My Educational Background

I've touched upon my educational background in my previous post. 

So here I'll expand on it to show where I'm coming from.

I went to a non-denominational state primary school and loved it there. At eleven, I, like my brother before me ( Westminster City Grammar School) was due to go to a non-denominational state grammar (Godolphin and Latymer) which I was really excited about. I enjoyed my interview there and found the teachers really encouraging and positive and couldn't wait to start. That wasn't all I was excited about. I was given a scholarship, on the strength of my exam result, to the RCM Junior school to study piano. My father bought me a new piano for the occasion.🎹❤ He was one awesome father! ❤️🙂Life was good. I was happy. That was until Rev. J. Lang stuck his nose in and somehow persuaded my mother to send me to a fee paying convent school that was positive towards Jews. I remember standing outside Velehrad and listening with horror 😱 at what he was saying. Looking at my mother I saw her face. She was not impressed! She was annoyed. Anyway, I ended up going there even though we couldn't afford it. Not only was I deprived of a good school (G&L) but also my RCM place evaporated because Labour came to power and now if you attended a private school you apparently couldn't take up a free place at the RCM and other such-like institutions. Paying for the place was out of the question on top of school fees and extras like sports equipment, science and art overalls and so on. I was distraught. So I continued attending Czech school on Saturdays whilst imagining myself at the RCM instead. I doubt I took anything in!

I enjoyed the (first) convent school especially since I was in the choir, as I had been in the primary school. We entered competitions and cut a record. And best of all we had fun. More fun than was allowed! I didn't know anything about nuns before I went there but they were sweet enough and religion wasn't overdone. In fact, I have trouble remembering any RE lessons in that school or the next convent school which was focused on the academic, more sporty (healthy mind in healthy body was the motto of the headmistress and indeed, I spent many a lunch time on the hockey pitch) very strict and far less fun. But on the upside, religion wasn't something that was shoved down your neck. We had 'retreats' once a year which I, and the other girls, enjoyed because it meant no lessons and a chance of a sneaky nap or two. There were nuns who taught there but there were also many lay teachers.

Both my father and maternal grandmother were staunchly opposed to my attending convent schools and seriously concerned I could become religious or, worse still, a nun! 😱 I didn't enjoy this second convent school which I had to switch to because the first one was becoming a comprehensive and would be even further away from home, and liked it even less when: first, there was no choir and second, I couldn't study Botany at A level simply because I was the only student who wanted to study it. This was despite the fact that there was a willing and able teacher to undertake it. After all, I'd just studied Russian as the only student simply because a member of staff could teach it. So what was the difference? My mother was very good and didn't bat an eyelid that I was learning Russian. She never foisted any of her dislikes onto us. She refused to help me with German which confused me because her Czech was peppered with German sounding words. I later discovered that these words were Yiddish. I thought all Czechs spoke like that. However, I noticed that neither my mother nor my father used these words in public, only at home with family. Children just accept stuff like this without thinking too hard. Interestingly enough, the second convent school did not offer O Level or A Level Religious Studies. That was a relief!

When my uni application went pear-shaped I wondered what to do next. My brother, Josef, had gone to London University to study Physics (Honours) but it didn't go well even though he was very good at science. In my view (and my mother's) he spent too much time at Velehrad wasting time instead of studying. However, he wrote some excellent poetry during this time and later. Since his death, anything my brother, Josef Kaucky, wrote, made or created (e.g. Whatever he wrote, made, drew, photographed) is now under my copyright and I reserve all my rights to his works. So for those to whom he generously gave copies please do not use them in any way (e.g. for profit or not for profit, for distribution or publication of any kind). This is equally true of my works (e.g. written, photography or my artwork) - I reserve all my rights and do not give permission to anyone to use my works in any way, other than my daughter, Liba Kaucky.

