A quick lesson before we begin: college is the UK equivilent to high school, except it is not compulsory. What you guys call college, we call university.
A local college of mine is known for being VERY snooty, even though they have absolutely no reason to be. Their results are pretty much exactly the same as any other college in the area, but for some reason they believe they are in the same league as Oxford or Cambridge. I did not attend this college myself, but many of my friends did, and they all left feeling miserable and stressed. I went to a different college, and finished with the same grades they did, but left with so many happy memories that I still long for those days even today.
The college has not changed in the past seven years since my friends attended. The most recent scandal involving them was that they sent a letter to all the parents in the local area, advertising an open day. They actually included this sentence at the end of the letter, word for word.
"If any of your child's grades are expected to be below grade B, do not bother attending.
Yeah, that's the degree of snootiness we are talking about.
About a month ago, we got word that a tutor from the college want to hire out a classroom to run some Law classes. We agreed and it was set up. I had the pleasure of meeting this man when he came to the reception.
Week 1
He looked like the sterotypical, snivelling lawyer. He came dressed in his best grey suit, and honestly looked as though he was going to a court appearence, not teaching a class. On his first visit, he came in with a box filled with books.
"Ah yes, you there, boy!"
That's right, he was talking to me.
"Take these books to my class! They are hurting my fingers!"
I explained through gritted teeth that I could not leave my desk, and he would have to take them himself.
Lawyer: Hmph! What exactly am I paying for?
Me: The classroom space.
He did not like that at all. I didn't see him again until he left, and he walked out with his nose up in the air.
Week 2
He came in with his box of books.
Lawyer: Look, it is absolutely senseless having to carry these books in EVERY week. I will just leave them in your care.
Me: I am not comfortable with that. I cannot be held responsible for other people's belongings.
Lawyer: Just put them under your desk! Only you will know!
Me: I am not here all the time. Two other people also share this desk during the week. Sorry, but I will not take them.
Lawyer: Hmph!
Week 3
A deputy head asks to see me. He informs me that he received a complaint that I would not look after his books.
DH: But don't worry, I put him in his place. He sounds like a very rude man. Don't put up with him.
Lawyer came in again that evening, but he seemed to be deliberately struggling with his books. He was putting on a right show. I need to point out that this box of books could not have been heavy. The box itself was only the length of a sheet of paper. I didn't say a word and let him carry on.
This week
He arrived for his class, complete with his box of books. I mumbled a faint hello as he walked through the doors (he wasn't struggling this time).
Lawyer: You've been nothing but consistently rude to me for a month! I guess that's why you're stuck behind a desk while I teach law!
He went to push open the doors that led to his classroom.
He pushed, and he pushed, and he pushed. No luck. He couldn't get through. He turned to face me, with his eyebrows raised in an impatient way.
Me: That's a pull door.
His face went RED.
Me: Don't you DARE talk down to me when you can't even figure out how to open a door.
He pulled the door open and disappeared down the corridor.
A local college of mine is known for being VERY snooty, even though they have absolutely no reason to be. Their results are pretty much exactly the same as any other college in the area, but for some reason they believe they are in the same league as Oxford or Cambridge. I did not attend this college myself, but many of my friends did, and they all left feeling miserable and stressed. I went to a different college, and finished with the same grades they did, but left with so many happy memories that I still long for those days even today.
The college has not changed in the past seven years since my friends attended. The most recent scandal involving them was that they sent a letter to all the parents in the local area, advertising an open day. They actually included this sentence at the end of the letter, word for word.
"If any of your child's grades are expected to be below grade B, do not bother attending.
Yeah, that's the degree of snootiness we are talking about.
About a month ago, we got word that a tutor from the college want to hire out a classroom to run some Law classes. We agreed and it was set up. I had the pleasure of meeting this man when he came to the reception.
Week 1
He looked like the sterotypical, snivelling lawyer. He came dressed in his best grey suit, and honestly looked as though he was going to a court appearence, not teaching a class. On his first visit, he came in with a box filled with books.
"Ah yes, you there, boy!"
That's right, he was talking to me.
"Take these books to my class! They are hurting my fingers!"
I explained through gritted teeth that I could not leave my desk, and he would have to take them himself.
Lawyer: Hmph! What exactly am I paying for?
Me: The classroom space.
He did not like that at all. I didn't see him again until he left, and he walked out with his nose up in the air.
Week 2
He came in with his box of books.
Lawyer: Look, it is absolutely senseless having to carry these books in EVERY week. I will just leave them in your care.
Me: I am not comfortable with that. I cannot be held responsible for other people's belongings.
Lawyer: Just put them under your desk! Only you will know!
Me: I am not here all the time. Two other people also share this desk during the week. Sorry, but I will not take them.
Lawyer: Hmph!
Week 3
A deputy head asks to see me. He informs me that he received a complaint that I would not look after his books.
DH: But don't worry, I put him in his place. He sounds like a very rude man. Don't put up with him.
Lawyer came in again that evening, but he seemed to be deliberately struggling with his books. He was putting on a right show. I need to point out that this box of books could not have been heavy. The box itself was only the length of a sheet of paper. I didn't say a word and let him carry on.
This week
He arrived for his class, complete with his box of books. I mumbled a faint hello as he walked through the doors (he wasn't struggling this time).
Lawyer: You've been nothing but consistently rude to me for a month! I guess that's why you're stuck behind a desk while I teach law!
He went to push open the doors that led to his classroom.
He pushed, and he pushed, and he pushed. No luck. He couldn't get through. He turned to face me, with his eyebrows raised in an impatient way.
Me: That's a pull door.
His face went RED.
Me: Don't you DARE talk down to me when you can't even figure out how to open a door.
He pulled the door open and disappeared down the corridor.
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