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Bessy Schiffenbaum's memories of Commercial Street school (she was aged 10 in 1901). (Courtesy of Tower Hamlets Local History Library & Archive and Jerry White) Transcript of Bessy Schiffenbaum's interview |
| "And I remember how we were
threatened, if we were naughty children we wouldn't go to the nice new big
school... We passed, you know, from our old school into the new school, and it was a very great thrill. And you know there were no fireplaces, and they explained to us that…in the winter, 'You see these fluttering streamers? You get warm air blown in and it's very healthy for you,' the teacher went on about it; 'And in the summer you'll have cool air blown in…' " |
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"I was 10 years of age I think in the 5th Standard. I was a young
girl. I went from the 3rd to the 5th, I was a good scholar - I was one
of those horrible children, you know, really [had to pass an exam to move
up a standard]. I went from the 3rd to the 5th and they all hated me,
you know. The others who were always top, and when I went from the 3rd
to the 5th they hated my guts… |