This follows on from the "Artic Weather" (sic) thread.

I had a chat with Gray Sandercock (who taught me Geography for a year) a few years after I left school and he told me caps have gone now. He confirmed what I suspected; everyone else hated wearing them as much as I did. The fact that they were instruments of bullying was the worst factor IMO; you got into trouble if you didn't wear one each day, and yet they were easy to grab hold of and either pass amongst other similar characters intent on causing you grief or throw onto a roof (as mine once was).

So, what are your own feelings about caps? Are you glad they're gone now, or do you wish they'd been retained?

More generally (since I doubt caps are enough material for a thread), how about school uniform in general? Some schools now have sweatshirts as the standard uniform instead of blazers and ties, should DHS follow suit? Do schools, including DHS, need a uniform at all?

Graham, I'll start the ball rolling.
Caps are probably past their sell-by date, but I think there should still be a clear uniform, and not the type of sweatshirts we see in some schools. In my view, uniforms instill a sense of pride and belonging, and I am sure that youngsters who have a pride in their school have a tendency to work harder/better.
Old fashioned? Maybe, but it was also a factor i considered when looking at schools for my daughter a few years ago.

I'll definitely have more to say about this later but, basically, I have to support uniforms.

In my time at School uniforms were the norm. Let's face it, even Coubourg Street Secondary insisted on uniform. There were upsides and downsides to it being worn Do some thing good in the street and DHS was great. Get into some mischief and it usually meant some carpetting.

I haven't lived in a capitol city since 1974 so I cannot speak for the mainstream. One of my sons teaches at a couple of Whyalla High Schools (one of them only goes to year 10 and he has to teach years 11 & 12 at another) neither of which is conformist to uniform apart from the School T shirt, light brown 'cargo' pants and joggers. While another, private, school does insist on uniform, complete with grey trousers or pleated skirt, shirt, tie, shoes and blazer. I believe that headgear may be optional as some wear it while others do not. I can tell you that the apparent demeanour of the uniformed students is far in advance of those in 'pseudo' uniform. If for no other reason than it takes more care and pride to look after something that is worth looking after. I think the uniformity looks terrific.

As previously mentioned, caps are a different matter. Yes, I can recall the 'cap throwing' a bit like pass the parcel. Some were able to handle that and others weren't. Personally I was proud as punch the day we purchased my cap prior to becoming a 'scruff', possibly because it was much like the Cub one as I was still a Cub when joining School. I continued to be proud of it until leaving and felt no embarassment at having!! to wear it while in uniform. I have no problem with its use or otherwise. Dare I say I have much stronger views on the use of the School Song. I wont go there.

I would think it a very sad day if uniforms were abandoned. I consider wearing of uniform as part of the discipline that is learned during education which is carried forward into what is expected when in the workforce. Let's face it, there's not much discipline at Uni. and it would be a real culture shock from there to, say, an office in the Stock Exchange.

My school cap went over the railway bridge over the shunting yard and straight down the funnel of a steam train on my last day of having to wear it. Have to say it was hard anyway to get one big enough for my head size even then (7 and a half), so it looked like a pea on a bomb.

I may have mentioned before, John, that the school song words fitted the music to Telstar perfectly. Try it right now!

Dave Rolls wrote:
My school cap went over the railway bridge over the shunting yard and straight down the funnel of a steam train on my last day of having to wear it.

This could just be the coolest thing I've ever read on DHSOBO! The great thing is, none of the teachers would have believed you if you told them this is what happened.

Steam trains were being phased out at around the time I started (primary) school, so sadly I can't remember one in active service.



Have to say it was hard anyway to get one big enough for my head size even then (7 and a half), so it looked like a pea on a bomb.

I may have mentioned before, John, that the school song words fitted the music to Telstar perfectly. Try it right now!

I've tried this, but it doesn't work for me. At least not past the first line;

"Tis for our school, the Hi-i-i-i-gh we sing"

Sorry Graham - should have made it clear I meant the chorus.
All together now,
High in name, in fame...
Needs a bit of fudging around the "strong endeavour" bit too!

Devonport Kings Road station and the bridge over the lines near to the school was a favorite haunt. My pal, a lad called Bob Wearing, and I regularly spotted trains although we did not bother recording numbers or names but everyday we would see a variety of "Southern engines" including plenty of Merchant Navy and West Country classes. One morning when leaning over the parapet Bob's cap was blown off when an engine passed below and although it's hard to believe it fell to the rails below and became jammed in the points. A visit later in the day to the station and some pleading with the staff saw Bob's cap returned. In those days 1949/1950 we still enjoyed real steam trains and would sometimes take the train to the Southern region Ford station an interesting journey through a long tunnel under Devonport Park and then over a high viaduct over the St Levens road valley. I left DHS in 1955 nearly 18 years old but in those days we still had to wear our caps

I was proud to wear the DHS uniform and I suggest we re-visit the photo gallery and look at the school photograph in the early 50s, we were a smart bunch and in those days just a few years after WW2 money was tight, anoraks were not around but we knew how to tie our ties.
A couple of years after appearing in this photograph I was wearing a different uniform when doing my National Service, for me it equated with discipline, respect and a certain feeling of pride.

John Stanyon wrote:
One morning when leaning over the parapet Bob's cap was blown off when an engine passed below

I have to confess that the passage of my cap down the funnel was no accident but was manually assisted

Dave Rolls wrote:

High in name, in fame...
Needs a bit of fudging around the "strong endeavour" bit too!

Couldn't resist the following

"V.1

'Tis of our School, the High, we sing;

For her we'll spend both strength and brain;

For her our finest gifts we'll bring;

We'll give our all and count it gain,

So that her praises far may ring,

With records proud, devoid of stain.



V.2

And when in our last race of all,

We round the bend with torch in flame,

We'll hand it on and sound the call.

We've run our race, in us no shame;

Ne'er did we falter, fail or fall;

We've played the game, do ye the same.



Chorus

High in name, in fame, in aim,

High in heart and strong endeavour,

High to answer honour's claim,

We will fail our own School never.

Prorsum Semper Honeste -

Thus our motto, play the game.

Prorsum Semper Honeste,

The High for ever."


AHHH!! Stirring stuff me lads.