| Description | An interview with Liz SKELCHER, a single woman with no children, who is a School pupil, born in Birmingham and now living in Birmingham. Liz SKELCHER’s father was a Lecturer, born in England and her mother a Personnel Director born in England. In the interview, she talks about …
'LIZ SKELCHER MS2255/2/100 Logged by Lorraine Blakemore
01
I was born in Birmingham at my parent’s house. I had a home birth….in 1985…
44” All her friends were born in hospital.
02
My parents were married until I was 2 then they got a divorce and my mum moved out….Parent’s occupation.
03
Mother’s background.
04
My mum lives in a 4 bedroomed Victorian house….Describes her room and the environment.
42” Discusses musical tastes.
05
When I was younger I didn’t have a video player or mobile phone or computer….I got a CD player for my 9th birthday…about 2 or 3 years ago my mum bought a PC and then we got on the internet…and then invested in digital TV….Last Christmas my brother bought me a mobile phone…now people text message each other….now there’s this scare about it frying your brain….
1.59 I remember my dad’s girlfriend getting a mobile phone when I was 10 and they were really big with a big aerial…they were very expensive…over the past 4 years everyone has mobile phones…
2.33 We use text messaging to send short messages to each other…they are quite discreet and no-one else knows what you are typing…
06
When we got the internet in 1997 it took me a good 6 months to figure out how to work the thing and to understand what email was….Explains how it is important to recognise shorthand codes.
1.14 I remember before I had a TV in my room, the whole family used to sit in the living room and watch TV…we were very close-knit….
07
Try to meet up for meals as a family. During holidays not so regularly.
1.08 Has family in London and spends time there during holidays.
1.52 From this year will have an allowance.
08
Discusses some of the difficulties in forming friendships at school.
09
I used to get angry when I watched TV and they showed a mum and a dad, not a mum and a mum….why there wasn’t alternative families….Mum used to have parties and the house would be full….
10
I didn’t want to tell people about mum being gay at school….because I didn’t want it to be an issue or cause a barrier in any of my friendships…I used to wonder why people didn’t like me because of what my mum was…now I don’t need them in my life.
11
Story about friend getting beaten up at school because his mother is a lesbian.
58” Social events out of school.
1.28 I tend to go down Hurst Street to the gay bars in town because a lot of my friends are gay….it’s really good fun…most of them are 16 or 17…
12
Friend’s siblings are in a band so she follows their progress. Elaborates on musical tastes.
13
Has played the flute since she was 10 and was part of a theatre group.
42” More recently I’ve been involved in talking at conferences at Birmingham University on democracy and citizenship….
1.58 Notions of democracy in school through a school council.
14
Views on politics.
15
I started at Wheeler’s Lane Nursery School when I was 3….I stayed at Wheeler’s Lane School until I was 11….I didn’t want to leave to go to secondary school at all…and 5 years later I can’t wait to get out and start college…
16
I go to Swanshurst Secondary School in Billesley…Describes how the school system operates.
52” There’s quite a mixed racial background in my school, but that’s really good because you get to know lots of different people…I think I’ve missed out in going to a girls’ school and not meeting boys my own age….
17
Explains how the A and B block works at school.
18
How segregation occurs at school.
1.02 I’m white and my best friend is mixed race…we don’t see that as a barrier…
19
Wants to go to college and continue with drama.
20
How Swanshurst divides pupils according to ability.
1.24 Teachers at Swanshurst.
2.23 Describes school uniform and compares with a friend who attends Queensbridge School.
4.25 I’m not too sure what my opinion is on the 11+. I think because everyone who goes to a grammar school is clever, they are not going to meet a wide variety of people and they don’t benefit….
21
When I stay at my dad’s house there’s more a sense of a community…the neighbours chat to each other…
54” I feel safer walking around in King’s Heath and Moseley than I do in the other side of the city or in town….I do prefer sticking to where I know….
1.45 Knowledge of city centre.
2.09 I think people are putting the effort in to improve the city especially for young people…Describes the Young People’s Parliament.
22
Travelling overseas on holiday.
2.58 I’m hoping to work at Camp America for 10 weeks…after I’ve done my A Levels in 2 years time….Explains interest in USA.
23
Feels lucky to have travelled so much.
1.00 Attitudes to divorce.
1.43 Step-families.
24
I don’t think I want to get married….A lot of my friends want a fairytale wedding….I would like to meet someone and settle down, but if that gets in the way of me travelling….
ENDS. |