Rose’s Tale:: The Strap, the Wooden Compass – The Endless Abuse at School

by Gaynor Jones

This is my mom's story of her abuse at the hands of teachers in England during the 1940s and 1950s. The reason for it because the teachers didn't like how she dressed, looked. She grew up poor.

109 pages, Paperback

Published August 18, 2019

About the author

Author Gaynor Jones is a married, mother of two children, who graduated in 2018 with honours from a Law Clerk program. She has written a non-fiction memoir about her mother's abuse at school in England due to Rose being poor. The title is Rose's Tale: The Strap, The Wooden Compass, The Endless Abuse at School. Her mother Rose's health has deteriorated, so Gaynor wants the world to know the abuse children suffered through while growing up in England in the 1940s and 1950s by their teachers. Gaynor has diplomas as a Law Clerk, and an Office Administrator Executive Secretary where she worked for years through her provincial government. Her hobbies include cooking, baking, gardening. Her interests include playing with her two guinea pigs, Reese, and Marble. The Author was born near Liverpool, England and came to Canada as a young girl settling in Brantford, Ontario. Her passion has always been writing. During her school years she excelled in writing class. She is passionate about telling stories that have never been told before. Gaynor has also finished writing a book based on her daughter Abigail (Abby). Abby has been an air cadet from the ages of 12-18 years. Gaynor is hoping that those youth under 12-years-old will be interested in her book, love what the air cadets have to offer, and join. The story is called Gabby's Journey-The Making of a Canadian Air Cadet Pilot. Gaynor was a book nerd growing up. Her favourite books were the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series. Even in high school, Gaynor's nose would always be in a book.

Reviews

[Sarah P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Rose’s Tale: The Strap – The Wooden Compass – The Endless Abuse at School" is a detailed memoir that portrays the tale of Rose, a young girl who lived in England in the 1940s+. The book is written by her daughter, Gaynor Jones. It depicts Rose's family life and the many ups and downs they faced together. Poverty is the main source of anguish for England, and her family at that time, but they still remain close-knit. Going to school as a child was a stressful experience for little Rose. She is often disliked, humiliated and physically abused by her teachers because she came from a low-income family. Rose has a very unhappy school life.

The book gives descriptive accounts of these types of abuse, so readers be advised, especially if you would like to read it, but instances of child abuse may be a trigger for you. The book also depicts Rose's ordeals as a teenager and a young adult, especially in the world of work and dating. It even offers hope. Even though Rose went through a lot in her childhood years, her relationship and marriage to Glynn offers them the opportunity for a fresh start, and the chance to start a family of their own.

Rose's story is very emotional and compelling. If you cry easily, then this memoir will definitely bring on the waterworks for sure. In my opinion, it's appropriate for older teens (ages thirteen and above), and adults of course. It's a quick read (at least, it was for me), and it's very engaging, sincere and heartfelt. This book has taught me that growing up in England, during the 1940s and beyond, was challenging for a lot of low-income families. I'm happy that despite the many hardships in her childhood, Rose overcame those challenges and went on to embrace happier life experiences in the end. This memoir is an obvious 5 out of 5 on the rating scale. Great book overall.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is pretty short and doesn't have a lot going on. Rose talks about her abuse she suffered as a child in the 40s and 50s in England. She gets left out of a lot of classes she wants to take because she comes from a poor family. It's sad that these kids who were abused never told anyone, not even their siblings, so Rose didn't know much about her sibling's experience with school and these teachers.
The book swiftly moves through the years and continues telling of her life after grade school and her emigration to Canada.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This an emotionally charged story about how a poor child was abused so horrifically. Everything she did or wore was never good enough for the teachers. I was heartbroken and cried several times while reading this. It comments on how powerful the teachers were and what they got away with as "education" and society in general in the 40s and 50s in England. It is a story that will stay with you long after the last page is turned. It is not for the faint hearted. I can't recommend it highly enough. I received a free copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving my review.

[kennedy Omondi Odindo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a brief memoir in which a woman opens up about her unfortunate childhood, growing up during the war, her marriage, her family, and the consequences of child abuse in adulthood.

I am glad Gaynor takes a step back during the narration of this emotional story, allowing the readers to hear directly from the horse's mouth—Gaynor's mother, Rose. Readers hear from Rose as if they are in the room with her listening to her narrate her ordeal.

Rose's Tale, told in the present tense, evokes the Second World War era, when the government rationed food, required citizens to have bomb shelters, and provided gas masks.

However, the book is too short.

A must-read for fans of memoirs and coming-of-age stories.