó không
living: còn đáng sống nữa)
adjust [v] : làm cho thich hợp (với hoàn cảnh mới)
former soldiers who have difficulties in : những cựu binh có khó khăn trong việc
adjusting to civilian life thích nghi với cuộc sống dân sự
Điều đáng mừng là đến năm thứ hai bọn
Happily, by the second year the
trẻ đã thích nghi với việc bắt đầu sớm
youngsters have adjusted to the early
(tức là việc dậy sớm để bắt đầu ngày
start ...
học)
majority [n] : số đông, phần lớn
routine[n] : công việc thường nhật; lệ thường
 : chọn và sử dụng (cái gì) như của riêng
adopt [v]
mình
adopt a name, a custom, an idea, a style : tiếp nhận một cái tên, một tập quán,
of dress một ý tưởng , một kiểu quần áo.
permanently[adv] : một cách lâu dài, thường xuyên
switch [n] : sự thay đổi hoặc di chuyển đột ngột
: một sự thay đổi đột ngột từ khí đốt
a switch from gas to electric
sang điện
overnight [adv] : đột ngột hoặc rất nhanh
She became a celebrity overnight. (Cô ta trở nên nổi tiếng rất nhanh)
treat [v] : xem; coi như
(Tôi quyết định coi lời nhận xét của anh
I decided to treat his remark as a joke.
ta như trò đùa)
trial [n] : sự thử nghiệm

Answer Key

D. WORK IT OUT

a. Why do you think the police thought there would be more vandalism and
shoplifting with the new system?

b. Under what circumstances would children arrive home to an empty

house? (Trong nững tình huống nào bọn trẻ từ trường về và tìm thấy nhà trẻ
trống không, ( tức không ai ở nhà để chào đón chúng?)

c. Why does Tideway have to make special arrangements for sports

matches against nearby schools?

d. Why is it surprising that Tracy Arnold goes to Tideway School? ( Tại sao
Tracy đi học tại trường Tideway là điều đáng ngạc nhiên?)
 e. Why did Tideway treat the first year of the new system as a trial?

f. Why does Mr Saxby feel pride about the fact another school is going to
try the Tideway system? ( Tại sao bà Saxby cảm thấy tự hào vì có một
trường khác sắp thử nghiệm hệ thống của trường Tideway?)

Answer Key

E. WORD CHECK

1. School words: Match these words from the text with their
meanings.

1. comprehensive (noun and

a. for children between 5 and 11
adjective)
2. curriculum b. to go to
c. school for children of all
3. (to) get full marks
abilities
4. break d. course of study/timetable
5. (to) attend e. to be very successful/popular
f. a short rest period between
6. primary
lessons

Answer Key

2. Word pairs:

How are these pairs of words from the text related to each other? (same
meaning = SA similar in meaning = SI opposites = O unrelated = U)

a. curriculum/timetable
b. kids/youngsters
c. decrease/fell
d. increase/improve
e. system/routine
f. shoplifting/vandalism
g. exam/examination
h. change/switch

Answer Key

3. Dictionary check:

Use a dictionary to check the different meanings of these words:

Which of these meaning does the words have in this context?
(Hãy dùng từ điển để kiểm tra các nghĩa khác nhau của từ này. Nghĩa nào
của từ phù hợp với ngữ cảnh của bài khoá)
a. continental
b. practically
c. a change of heart
d. the beauty of the system
e. to attend
f. fresh
g. primary
h. a trial
i. to adopt
j. the switch

Answer Key

4. Pre-words:

The prefix 'pre-' usually adds the meaning 'before' to words.

For example: "The police predict an increase in vandalism" means "they
say that there will be more vandalism before it actually takes place".

Guess the meanings of these 'pre-' words. Only use a dictionary after
you have guessed.
a. precaution
b. predecessor
c. prefab (short for prefabricated)
d. prehistoric
e. premature
f. pressure
g. prevent
h. preview

Answer Key

5. Compound words:

Write a phrase which means about the same as these compound words
from the text.
a. shoplifting
b. daylight (noun)
c. home time (noun)
d. overnight (adverb)

Answer key

PART TWO

A. TEXT

Read the title of the text carefully. What do you think the text is
about?

"Schools are just places for learning- and learning doesn't depend on what
we wear”.

As you probably know, school uniform is compulsory in many British schools.

Every year newspapers report cases in which children are sent home because
they are not wearing the right uniform. Often they are not allowed back until
they are correctly dressed. This is the story of one boy's refusal to wear uniform.
 “When I was at junior school, I was the first
person to wear jeans. I liked wearing jeans and
thought I looked good in them. The headmistress
told everyone in my class that only hooligans
wore jeans, and that wearing jeans gave children a
criminal mind. She then said that she could name
some who had turned into criminals from wearing
jeans and she looked at me. I was the only person in jeans at the time, so she
was calling me a hooligan and a criminal. I was only seven and I felt really
upset, but my mum* didn't half sort out and she never said anything like that to
me again.

After that lots of other people started wearing jeans, and they didn't turn into
hooligans and criminals because of it. This didn't stop the headmistress though.
Once I heard her shouting at a younger boy about his dad wearing jeans. She
said, “look where wearing jeans got your dad, you little hooligan. Do you want
to turn out like him? Stop wearing jeans”. He then came out crying and we all
hated her. I thought she was mad, stupid and horrible.

