was it better back then? - Page 2

grannyclaret · 04-09-2008, 01:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by MargaretR

You got a bargain there granny - at £1,100 mine had an outside loo

erm that would have been a bargain Margargaret...lol,,,add an extra £500.00.....

MargaretR · 04-09-2008, 01:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by grannyclaret

oooops typing error that should read £899..00

Still a bargain at that

beechy · 04-09-2008, 05:36

Paid 400 pounds for my first house on Grange st Accy
twas allright until i got caught carrying a new tin bath up Cotton st
Laugh i nearly died

ANNE · 04-09-2008, 15:34

I left school in 1972 age 15. I had no choice in the matter. my dad & Mam wouldn't let e stay on for the extra year. had to get out in the big wide world and earn some money.
7 pounds a week was my first pay pkt.

jambutty · 04-09-2008, 18:41

People tend to look back with rose tinted glasses but the truth of the matter is that on balance and in spite of everything we are all better off in all sorts of ways today than we were in yesteryear.

There were apprenticeships for those who could get them and there was plenty of work for those who didn’t. But apprentices’ wages were minimal and many spent the first two years going to the stores for a ‘long stand’ or acting as a gopher for the skilled worker. Why? Because that is what happened to the skilled worker when he was an apprentice. So it was a ‘get your own back’ time. This attitude also prevailed in none apprentice jobs, except that it didn’t last all that long. The boss wasn’t going to pay someone for standing around as the butt of workers’ childish jokes.

As I recall, back in the early fifties, in order to secure an apprenticeship you had to leave school with at least a School Certificate above a certain standard and I’m pretty sure you had to be 16. An employer would not take on an apprentice if the person could not demonstrate an acceptable level of education. An apprentice would learn his trade by attending the local college for one day a week and then two, three or even four evenings a week in ‘night school’. The rest of the time he would get on the job training - eventually. However when an apprentice had served his time he came out as a fully skilled plumber, painter, electrician, engineer, tool maker or whatever who knew his job thoroughly and could slot into a job.
With the pressure of assisting in the family budget, a priority with many families especially those whose father had been killed in the war, many kids left school at 15 to get a job. So the majority had no option of further education even if they wanted it and no chance of an apprenticeship. Many really bright kids were consigned to the scrap heap purely because of family finances. A few lucky ones managed to get a scholarship to schools like St Mary’s College and QEGS in Blackburn and the Grammar School in Accrington (wasn’t there a Grammar School in Clitheroe?) but even then they had to find the money for expensive school uniforms, sports clothing, some text books plus a variety of writing implements, rulers set squares, compasses, protractors, slide rules and log tables etc. My brother who went to St Mary’s College got a free exercise book for each subject then thereafter had to buy a replacement when it became full.

The only good part of yesteryear was the integrity of the people, a decent police presence, no PC do gooders and justice was seen to be done. Public transport was more than adequate and families sat together at meal times. You could leave your money in an empty milk bottle on the doorstep confident that when the milkman delivered your milk the money would be waiting for him. You could go shopping or even to work and leave the house doors unlocked. No one would burgle you.

The post arrived at the crack of dawn or at least no later than around 8:00 am and there were a second delivery after noon.

WillowTheWhisp · 04-09-2008, 19:10

I left school in 1969 after taking my 'O' levels. I applied for several jobs and had so many acceptances that I could pick and choose. I really do think it was better back then. I went to evening classes at Sandy Lane to do 'A' levels but didn't go any further. I had my career niche by then which had an internal examination structure.

West Ender · 04-09-2008, 21:38

The School Certificate ceased to exist in 1951 when O Levels took over. It was not necessary, in most cases, for an apprentice to have O Levels and many did start at age 15. I had first hand knowledge of that in several boys I grew up with and knew very well, in West End, who left school (Rhyddings in most cases) at 15 and went straight into apprenticeships. I was still in "second-hand" touch with one of them until our respective mothers, who were friends, both died a few years ago. He didn't have any school qualifications but he's a very successful builder today.

blazey · 04-09-2008, 23:34

Obviously I have no experience of 'back then' but I have a perspective of today that I can share that most people wont have unless they are still studying, single, no kids and live with their parents at the age of 40+, and no disrespect to those that are like that! I know some do exist.

