Lessons from my School Years by Ray Wing-Lun

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?

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?

3. What was the father’s background in business before he opened the fruit shop? What has helped him become successful?

4. The narrator’s description of his father is complex. What makes the father a complex character?

5. (91) How does the author describe his role in doing ‘things that counted’?

6. What experience does the author have at school while keeping to himself? What does he learn from this experience?

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

8. How does the narrator characterise the ways that one could ‘get the strap’ and ways that one could avoid it?

9. What event evokes a racist speech to the class by the teacher?

10. What effect did the author’s experience with ‘Strap Happy Jack’ have on him?

11. What was the one advantage school provided the author?

12. What did the author do at his school? What was his motivation for doing it? What did he feel was lacking 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?

14. At school, what did the author learn about his own type of thinking and how to use it?