General
wag mon
What does wag mon mean?
The school attendance officer — the council-sent enforcer whose job was knocking on doors when kids didn't show up for class. Loomed large in mid-20th-century Birmingham childhoods. The threat of the wag mon kept many a Brummie kid honest.
"Don't go up the park today, our kid — the wag mon's about."
Origin
From the Brummie/Northern verb 'to wag it' (to skive off school). The 'wag mon' is the man who catches you wagging.
Frequently asked questions
Is 'wag mon' still used?
Mostly nostalgic now. You'll hear older Brummies use it; the official role today is 'education welfare officer'.
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