At the comprehensive school I wasn't the first person no to wear school

uniform colors. I thought that nothing would happen, so I was surprised when
they tried to throw me out. It all got very irritating at school. People used to ask
why I wasn't in school uniform colors. They used to say “everyone else is in
uniform colors but you” when there were people all around not in uniform
colors. It was a nightmare at times, it just didn't make sense. They used to say
things like: “The uniform smart”. When I asked what was smart about it, they
would say, “Because it's black”. So I'd ask what was smart about black, and
they'd reply “because it's uniform”. So I learnt what school uniform does to
people. It causes brain damage, so that people can't think for themselves and
have to decisions made for them.

Some of the teachers were Ok and so were most of the older kids. The biggest
problem though, was the headmaster. He couldn't talk to me properly and he got
upset. He kept saying that he was the headmaster, but he seemed to think that
that explained everything. He kept saying I had two choices: either go home, or
stay in his room all day.

I wish schools were less boring places. Lots of teachers think of kids as blobs
that they can do what they want with, instead of people like themselves. School
uniform helps to turn people into blobs. There's no point to them, unlike a
policeman's uniform, which show that someone has a special job. Schools are
just places for learning, and learning doesn't depend on what people wear.
* didn't half sort her out- really told her off

B. EXPLANATIONS
uniform [n] : đồng phục
compulsory [ạdj] : bắt buộc, cưỡng bách
(Tiếng Anh có phải là một môn học bắt
Is English a compulsory subject?
buộc không?)
dress [v] : mặc quần áo (cho người nào)
Hurry and get dressed! : (Nhanh lên, mặc quần áo vào !)
refuse [v]
: từ chối, khước từ
refusal[n]
: (Đơn xin cấp thị thực của chúng ta đã
Our application for visas was refused
bị từ chối) sự từ chối
hooligan [n] : bọn du côn
criminal [adj & n] : thuộc về tội ác, người phạm tội
criminal offences, damage, negligence : những sự xúc phạm, phá hoại, cẩu thả,
etc v.v có tính chất phạm tội.
upset [v] : làm cho đau khổ, phiền muộn
Don't upset yourself - no harm has been
: (Đừng lo phiền - không sao cả đâu)
done
sort sb out (sl) : la mắng
I'll soon sort him out. Just let me get : (Khi tóm được nó, tôi sẽ cho nó một
my hands on him. trận ngay cho mà xem)
: nhưng mẹ tôi đã không mắng cho bà ta
but my mum didn't half sort her out
lấy nửa lời
: làm cho (ai) tức giận, bực mình hoặc
irritate [v]
mất kiên nhẫn
irritated at/by the delay : bị bực mình vì sự chậm trể
make sense : có ý nghĩa
blob[n] : giọt (chất lỏng thường là quánh)
a blob of paint, wax, cream: : một giọt sơn, sáp, kem
think of kids as blobs that they can do : (... cho rằng bọn trẻ chỉ là “hạng tép
what they want with. rêu” mà họ muốn làm gì thì làm)
point [n] : ý nghĩa thiết yếu, điểm nổi bật
a story, remark, etc with a / some / no / : một truyện ngắn, nhận xét, v.v. có một
little point (to it) / vài / không có / ít ý nghĩa.
: Điều đó chẳng có ý nghĩa gì đối với
There's no point to them
họ.

C. PARAGRAPH CHECK

Which paragraph?

a. introduces the subject of uniform in English schools?

b. summarizes the boy's general attitude to school life?
c. describes the reaction of the secondary school headmaster?
d. describes the primary headmaster's reaction to other children
wearing jeans

Answer Key

D. FACT CHECK

Work it out

a. Why did the writer wear jeans to school?

b. Why did the headmistress object to children wearing jeans

c. Why did a lot of children think that headmistress was mad, stupid and
horrible?

d. Why was the writer surprised that they tried to throw him out of
secondary school?
Answer Key

E. WORD CHECK

1. Opposites: Match these words from the text with their opposites

From the text Opposites

1. right a. untidy/ scruffy
2. correctly b. like
3. compulsory c. wrong
4. stupid d. interesting
5. smart e. voluntary
6. boring f. sensible
7. unlike g. incorrectly
2. Blob

The dictionary definition of blob is “a drop of liquid, a small lump or

globule, a spot of color”
Why do you think the writer uses the word blobs?

“Lots of teachers think of children as blobs”.

“School uniforms helps to turn people into blobs”.

Answer Key

3. Word families:

Find words in the text which are related to these words.

Noun Verb Adjective

a compulsion
 b to refuse x
c crime x
d stupidity x
e irritation
f to damage x
g to decide
h boredom
i dependence

Answer Key

F. LANGUAGE NOTES

Prepositions:

Put the correct prepositions into the gaps in these sentences. (Look
back at the text to find similar sentences)

a. Many British children have to go to school uniform.

b. The headmistress was afraid that children who wore jeans would turn
hooligans or criminals.
c. When teachers or parents are angry they sometimes shout children.
d. The writer thought that if he wore uniform he would not be able to think
himself
e. Universities are places learning.

Answer Key

G. EXERCISE

Click here to view Exercises for Unit 5