The Good Old Days

What people mean by the Good Old Days is often controversial. Here are some of the possibilities:

When the lower orders knew their place and kept to it.
Before homosexuality was decriminalised.
When couples married and didn’t beget bastards.
When by working hard you could pass your 11+ exam and benefit from a good Grammar School education.
When the harder you worked, the luckier you became.
When only those who were clever enough and worked hard enough to deserve a university education were offered one.
When all infants were potty-trained before going to nursery school.
When all children could tie their own shoelaces unaided by the time they started primary school.
When all children could walk to and from primary school unaided and unsupervised.
When all children could hold and use a knife and fork correctly well before they left primary school.
When it only took the 'threat' of a caning by the Headmaster to ensure good behaviour, with it only being implemented in exeptional circumstaces, which successfully reinforced the power of the threat.
When it only cost a penny to spend a penny.
When we still enjoyed freedom of speech.
When no-one would ever have laundry hanging out to dry on a Sunday.
When children were brought up to take "No!" for an answer.
When no man or woman would set foot outdoors without wearing a hat.
When children wore uniforms whenever going to school, always including hats.
When no child would ever occupy a seat if an adult was left standing.
When no man would ever occupy a seat if a woman was left standing.

Return to the Home Page or to the Blog Index.