Is there any factual basis for the subplot concerning the teacher who, according to the film, was sacked from the local school for excessive use of corporal punishment? Or was this just invented for the film?
shareI would guess it was just a plot device to link the character of Rita with the boss's wife.
shareIt was a very weak plot device at best. How likely is it that the child of a well paid Ford executive would be attending the same school as council estate/factory fodder children?
shareAgree that the plot device was a little clumsy. But the point about the kids being at the same school is explained when Rita goes to confront the teacher. The fact that he wears the old gown, and that he talks about Rita's son being from 'the estate' and not fitting in indicates that it's a grammar school which would have been attended by children from middle- and working-class homes... as long as they were intelligent.
Café au lait pour vous...
Well, since Rita was a composite character (a fictional character, based on several different people), its probably made up. But it could have really happened I guess with one of the women she was based on.
shareI had one at my junior school like him, didn't like working class kids, least of all those from single parent families - don't know why she taught in a school in a working class area really. She didn't cane people but she dished another form of abuse in a sense. Yes YOU Mary Ford.
share[deleted]