Posted by Dave Thewlis on February 27, 2011 at 06:11:49 user dthewlis.
In Reply to: Re: English versus American usage posted by andybolger on February 27, 2011 at 04:55:50:
Thank you all. It seems likely that the terms I asked about were indeed used in the original book (which I believe was published in 1949).
One reason I found this confusing: in the U.S. "grammar school" used to mean a primary school - i.e. for ages 6-12 or (in some places 6-14). Yet the protagonist (in a grammar school) seems to be older than his sister, referred to as in a secondary school (and wearing a High School hat).
As far as I know the term "grammar school" in the U.S. is archaic, and hasn't been used for decades; today at least in California we have primary school, middle school, and secondary or high school. (Grades 1-6, 7-8, and 9-12).