Half of us hung onto our school books

Have you thumbed through your ragged old copy of Busy At Maths today? Or had a quick skim of Ann and Barry? It seems some of us have.

A new survey by classified adverts website DoneDeal.ie has found that half of those questioned said they still had copies of their old school books at home. In a veritable nostalgia-fest of a questionnaire, people were also asked to list their favourite subject while at school, and, in a hyper-specific twist, what they wrapped their school books in.

The survey — of more than 1,000 people, who arguably could have used the time more profitably — found that 44% wrapped their books in brown paper, while 29% used leftover wallpaper and 26% used contact paper.

Following on from this information, respondents listed their favourite television programmes when they were younger, with The Flintstones coming out on top.

Somewhat surprisingly, given the complaints about the lack of depth in the country’s knowledge economy, 22% of respondents said they liked maths the best, ahead of 16% who made English their first choice, 15% who preferred history and 14% who chose art. Just 1% said their favourite class was religion, which is puzzling, given that it was the only class in which you were unlikely to get any homework.

Equally peculiar is the news that 8% of respondents selected Peig as their favourite school book, making it the fourth most popular tome. This can only have been because of the typeface on the front which allowed Peig to be changed into all kinds of other, typically ruder, words.

The ever-reliable Busy At Maths was the top choice of 15% of respondents, ahead of everyone’s classic English language primer Ann and Barry (12%).

Finally, 53% of respondents said they dreaded going back to school, meaning 47% were overjoyed at the prospect.