[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: June's OT Board Dictionary Launched (was Brittspeak)

[Iggy McSnurd]

>Dumbledad:
>The public school thing is more complex. In England there are an
>elite set of private schools that are called public schools. They
>were public by the definition that held when they were formed. (E.g.
>Eton was founded in 1440, when the only other education would be in
>your castle or in a monastry!)

Iggy here:

Well, in the US, we tend to use the following definitions:  (Please note
that these are all for schools under the university level..)

Public School - Any school that's open to public attendance and doesn't
require a fee to attend.  This is the most common type of school, as it's
easily accessable.  Some still do have reputations, however, as to how good
their educational standars are.  Unfortunately, this often relates almost
directly to what kind of neighborhood they're in.

Private School - Any school that requires one to be on a waiting list, pass
entrance testing, and require the parents to pay a fee for their child to
attend.  Most are considered to be exclusive, and generally have a higher
standard of educational level because they can hand-pick their students and
can restrict the number of people per teacher to easier obtain the maximum
benefit.

Catholic / Christian School - Sometimes public, sometimes private, and
always run by one religeous organization or another.  They usually require a
very strict dress code, often resorting to uniforms to enforce these rules.
Their educational level is usually considered to be better than that of a
public school, due to the levels of discipline they require and enforce, but
lower than that of a private school because they're less selective about who
attends.

Boarding School - Any private school that houses its students, providing
both room and board.  Many of these are military schools / academys,
ultra-exclusive private schools, religeous schools that are intended for a
"life in the faith," or are off in the other direction and are schools for
particularly troublesome kids.  The education level is usually seen to be th
e highest standard you can get.

>Dumbledad:
>So what do American women call what we call suspenders - i.e. the
>things that hold up ladies stockings?

Iggy here:

They call them "garters" (usually if they're attached to a corset or
bustier) or "garter belt" (if they're simply attached to a waist belt.).  Of
course, there's also the "garter" that's an elastic, and usually frilly,
strap that goes around the upper part of the stocking without any other
straps.  This kind is traditionally worn 9at least one of them) on the
bride's leg for the groom to remove after the ceremony.  He throws this to
the single men much in the same way the bride throws the boquet.  (And it
meand the same thing for whoever catches it... so the reaction among the men
to this is usually the opposite of the ladie's reaction to the bouquet.
They run like hell AWAY from it.  *grin*)

>Cheers,
>
>Dumbledad.
>

Hope this helps...

Iggy McSnurd