My school

Everybody knows that there are two main things and places people come back to when they are under 17. They are our home and school where we studied. My school №1 is Krylova Street that is not far from the centre of the city and from my house. Usually I walk to school whether the weather is marvelous or dull and never take a bus or a trolley-bus cause it is within only five minutes’ walk from my house. And if you would like to get acquainted more closely with our school life which I’m sure you have hardly heard much about, I shall be only too glad to help you get a better understanding of it. Though of course I can’t say that our school has attracted world-wide attention and there are no foreigners who attend this school but as every educational establishment it has its own advantages and disadvantages.

The leaders of our school are anxious about providing their children with basic all-round knowledge. That question has always been a matter of great importance in our school. This school places emphasis both on straight intellectual growth, that is to give every child a ten-year secondary education, thus providing children with an adequate basis of general education including the computer science, and recognizes the approach to “life adjustment”. It means that our school prepares pupils for life not them to enter life or arrive at higher school with a string of “fours” and “fives” on their matriculation and to suffer a rude shock when they were asked to do simple things.

The compulsory eight-year school provides children with basic well-round and political knowledge, gives them moral and Physical education, and teaches them to love labor so that, on school leaving (at the age of 15 or 16) they may be drawn into socially useful labor. But that doesn’t mean that they’ll have to give up their desire to continue their education. By no means no! Every opportunity will be created for the young people to go on with their studies.

Our school gives its pupils the so called “polytechnization” programme. Under that we mean a manual and technical training which the school gives to children from the first day of their studies. They start by modeling and sewing, cooking and repairing, and by the time they finish school they are capable of repairing simple electrical equipment, cooking food, washing and the like. The school teaches us how to apply ourselves, how to think, work and study, you see. There are shops and laboratories to work in, well equipped electrical and chemistry laboratories, computer classes. There are no short cut to education, it’s obtained only by hard work.

The school I would like would have a swimming-pool. Unfortunately there is no one in our school. The playgrounds would be separate, one for young children and the other for the senior forms. There is no sports ground behind the school but there are many trees and bushes around it. In autumn and late spring we were engaged in subbotniks. The classrooms are light and clean, spacious and cosy, but I would like them to have carpets instead of linoleum. The chairs would have cushions. There is a computer class there but I’d love there would be a computer for every table in the classroom and video for each classroom. There are maps and portraits, pictures and tables on the walls. On the ground floor there are the classrooms, the big dining-room, the cloak-room. I’d love the school meals would have delicious, the restaurant quality food every day for a reasonable price. And the tests would be easier for children.

The school library is rather decent. I took books in it. Most pupils have a desire to learn, they seek knowledge. Books satisfy the desire. I know the rules for the readers. We should be careful with the books and should not make any notes in the books, lose and damage them. Libraries play a very important role in the cultural development of every country. We can find all kinds of books in the libraries: novels, biographies, short stories, poems, books on traveling, technical books, history books, textbooks, magazines, scientific journals, books for children and others. We also can take periodicals, newspaper files. Readers come to reading rooms to study and prepare material for their reports or for their scientific work. There are also books in foreign languages.

I was one of those at the top of the class. I have a good head for Mathematics (Maths), Literature and the English language and I learned with ease. I am quick and I’d like to go a long way. I hunger for knowledge. But I feel sure that a success will never go to my head. I’ve got a good memory and I don’t seem to be able to recall the moment I gave myself airs. I am fond of books and spend a great deal of money on them. Books are a great delight to me. Reading is a great resource in my free time and illness. And I‘m particular to whom I give my books. My favourite subjects are Mathematics (Maths), English, History and … .

On the third floor there are special classrooms for chemistry, Physics, Biology, History, Geography, foreign languages and Russian. There is a big assemble hall there too. A lot of meetings, concerts, festivals are held there.

I had a lot of friends in my class. We got ready for the lessons and exams together, went to the sports sections. On the weekends we went to the cinema, to the concerts and city festivals, took part in our school public activities. We helped each other and I couldn’t imagine my life without my school, my teachers and friends. Now I’m seeking admission to the University this year. I am in the know there’s going to be a stiff competition and I attended preparatory courses. I’m interested in economics. The lecturers simply carried away the audience. I like the way they delivered lectures. The exams are coming. One can’t help being excited.

Frankly speaking, I felt quite happy at school and studied with pleasure. I am sure that school years are the best time in the life of people and school friends are the most true friends. The school teachers are both strict and kind, well-informed people and of quite a bright personality, they appreciate their work and take interest in children. We respect them sincerely. I no longer go to school and my parents no longer check with the tutor about me. There doesn’t go the bell but I hope it’ll go for us at the Universities. I’ll use my brains and do my best not to be refused admission this year. The exams are expected to be stiff and competitive.