Published on 12, July, 2020
I have noticed questions by carers about their children during lunch breaks. This got me thinking of my own experience.
I left school over 40 years ago and it is only in the last few years I realized I was autistic.
When I was at school a lot of lessons were quite formal which suited me. However when it came to lunchtime as all the schools I went to were nearby I went home for lunch. In the Junior school quite a few people went home for lunchtime which was nearly an hour and a half. Most occasions when I stayed it was for a club but I didn't like being at school for the whole day and especially the long lunch break.
I wonder if modern schools are more of a challenge for autistics.
I've just remembered another thing.
Warm milk left in the sun, tasting like it was going slightly off.
I used to wait until the teacher wasn't looking and tip it away, if I could.
Conservative Margaret Thatcher withdrew free school milk from children over seven in 1971, earning her the nickname "Thatcher, the Milk Snatcher".
For anyone who doesn't know about this, we drank straight out of glass bottles.
No health and safety in those days.
Oh yes Debbie, the smell of gone-off milk used to linger in the classrooms. I didn't like it, and had long since left shool when Thatcher removed it, but I think she was in error.
Ben