Monday 8 December 2008

An Italian Schoolbook

This is a book in use at one of the 'middle' schools where the pupils have the dubious benefit of being taught English by Ronnie. ("Now children, when you're in the UK and you want to get directions, always ask a policeman. But don't address them as 'Mister policeman', that's far too formal. Use the affectionate term we locals employ, 'Oi, Tosser!'").
The book is old of course, and has lots of different articles for pre-teen girls like how to fold your clothes properly, the historical treasures of Egypt, why drinking milk is good for you, that sort of stuff. All very sweet and innocent and rather touching.
Call me a dreadful old cynic, but I feel sure that its UK equivalent would have single syllable guides on your rights to the morning-after pill and 25 great sex positions to use in your boyfriend's fully-tweaked Ford Fiesta.
I must stay in more.

5 comments:

Peter Ashley said...

Lovely Ron. Sorry, that should have read: Lovely, Ron. Or: Ron. Lovely. Or: Ron, they're lovely. I'm always staying in with my scrapbooks.

Affer said...

Oh dear...sweet little book I am sure, but would not Janet and John be altogether more English? (see here:http://www.teensay.co.uk/boards/funnies/5451-janet-john.html)

Thud said...

Janet and John....the good stuff indeed.

Toby Savage said...

Sorry to spoil your cynical views on the system over here Ron, but I have just photographed a group of 10 - 12 year old school children being shown a Medieval stone coffin, by an Archaeologist. They were genuinely interested and asked a lot of very sensible questions about how such a heavy artefact was moved, carved and used. I was pleasantly surprised. They were from Earl Shilton

Affer said...

"They were genuinely interested and asked a lot of very sensible questions about how such a heavy artefact was moved, carved and used."

Probably planning to bury someone.......