MovieChat Forums > To Sir, with Love (1967) Discussion > Their ages

Their ages

posted 17 years ago by jones-95
14 replies | jump to latest

Even as a young girl watching this movie, I was always confused about their ages. The students are clearly about to graduate making them 17 / 18. And, all of Sir's teachings are about how they are about to become adults and enter teh real world. BUT, he also says thing like: soon you'll be interested in girls and very soon your main concern will be boys and marriage.

If they're already 18 -- they would have been interested in the opposite sex for years.

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There is no place I know to compare with pure imagination. -- willy wonka, 1971

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] BtVSP3 17 years ago

At first I thought LuLu was a teacher. She seemed way too old to be playing a 17/18 year old.

[–] JoChatting 17 years ago

Lulu was 18 at the time of making the movie

[–] planetmutty 11 years ago

Yes, I didn't think her age was too big an issue. Judy Geeson looked pretty young in this I thought. The ages weren't as bad as, say, the entire cast of Grease (Stockard Channing was in her 30s when it was made), or Barbra Streisand playing a middle-aged Dolly Levi at the age of 24.

When I said I wanted to be a comedian, they all laughed at me. Well, they're not laughing now!

[–] rickharover 17 years ago

I think it was to make the point to the world (at the time) that the old people (that is, teachers) had no clue as to what was really on the kids' minds. Of course, we all know that 17 and 18 year olds have an interest in the opposite sex, but remember, in 1967, it was still pretty hush-hush as to how far anyone would go. The Summer of Love was something that was mostly on the California Coast, not in mainstream America.

vch

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] lroy77 14 years ago

And the fact that Sir was probably in his early-mid 30's make the kids seem even older.

That may explain the terrible dancing.

[–] reubenthetadpole 17 years ago

Students in the UK graduate at 16.

Those of you who think you know everything are annoying to those of us who do.-David Brent

[–] Blocoboy 17 years ago

The school leaving age at the time the film was set in was 15..It was not raised to 16 years until 1971.

[–] lroy77 14 years ago

That's awfully young, that's like a sophomore in high school.

Still, I'm assuming since they were poor the children (as in previous generations) pretty much were expected to leave school at earliest opportunity and help support the family unit.

I can't see anyone of them going to university (college) the following term. Some of them may have been smart enough (certainly Pamela Dare) but either couldn't afford it, or again had to support family.

A side note-Brits as a rule do not use nicknames as in Pamela not "Pam" or Barbara, not "Barb" or "Babs" except by the most intimate relations.

[–] jones-95 17 years ago

THANK YOU! That makes much more sense to me now!

my two cents--

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[–] rao-4 16 years ago

It's not a graduation age. That's the age when they can legally leave school after taking their GCSEs and look for work. The ones who get an advanced diploma, or A-levels, stay on until they're 18.

Dreaming is nice, but it's time to stop dreaming and start doing.

[–] dam88 15 years ago

Im sure many people realise, these kids DIDNT 'graduate' they just left school as soon as they were leagally allowed. Back then it was normal for many children especially in poorer areas to leave school and not take any exams (CSE and O level then) at 15 and go straight into work as these children appear to do.

[–] raf-33 11 years ago

British kids don't graduate, we just have to stay in education until 16, it's mandatory, after 16 everything is voluntary.

Here in Scotland that would put you in your 4th year of high school which is the first serious exam year, so you then have 3 choices...

1.) Drop out there and then at 16 with zero qualifications and attempt to find a job, usually after realising that every job requires qualifications and that the government would really like you to be in gainful employment most boys will be sent on a mechanic's course and most girls will be sent on a beauticians course. A few years down the line you'll see them in a fast food restaurant behind the counter anyway.

2.) Finish 4th year and sit your exams, that way you will have a decent chance of finding a job or depending on your exam results, you will have a selection of college courses to extend your qualifications.

3.) Stay on for 5th year or both 5th and 6th year doing higher studies and if you have what it takes you can then walk in to a University of your choice to study something fascinating yet useless like roman history or knee medicine.