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Secondary education

Was anybody at the Eton Fourth of June event today?

17 replies

mamaliv · 29/05/2013 23:10

Slightly disappointed Very relieved at the lack of capsizing in the boat parade...

OP posts:
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IndridCold · 30/05/2013 09:14

DS was VERY disappointed at lack of capsizing!

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BlissfullyIgnorant · 04/06/2013 23:10

We went! Didn't go to the river to watch though...HM was keen for his F Block parents to socialise so we pitched the gazebo early on and met up after sandwiches and wine at the House.

What did you think of it?

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Kez100 · 05/06/2013 19:10

F Block? That sounds very state school! I always imagine their buildings to be called something like Dickens, Chaucer and Bronte.

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IndridCold · 05/06/2013 20:14

Smile

Eton is another country, they do things differently there - and speak their own language too.

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BlissfullyIgnorant · 11/06/2013 11:35

Kez, that made me laugh!
F Block is the year group, and they do have interestingly named buildings/places. I rather like Rowlands Tap...

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Amber2 · 11/06/2013 11:52

F block does sound like a place for the hard core of a prison population!

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IndridCold · 11/06/2013 13:14

Blissfully - DS had some trouble locating Old Christophers. It's not on the map, and even if you are standing outside it it has a sign up with a completely different name!

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BlissfullyIgnorant · 11/06/2013 22:48

Hi Indrid
It's a B weekend, so I'm going to ask DS!

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IndridCold · 12/06/2013 09:41

I think it's in behind Rowlands somewhere. Is your DS F block? Hope it's going well.

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BlissfullyIgnorant · 16/06/2013 00:02

Yes Indrid, he is F Block...currently home 'sleeping' having convinced us "White Chicks" wasn't an inappropriate movie.
He's obviously been attending 'Teen Boy Banter Soc'...
How about yours?
Which blocks are everyone else's boys here?

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IndridCold · 16/06/2013 10:42

Yes, F block here too. Can't believe there are only two weeks left! DS does know it all now, though, so it's been good value for money Grin.

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peteneras · 21/06/2013 13:24

Aaagh . . . the Fourth of June; the Fourth of June - except it?s never on the Fourth of June in the modern era. I?m of course, talking about the actual celebrations. These days it?s celebrated on the last Wednesday of May each year, whatever the date is.

There was this high-flying American lawyer some years back who had planned her diary months ahead e.g. postponing court appearances, rearranging personal and business schedules etc. so that she could be in Britain with her son for the Fourth of June celebrations.

Yes, she arrived at Eton early in the morning on the Fourth of June just to find the whole village had gone eerily quiet. The ?Fourth of June? had taken place a few days earlier and Long Leave had begun! Grin

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peteneras · 21/06/2013 13:43

?Can't believe there are only two weeks left! DS does know it all now, though, so it's been good value for money.?

And it?s one week left now. Time really flies when you?re enjoying the School. Good to know of a well satisfied customer. Quite unlike something I read recently about someone spending £33,000 elsewhere and complaining bitterly. Sad

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IndridCold · 21/06/2013 14:57

It feels like a big step up from prep school, and an even bigger change for new boarders and boys who have come from the state sector; it's not suprising that some of them find it quite a difficult transition. We had had some slight concern that DS might hate it once he got there and were pleasantly surprised at how quickly he settled in!

He is in the middle of Trials now, but is really looking forward to Lords tomorrow Smile

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peteneras · 22/06/2013 20:40

Understandably for those who have never boarded before, boarding for the first time can be a traumatic experience. I know of one or two cases like that at Eton. But very soon all this comes to pass as the School has huge experience in dealing with this problem, what with its almost 600-year boarding history coupled with out of this world facilities to keep the boys busy.

There wouldn?t be many boys who come from the state sector at Eton. The handful who are there are almost always scholars of one kind or another and who would have been conditioned to a boarding life even before they arrive.

How does your DS like it after one year or does he still miss Sherborne? I can almost assure you he?ll get a fantastic report from his tutor and HM next week after the Trials.

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IndridCold · 23/06/2013 16:39

DS has had a brilliant first year thank you, he has been comfortable academically and has enjoyed the extra independence. All his beaks were very complementary when we met them back in February, and we were impressed by how well they knew him after only a couple of halves, as he is quite a quiet boy. The Beak/Boy relationship seems to be a wonderful mix of laddish informality and strictness.
I'm sure he doesn't regret not going to Sherborne at all, but I'm equally convinced that he would have been perfectly happy there if that's where he had ended up. But Eton is Eton after all!!

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peteneras · 25/06/2013 16:04

Absolutely agree the relationship is a mix of informality and strictness. That?s because the beaks treat and respect the boys as young adults on an equal footing and at the same time try to instil upon them there is a world order out there which the boys will be part of when they leave the school. It is common for beaks to address boys in a div as ?Gentlemen? or individual boy as ?Sir?.

Events like the bring out the true nature of the school when families and friends meet up with beaks, HMs, dames, other parents and boys etc. in a friendly, relaxed and informal atmosphere at the School. I?ve compiled a clip on such an event recording the boys in their smart uniforms, each with a carnation bearing their house colour on their lapel (the King?s Scholars have a purple carnation - Royal colour - on white).

The opening clip depicts a group of E-block Collegers dining at the hallowed College Hall where KS?s have their meals, followed by clips at the cloister garden (Collegers? playground) entertaining their parents and friends before proceeding to the playing fields where one of the world?s largest outdoor picnics is held. I particularly enjoyed attending the ?Thai Pavilion? where we were invited to taste the sumptuous range of food - well actually everybody is invited Wink. The clip ends with the crowd proceeding to the river for the boats parade. Sorry, no capsizing. Sad

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