a fairground life(schooling)

Schooling
I can remember my first day at school, well the first 5 minutes in the classroom to be exact. It was September 1973, we were open at Stenhousemuir, Larbet near Falkirk. At this time it was a large busy fair, regarded as a Gaff (exceptionally good business). There were a lot of Showmen’s children on the fair at this time and we all went to the nearest primary school, which was just across the road from the fairgroung.
I can remember my mother talking to the teacher as I stood beside her. There was a small boy playing with wooden building blocks on the floor just behind me. I didn't realise this until I stepped back and accidentally knocked them all over, oops. I remember the look on his face, as if I had done it deliberately. He of course complained to the teacher. I'm glad to say for the most part things did improve from then on out. I returned to that school for two weeks every September until I was of High school age. My brother accompanied me too for most of those years. Unfortunately for the funfair kids we were put into one class and given drawing or painting to do to fill the school day. This led to fewer numbers attending the school and in the latter primary years it would be only a handful of kids that attended. We were referred to as 'Trysters' by the locals, except my brother who was called "braw bits" one year as he had been given brand new tan coloured boots by my mother. He was not pleased at all. In those p6-p7 years we did suffer from a little bullying and we had our share of fighting. In other areas, sometimes being the 'new kid' had advantages, everyone wanted to be your pal, share their sweets. I would say that the schools had their act together, as moving from one to another didn't change the curriculum too much. I have been to primary schools in Partick, Cambuslang, Alloa, Greenock (two), Falkirk, Larbet, Rosyth, Dunfermiline, Stranraer (three) and
probably others I can't recall. The best of my education I received in Glasgow when at that time we finished travelling from late October until April. Hence I was at the same school longer.
High School was different, I only went while in Glasgow for the winter or at Stranraer as we were there for three weeks. Cathkin High school is where I went for first and second year with my cousin. We were the only two funfair kids in the school with over 2500 kids, but we did know some kids from our primary school days. The learning pace was quicker by this time and it took me two months to catch up with the classes, then I progressed quite well until we started out again. It was the same for second year. I can still remember my grades- 1st year 6 B's and 4 A's, 2nd year was 7 B's and 3 A's. Bullying was a bigger problem now (at least for me, until I got the three of them separately and kicked the C**P out of them). In 1983 we changed yards from Cambuslang to Yorkhill and this meant I changed school to Woodside High in Finnieston. This was the end of my education, I was given classes that could accommodate me and not the classes I had chosen or had been doing well in. In fact if it weren’t for my old house head from Cathkin being known by this new head teacher at Woodside High, I wouldn't have even got a place in the school at all. I was put in a class of misfits and I was truly the ethnic minority as I was the only white child in my class! I can't even remember if I got a report card!! After that I never went back to school again, finished halfway through third year.
It is different now; my daughter has only ever went to two schools in her life. There are schemes for interrupted learners to get schoolwork via the internet. Even though the funfair season is longer, I would have to say that our homes are more permanently based on the yard and we commute more. Any way, intelligence isn't produced in school, you either have it or you don't. Schooling provides knowledge and visiting many schools has provided me with a lot of different experiences and that can only be positive.