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? The contrast that is created at the beginning of the story is that which is juxtaposed with the true reality. The authors intensions and thoughts of school is to learn what he wants to learn when in reality it is to be obedient and to learn what is being taught. 

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? He describes the North Shore as being very different based on location. There is areas which are full of leafy green trees and solid brick houses which he doesn't like. But his whole world revolves around the shop and the backlane

3. What was the father’s background in business before he opened the fruit shop? What has helped him become successful? The fathers background in business was non-existent, he had no background when he moved to Australia. To overcome this he used his personality and greeted all customer with a wide smile, was very friendly and talkative.

4. The narrator’s description of his father is complex. What makes the father a complex character? The narrator's description of the father is very complex because the father has many different aspects about him. He is a very happy, friendly man who strives to make people feel welcome in his shop. He also is a very hard worker, and the fact that he came to Australia with no English skills or business skills either

5. (91) How does the author describe his role in doing ‘things that counted’? His purpose within the family was to listen and watch what his siblings had to say about school in order to learn for himself what is acceptable and what isn't within schooling life. 

6. What experience does the author have at school while keeping to himself? What does he learn from this experience? The author's experience while keeping to himself was very bad. while he was at school a group of boys came up to him and started being mean to him because he was quiet so now he was learnt not to be quiet and afraid

7. How would you characterise the narrator’s tone in regards to the events that are occurring around him? The authors tone in regards to the events that have occured around him are very straight forward. he is seeing the world in just his view and it gives the story a negative feel

8. How does the narrator characterise the ways that one could ‘get the strap’ and ways that one could avoid it? The narrator characterises the way that one could 'get the strap' as being very easy to get and very hard to avoid it. Simple things that happen daily would get the strap such as getting an answer wrong, walking to fast or to slow or other things like that. There was very few ways to avoid the strap.

9. What event evokes a racist speech to the class by the teacher? He could not go to the swimming carnival because he couldn't swim so his sister wrote a note and the teacher read it out aloud to the class and said "we all know these chinese people never contribute to anything".

10. What effect did the author’s experience with ‘Strap Happy Jack’ have on him?It made him think about the minority of the chinese people in the area and the fact that racist comments like "chinese people never contribute" not meaning much and having little effect on the population.

11. What was the one advantage school provided the author? One advantage that the school provided the author was in high school when his teachers started to recognize him and the talents that he had

12. What did the author do at his school? What was his motivation for doing it? What did he feel was lacking at school? The author started a workshop program, he did this because it was something that interested him and was something that he enjoyed doing. He was motivated to do the workshop because enjoyed it and he felt that the school was lacking the ability for him to choose his own future.

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 be a specific profession, such as a doctor. The author feared that he would end up having to follow a path that was based on what his mother wanted him to do, If he followed what his parents wanted him to do he would miss the opportunity to learn what he wants.

14. At school, what did the author learn about his own type of thinking and how to use it? He learnt, by being at school, that his own type of thinking is very different to the next persons and that he has to follow his style in order to use it to its full potential.