francene--blog. Year 2013
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Nov 11th

11/11/2013

 
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Detention sheets describing Beatle John Lennon's schoolboy misdemeanors are being put up for sale. Online bidding for the detention sheets and other items of Beatles memorabilia starts at TrackAuction.com on 22 November. Last month, a black knitted tie, given to a fan by John Lennon, has sold for more than £3,000 at an auction in Liverpool.

Teachers from Liverpool's Quarry Bank High School for Boys in the UK wrote that 15-year-old Lennon was punished for fighting in class and sabotage. The documents reveal that on two occasions Lennon received three detentions in one day. Other reasons given by his teachers for punishment include nuisance, shoving and just no interest whatsoever.


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I can empathize with this. Schoolwork didn't interest me in the slightest. I couldn't wait to escape. My son acted the same in class in the 60s and 70s too. A test revealed he had a very high IQ. So let that be a lesson to us all. Some bad behavior is a sign of lurking genius. Not all, of course.

The two school documents from 1955 were rescued by a teacher in the 1970s. He had been told to burn all of the books in a storage room at the school ready for a new teacher. He noticed the name on several pages and tore them out as keepsakes, later giving away several sheets. Some were also destroyed in a chemical accident. But the few sheets he kept will be offered for sale and expected to be sold for up to £3,000 each at auction. The very messy sheets have been authenticated by Lennon's close school friend, Pete Shotton, who wrote a book John Lennon: In My Life. See more on the Lennon auction here.


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Lennon went on to meet Paul McCartney in 1957 and together they formed the Beatles, who had their first hit in late 1962 with the song Love Me Do. That kick-started a career which brought fame and fortune and songs that have influenced generations of musicians since. Sadly, Lennon's career ended at the age of 40, when he was shot dead outside his New York apartment on 8 December 1980.

Same thing happened to my son, who died at a similar age after an accident. I read books about palmistry when he was a teenager. When I looked at his life-line, I was staggered to see it came to an abrupt end half way along his palm. This shocked me at first, but then I came to the conclusion that I must be wrong. Sadly, this was not the case. Perhaps some people are predestined to die early. But that's another subject, and I have no blinding conclusions to make. One thing I can pass on, though. Believe in your unruly children. Love them no matter what heartache they put you through. This is the memory you will cherish.


Kama link
11/11/2013 02:43:15 am

Thank you so much for this post. For the words and the sharing. I also have 2 highly intelligent boys who really didn't fit in to the school mold. It became clear to me observing them that they were bored and unable to use their minds at school in a way that was natural to them. My oldest son was excellent at maths but was told he had to work out problems the schools way. He found that to be boring and as a result would fidget. Always asking me why the school wouldn't allow him to think his way, I could never give him an answer to explain it. I wish school would cater for the non A4 children. Such an important subject. I am sorry for the loss of your son x

Francene Stanley link
11/11/2013 05:53:21 pm

Kama, I sympathize with you. Best to encourage your sons any way you can when they're at home. School teaches them to work alongside their peers, which is good too, I guess.

Suerae Stein link
11/11/2013 05:23:18 am

Your message is clear, Francene, and one that we all should be reminded of. Some children are so brilliant that they don't fit in at school. Schools like to main-stream kids and make them fit in a certain mold. If they don't fit the mold, then they can become frustrated, bored, or misunderstood, which certainly can cause them to lash out.

I have a problem with people selling his private records. I think school records should be kept private and no one should be making money off of something like this.

I am so very sorry for the loss of your son.

Francene Stanley link
11/11/2013 05:55:17 pm

Very astute comments, Suerae. I guess the papers should have been burned, but then we wouldn't have learned the lesson about school behavior.

Alana link
11/11/2013 06:15:48 am

What an important lesson. I've tweeted it. My son also was fidgety in the classroom and chose not to go to college. He is talented with his hands. In New York State ,there are few places in the modern classroom for students like that.

Francene Stanley link
11/11/2013 05:59:16 pm

I'm glad your son has carved out his own niche. That's important. With the proper encouragement, there's a part for everyone to play in this world.


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    Author

    Francene Stanley, author of many published novels. If you like my writing, why not consider purchasing one of my books? You'll see them on the sidebar below.
    Born in Australia, I moved to Britain half way through my long life.

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