The lovely Lorna over at Gin & Lemonade With A Twist Blog has started a new writing prompt.
She hasn’t named her challenge, so I have – Lorna’s Gin-spiring Prompt!
This week, we have the word: Prep
When I was at school, I used to have a prep book.
What was prep?
Well, in my school, which was an independent institution (Private), homework was referred to as prep.
I wondered why it was called prep, rather than homework, so did a little research.
Obviously, the class connotations are there. The boarding and private schools tend to use the term prep, whereas your regular state schools say homework.
See, posh I am! 😉
Then there was a whole debate on what the terms meant.
Nowadays they do essentially mean the same thing, but if you dig back, Prep – short for Preparation work, would be getting ready for the next stage of learning – because as a boarder, you wouldn’t be going home to work, as you stayed at school!
Homework is work that has been sent home to consolidate the learning that has already taken place.
Makes sense, really, doesn’t it!
I actually hadn’t thought of the term ‘prep’ for years, but the last book I read, ‘The Art Of Hiding’, by Amanda Prowse, was about a woman whose life is turned upside down when her husband dies and leaves her and their sons reeling, not only by his demise but with the news that they are actually bankrupt. Her sons are forced to go from an extremely expensive private school to a local comprehensive school.
The eldest son is really upset, as he asked about what prep they would have for that night and he had the mickey taken out of him by the rest of his classmates.
At school now, we definitely don’t assign prep, but homework.
Strange how words that mean the same can have such different connotations…
https://ginlemonade.com/2018/10/19/friday-reads-a-writing-prompt/
But I Smile Anyway... 
Oct 20, 2018 @ 10:12:36
Words are so fiddly! I thought I’d share with you the funny day I had at work yesterday one of the young lad’s assumed I had half term off and said ‘Enjoy your half term.’ When I told him I was still there working he fell about laughing hysterically. This job really cracks me up – working with youngsters is so entertaining and funny! Devil!
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Oct 20, 2018 @ 10:48:14
Working with kids is definitely entertainment!!!
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Oct 20, 2018 @ 14:01:02
Yes! Wait until he comes back… I’ve never seen someone laugh so much… rascal.
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Oct 20, 2018 @ 16:11:22
😊
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Oct 20, 2018 @ 05:43:37
Exactly right, Ritu we did have prep…I had forgotten…I love how posts revive memories every day I find a new memory comes back unbidden from a post or story…Love your take on Prep 🙂
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Oct 20, 2018 @ 09:08:32
Thank you Carol. I’d totally forgotten too until I read that book, then this prompt came up!
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Oct 19, 2018 @ 21:08:38
Interesting, sis! Another English lesson for me.
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Oct 19, 2018 @ 21:14:24
😜 always happy to educate!!!
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Oct 22, 2018 @ 19:25:37
😄
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Oct 19, 2018 @ 19:19:25
Hey rita
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Oct 19, 2018 @ 19:33:47
Hi Sheldon xx
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Oct 19, 2018 @ 20:21:30
Hey Ritu have a wow weekend
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Oct 19, 2018 @ 20:36:39
Aw! You too X
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Oct 19, 2018 @ 20:42:33
💝
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Oct 19, 2018 @ 18:31:20
I’m with Willow, lol.
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Oct 19, 2018 @ 19:33:35
Lol!
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Oct 19, 2018 @ 18:20:42
I have never heard prep used in that context, Ritu. We use prep as short for preparatory school here. Interesting post.
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Oct 19, 2018 @ 18:25:58
Yes, that is used here too, but Prep schools are usually private too!!
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Oct 19, 2018 @ 18:09:49
Language can be so confounding! 💜
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