Time for the Eleven Plus

Dear Mum

One of my friends asked me at school on Friday why I wanted to do the Eleven Plus examinations. All of my friends are going bowling on Saturday morning. I know I have to do my Eleven Plus work. I started wondering why I wanted to do the Eleven Plus. I know that you and Dad really want me to pass – but sometimes I am not so sure.

Your son

William

************************************

Dear William

We want you to do as well as you can. For the rest of your life you will find that there are advantages in passing the Eleven Plus examination.

1. You will be able to say that you passed the Eleven Plus. This means that you were able to do better than other children of your age in a competitive examination.

2. You will be able to win a place in a grammar school. Grammar school boys usually do well in examinations and should be able to win places in good universities.

3. You will be able to study in a pleasant atmosphere. The other boys will want to study. There should be very little messing around in the classroom.

Just keep doing your best. There is plenty of time for bowling.

Love Mum

************************************

Dear Mum

1. I know you are right. I really like doing the Eleven Plus work when I am sitting doing the work. I just don’t like to have to give up time when my friends are having fun.

2. The books and papers we are doing are boring. They are all the same. I just keep doing verbal reasoning and non verbal reasoning papers. I wish I could do something else.

Your son

William

************************************

Dear Son

There are some disadvantages to the Eleven Plus.

1. You will leave a good many of your friends behind. I know you will make new friends in the grammar school, but the boys you grew up with will be your friends for ever.

2. You may prefer to be top of the `other’ school rather than have to keep working hard at grammar.

3. The grammar school you want to go to does not play football. They only play rugby. You will have to play your football out of school.

Your Dad

************************************

Dear Dad

Thank you very much. I don’t really believe everything you have said. But thank you for trying. I know that you really do want me to go to grammar and you were only trying to be fair.

I will tell my friends that I can go almost any time except on a Saturday morning.

Thanks Mum. Thanks Dad.

Your son

William.

************************************