Anyway, uni didn't sound that great but I wanted to do further study. As luck would have it, I went for my usual weekly walk with my mother and we happened to go past a college or two. I popped in for a prospectus. I liked the grounds. Well, that's a good enough reason to like somewhere! I applied and started in September. It was a teacher training college (London University) which suited me because I had already been teaching on Saturdays for the past three and a half years. It also so happened that it was, yet again, a Catholic institution but I was no more religious after attending two convent schools than I had been beforehand. At least there'd be no more commuting. My dilemma was which subject to choose. I was going to put myself down for secondary teaching so was restricted to only shortage subjects. Education theory was compulsory for all. So it was a combined degree (B.Ed). In the end, I thought that if I put myself down to do RE I'd get in more easily but adjusted it to RE/English. I was accepted for both and then could choose. Well in theory I could. In practice, the RE department wouldn't let me go without a fight. So I stayed. I've always regretted the decision to allow myself to be 'persuaded' to do the wrong subject. Although not entirely, because I chose English (with drama modules) for my second teaching subject so put it to rights, somewhat. I then backed this up in my MA (Education, Surrey University) later on, when I chose  English Literature as an option.

They say uni days are the best years of your life and that was true for me here. I made friends with a number of girls and we went around with each other. I had a blast. Again religion wasn't much of a feature. The head of my department wasn't religious although he was a priest, I think. Well you'd never know it! He complained bitterly if he was expected to say mass. The nun in the department had been kicked out of one uni (Oxford?) half way through her PhD and had to go to another (Heythrop?). But she made amazing punch and threw great parties at her place.

She was not the only nun who put a capital F in the word fun. There was my tutor in education for the secondary school group. She took fun to another level! They don't make them like her! It was fun all the way! One of my friends was also a nun but she'd go to the pub in clothes that even I raised an eyebrow at! Not out of disapproval, you understand, merely out of concern! It was the strategically placed rips in the jeans that worried me! I felt a duty to go with her to protect her but she was having none of it! And that's not counting the nun who confided in me that she was leaving the Order to marry a priest, who was therefore also going to have to leave the priesthood!

The college gave us a great deal of freedom and all the staff were friendly, approachable and supportive. Students could drop in and chat to them at any time. This was true even of the Principal. If her green light was on outside her door, you could knock and enter for a chat about something you felt was important. No need for constant appointments. These were more for one-to-one tutorials which, I think, are the only tutorials worth having. Students need the challenge of defending their work to a lecturer who is an expert in the area. We had fun but we worked hard too on top of having to undertake teaching practice in schools.

I also had a fantastic personal tutor who was in History and the offer was always there should I want to do another subject other than RE. I chose History as my third teaching subject because of him. Just for fun I also attended Science teaching for Middle School because I had wanted to study Botany (or English) at Uni. So this was the next best thing. Ideally, what I had wanted to do was to become a pianist with teaching music at secondary level as a back-up plan.

After becoming fully qualified as a teacher I returned to study. I wasn't enjoying teaching and wanted to gain further qualifications and lecture. Rev. J. Lang suggested Heythrop (London University) which was Jesuit run but, since he was a Jesuit, I didn't really think of it as a problem and, besides, I knew how to cope in Catholic institutions without it having a religious effect on me. Rev. J. Lang promised to fund me. The fund never materialised. The academic registrar worked wonders and somehow found funds for me so I could continue the degree. This was very sweet. I appreciated it. Apparently, my work was of a high standard so a decision was made to give me the opportunity to continue my degree. Thank you, Heythrop!  Many found the BD too difficut. I didn't because my combined degree had been demanding. My free time was spent playing golf with my boyfriend and badminton at lunch time with a female friend at Heythrop. The golf caused me back problems which were so severe I had to postpone my finals to the following year (during which time I did not attend Heythrop, I merely turned up for the exams based on the three years f/t BD course I had undertaken) because I couldn't sit for long periods of time and each exam lasted 3 hours, and there were something like 9 papers in 2 working weeks. I only took my finals that one time! Which obviously means, no retakes! Still, I learned a great deal and built on my previous degree. I had undertaken a dissertation (with viva) on the Old Testament so now I deepened my knowledge as well as learned Biblical Hebrew. New Testament Greek classes were easier for me because I had attended Theology conferences at Oxford every summer during my first degree. However, when it came to BD options I chose, Philosophy of Religion, History of Religion (19th century which included Darwin) and Schleiermacher (philosopher/theologian). At no point did I feel that I had to subscribe to some dogma or creed. It was very much an academic environment boasting a fantastic library. The lecturers I had were all excellent and one to one tutorials were challenging and highly enjoyable.

