Posted by Robert Thompson on April 07, 1999 at 21:12:05:
In Reply to: Re: Speaking of holidays... posted by kate crosby on April 07, 1999 at 18:48:47:
I’m sorry to throw a spanner in the works, but there is no specific length to British schools’summer holidays for the following reason. Even in the state school system where the total number of teaching days has to tally throughout the country, it is up to each individual Education Authority to choose its own July end of term and September beginning of term dates. Somewhere during the first week of September is about right. The Swallows and Amazons, however, clearly are educated at private schools (Preparatory up ‘til the age of thirteen, then, confusingly, Public school after that). Because the teaching day tends to be longer in these schools and also because of Saturday morning school, terms (semesters) are usually shorter than state schools and could quite easily not begin until September 14th. As far as a possibility of a spring sailing of the Sea Bear is concerned, school holidays would depend on the early/late nature of Easter.
Confused?? Not as much as if I tried to explain why each of the three terms of the Eton College year is sometimes called a half!
My second spanner (or perhaps a monkey-wrench, as poor old Gibber doesn't appear in GN) is to say that for what it’s worth I agree with Christina Hardyment, not because I disagree violently with all those worthy souls who put forward arguments about guns used in GN, about the obvious locality, etc - but merely because I find the GN story as a continuation of the Swallows/Amazons/Ds/Captain Flint narrative rather less plausible than perhaps it should be, I believe because of the plot being suggested if not partially worked out by someone other than Ransome himself. (Myles North).
In the end we’re all here because (presumably) we appreciate the writing of the Ransome books, but in different ways. Life would be boring indeed if we all held the same opinion, so I’m not going to be offended (or offensive) if others differ in their views.
Enough of this waffle. May the Easter holidays long continue!!
Robert