A VERY SHORT HISTORY OF SCHOOL

Back to school' is never a welcome phrase among children. Ever since the original Athenian pedagogues - slaves in charge of the school runtook their masters' children kicking and screaming to lessons, learning has been a mixed blessing.
For much of history, school has, of course, been a privilege. Maxim Gorky only managed to stay in education until the age of eight. Scottish poet and novelist James Hogg, AKA the Ettrick Shepherd, managed only six months before becoming a cowherd. He was lucky compared with US president Andrew Johnson who never got to school at all. Visionary poet William Blake's father didn't dare send his son to school because of the boy's furious temper.
Kenneth Grahame was a late starter who first went to school at the age of nine. Hans Christian Andersen was a false starter who left school at 11 and returned at 17, only to be put in a class with 11 year olds. Henry VI, founder of Eton College. provided lavishly for 70 poor scholars, endowing his school with land, money and relics, including a piece of the True Cross. Not that Eton life was entirely devotional.
During outbreaks of plague, smoking was made compulsory in the belief that it prevented the disease spreading. But smoking may not have been the only vice practised at Eton. In the 1920s Tallulah Bankhead was investigated by MI5 over allegations that she had corrupted pupils' morals, although no proof was found.
Perhaps they were just taking a lead from Greek philosopher Epicurus's school which had a sign over the door saying "here our highest good is pleasure". For those who made it to school, there was a chance to make friends for life - or not.
William Wordsworth and Fletcher Christian were at school together, as were Wittgenstein and Hitler, although their later careers diverged somewhat. But whatever the experience, the main thing is to not get expelled. Percy Shelley, Humphrey Bogart and Albert Einstein were all expelled from school- and who has ever heard of them?

By Justin Pollard published in BBC History Magazine, v. 13 n.9 September 2012, UK p.95. Typed, adapted and illustrated to be posted by Leopoldo Costa.