I was not pushed to work hard at primary school, I was just fortunate that I was bright and was encouraged to carry on being so. I got to school, hit my terrible teens and rebelled a bit. Discipline was weak because most of the time I was clever enough to dodge bumping into the teachers that were keeping an eye out for me long enough for them to forget. Nobody taught me about uni, nobody guided me to a career though most people seemed to talk a lot about what college they were going to go to when it got to the end of our final year and I was planning on going to blackburn college to do music. No career in mind because nobody had ever mentioned that.

Changed my mind at the very last minute and did 4 random A levels, had no guidance on which 4 to pick. Dropped out of two because I realised they weren't for me and picked up another two in the second year, which suffered when I lost a friend due to cancer and didn't know who to turn to for support. College support was useless. Scraped through and passed them all though I still had no idea about uni until applications began. Decided I should do law because it was the only thing I enjoyed at college (until I started art), got rejected from all my choices because I didn't have the right A levels.

Went on a summer course, received excellent support from uni and did well, and went on to study law. Now realise that it is a lot of hard work, I never have money and I am entering into one pof the most competitive professions out there.

Would I like to try out the lifestyle of a woman in the 50's and dote on my husband and children and be happy with that? I don't know.

But life now isn't easy with the competition over jobs, juggling family commitments and generally just getting anywhere. Technology is frightening powerful and it's not slowing down and to be quite honest, when 10 year olds are stabbing each other over their pocket money and people are blowing themselves up in the name of a loving God well, I don't know what to think...

but that is life isn't it, and we're pretty much stuck with it. I can't change the world by myself so I'll just have to make the most of what I have.

cashman · 05-09-2008, 00:05

but you have summat many do not- Self Motivation, you will be fine n yes it is hard work, but worth it. back then standards were much lower expectation wise, but in my time, i always knew i could get any job i fancied within reason, therefore my life was more secure, thats what i base my "better" on.

blazey · 05-09-2008, 00:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by cashman

but you have summat many do not- Self Motivation, you will be fine n yes it is hard work, but worth it. back then standards were much lower expectation wise, but in my time, i always knew i could get any job i fancied within reason, therefore my life was more secure, thats what i base my "better" on.

I think the difference is that today we have a much more deluded youth. It's almost like we are copying the idea of the American dream.

And we all know what happened in Of Mice and Men... even the deluded ones should know seen as it is in the school syllabus

cashman · 05-09-2008, 00:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by blazey

I think the difference is that today we have a much more deluded youth. It's almost like we are copying the idea of the American dream

i think the delusion n the job situation go hand in hand, some kids don't wish to go on to uni/ or aint clever enough, or have family reasons,etc,

Caz · 06-09-2008, 21:53

Quote:

think it as better, because we knew no better

I think beechy hit the nail on the head. Times change and we have different expectations now. You move with the times.

We can look at the past with rose tinted glasses and it seems great, but to be honest, would you go back there now, as an adult, knowing what you know now?

cashman · 06-09-2008, 21:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by cazzer

I think beechy hit the nail on the head. Times change and we have different expectations now. You move with the times.

We can look at the past with rose tinted glasses and it seems great, but to be honest, would you go back there now, as an adult, knowing what you know now?

probably would cazzer, i live in a time warp anyway.

talentedbutslow · 06-09-2008, 22:10

I left Accy Grammar in 1961 at the ripe old age of 15....whilst most of the class stayed on an extra year.....Our family was poor and my pocket money was nil......so I wanted to earn a bob or two.
Agreed......there was plenty of work then for people that wanted it......and those days employers didn,t ask for someone who was experienced at 15.....like they do now.I worked for a short time at the new Maypole supermarket that was just opening on Broadway...then dad got me a job at Bulloughs as a turner where I stayed until I was 23 before moving to Australia.....I remember most Saturday nights at the Con Club or at Knowles street....sitting like a wallflower on the sides....I was a shy lad.....Doesn,t bear thinking about now.....lol

Caz · 06-09-2008, 22:22

It makes me laugh when they ask for this that and the other for a job position these days. "must be fluent" in this that and the other. Experience in this and that... would suit school leaver... Don't they realise that some of us oldies have all this and life skills as well? Or do they just want to pay minimum wage for a 16 year old?
Just me having a gripe!