I returned to teaching and studied part time at the Institute Of Education (London University) for an MA in RE. Edwin Cox was one of the lecturers. He was famous in this subject and very old-fashioned but loved my style of writing, wished he could write like that except, he added, maybe I should read more of the books set. He was right. I was exhausted from teaching 6 days a week so I cut corners. Something my daughter never does. At uni she read the set reading and then some. After my first tutorial with him he asked me to play a round of golf with him. You never know when stuff you learn may come in handy!

Unfortunately, I didn't complete the degree because I had my daughter half way through the course and the only time I could find to study was after 10pm and through the night. Since she was born at the start of the academic year it meant I was in no condition to attend lectures for a few weeks. It was a nightmare birth! So, I sadly and very reluctantly gave up the MA but the following academic year I started another MA which I did complete. Neither of the two institutions at which I studied my MA's were Catholic!

Despite this, Catholic schools seemed more keen on me. Although, there were exceptions which was great because it meant it became 50/50. I preferred secular schools because World Religions were taken more seriously which meant  I even had the opportunity to teach Hinduism and Philosophy at A Level.  Nevertheless, overall, I didn't enjoy teaching R S unless I was able to teach World Religions, Philosophy and discuss modern day problems and issues and their relationship to religion e.g. FGM. It was much better when, as a Head of Department, I could write the syllabus! But, by and large, I much preferred teaching English with Drama. Although I loved being Head of Music at a comprehensive school on the strength of teaching music on Saturday's for so many years! 🎹🎶🎵🎶🎵

After my MA, I, once again, returned to teaching but also lined up a PhD in Education. I even had a school at the ready that would let me undertake research there. It never happened. I had to give up my job which had been enjoyable because I taught across a wider age range and my daughter had to leave school at which she had made friends. So I ended up being stuck at home educating my daughter. And she ended up stuck with me! I think she has already mentioned, on one of her blogs (see here for footnote** in that post) that this wasn't my idea and one that I strongly fought against! I think she found the change easier than I did. I am not an advocate of home education. Even though I did enjoy teaching her. She was and remains incredibly rewarding to teach. And on the plus side, home education created a strong mother/daughter bond between us that has remained to this day. ❤😘 We have no secrets!❤

However, I did return to teaching (as a supply teacher) for a while and carried on home education simultaneously. By then my daughter was a teenager and self-sufficient. But I found it tiring because it's erratic work which is fine if you have access to a car and don't also home teach.

Looking back, I think what a mess. A mess that was unnecessarily set off by one interfering priest. It's frightening to think how your life can take a turn, usually for the worse, if you allow any level of interference, no matter how big or small!

As can be seen, teaching wasn't a career I chose. It was just something that came easily so I did it. But it's never worth settling for something. If you really want to do something, do it regardless. Don't let others steer your path. Or pressure you!

Given the above, you could be forgiven for thinking I am an ardent Catholic but you'd be wrong. It's easy to look at a list of institutions someone has been to and subjects studied and/or taught then make huge assumptions about that person without knowing them. I'd promised my father (and my grandmother) that I wouldn't become religious and I kept that promise. Besides, I think it's time Jews were allowed to be who they are without fear just as gay people should be free to be who they are and love whomever they love without fear or interference from others! Love is beautiful whether you're gay or straight.❤🌈

Author: Jana Kaucky

Proofread, edited and IT: Liba Kaucky