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Stuart Laidlaw's Classroom memories of Murrayburn and Wester Hailes Primary Schools in the 1950s

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About this scrapbook

Things that have stuck in my mind of my time at Primary School

Classroom layout in the1950s.
Classroom layout in the1950s.

Classroom layout in the1950s.

Example of a typical Classroom in the 1940s and...
Slate and Stylus 1950

Slate and Stylus 1950

The first steps of learning to write were learn...
Classroom heater 1955

Classroom heater 1955

Situated in one corner of the classroom, these ...
Teacher's Pointer 1955

Teacher's Pointer 1955

Designed to enable the teacher to point out per...
Moveable Blackboard 1955

Moveable Blackboard 1955

Blackboards were usually fixed to the wall behi...
Blackboard Chalk 1955

Blackboard Chalk 1955

Used in copious quantities by all teachers. Fu...
Blackboard Duster 1955

Blackboard Duster 1955

Along with a damp cloth, this was the other mai...
Ceramic Inkwells 1955

Ceramic Inkwells 1955

Only given out for Writing lessons, these fitte...
Writing Pens 1955

Writing Pens 1955

Handed out with nibs and Blotting paper for Wri...
Class Pencil Sharpener 1955

Class Pencil Sharpener 1955

Affixed to the end of the teachers desk, this w...
The Belt 1955

The Belt 1955

Used by most teachers as a last resort, the Bel...
Art and Crafts Lessons 1955

Art and Crafts Lessons 1955

One of the most popular, from a Teachers point ...
Music Lessons 1960

Music Lessons 1960

Every week a large wooden Radio was brought int...
Dental Surgery 1955

Dental Surgery 1955

No picture conjures up memories like this one.
Burns Certificates 1961

Burns Certificates 1961

Every year for many years, Competitions were he...
Dentistry Department Sighthill Health Centre 1950s

Dentistry Department Sighthill Health Centre 1950s

The four Bow windows on the second floor were w...
Typical 1950s School Desk

Typical 1950s School Desk

Every pupil had their own separate desk. Occas...
Art and Crafts Lesson Paper Glue 1950s

Art and Crafts Lesson Paper Glue 1950s

Multiple use paper glue. Had a small slit in t...
School Health Visitors from Hell 1955

School Health Visitors from Hell 1955

NO PHOTOGAPH CAN EVER DISPLAY THE SENSE OF ABJE...
Wooden Rulers of the 1950s

Wooden Rulers of the 1950s

Rulers were given out for lessons as opposed to...
Class Ink Bottles 1955

Class Ink Bottles 1955

Used to fill up the small Ceramic inkwells on e...
Pupil Report Cards 1956

Pupil Report Cards 1956

These were never looked forward to and did not ...
Class Position Prizes 1957

Class Position Prizes 1957

Usually awarded to the top three pupils in ever...
School Sports Day 1955

School Sports Day 1955

This Annual Event was looked forward to only by...
School Dinners 1955

School Dinners 1955

There is a lot of truth that, in the early 1950...
The School Bell 1955

The School Bell 1955

Rung every morning, afternoon and at lunch time...
School Satchel 1955

School Satchel 1955

Not obligatory due to cost, but an absolute nec...
Free School Milk 1955

Free School Milk 1955

Every pupil was given a small 1/3pint of milk e...
Middleton Residential School camp 1955

Middleton Residential School camp 1955

Situated at Gorebridge, classes from both Weste...