Lessons from my School Years by Ray Wing-Lun

1. There is a stark contrast created in the opening of this story between what the narrator had been doing before entering school and what will be expected at school? What is this contrast and what does it immediately create in the story?
Before he started school he played in the sand pit and kicked stones , this is contrasted with what he is expected to do in school which is sit on the bench and do what he's told.

2. The author continues this theme of contrast at the start of the story. How does he do this in his description of his experience of Sydney’s North Shore?
The contrast between his families clean and tidy fruit shop and the b hoack streets and hard brick houses.

3. What was the father’s background in business before he opened the fruit shop? What has helped him become successful?
When he came to Australia he had no business experience and now he is an experienced businessman who draws the customers in with his wide smile.

4. The narrator’s description of his father is complex. What makes the father a complex character?
He has a very wide array of interests and personalities.

5. (91) How does the author describe his role in doing ‘things that counted’?.
He defended himself against a bully, He made friends with people and they had play fights behind his parents shop.

6. What experience does the author have at school while keeping to himself? What does he learn from this experience?
A bully comes and bashes him, he defends himself and he knows he can look after himself.

7. How would you characterise the narrator’s tone in regards to the events that are occurring around him?
Tough

8. How does the narrator characterise the ways that one could ‘get the strap’ and ways that one could avoid it?
Any thing you did wrong you would get the strap, anything like walking to fast or getting a question wrong, and there wasn't much you could do to not get the strap.

9. What event evokes a racist speech to the class by the teacher?
The boy can't swim and his sisters write a note to ask him to be excused from the carnival.

10. What effect did the author’s experience with ‘Strap Happy Jack’ have on him?
It affects him greatly. He became very lonely and all that mattered to him became a bad dream.

11. What was the one advantage school provided the author?
He was able to cope better after the strapping experience and once he became popular in high school.

12. What did the author do at his school? What was his motivation for doing it? What did he feel was lacking at school?
He did every thing he could to try and please his mum who wanted him to become a doctor. He felt a lack of purpose was present at school.

13. What did the parents want their son to do at school? What did the author fear would happen by obeying his parents?
His parents wanted him to do really well and become a doctor. He didn't want to become a doctor, he didn't like the the sight of blood.

14. At school, what did the author learn about his own type of thinking and how to use it?
He decided to use his skills and he started a workshop. He learned how satisfying it was to care about what happens to other people.