The 1960s were years of change. The second world war was still a clear memory for those who had been alive at the time and the long years of austerity were coming to an end. Opportunities were opening up in all walks of life and there was a sense of freedom in the air. The status quo was no longer acceptable to many and the old order was threatened from all sides.
I went to a traditional grammar school where masters and mistresses all wore gowns and sometimes their hoods. Discipline was tight and old traditional values were thrust down from above. Even so the discontent was fermenting quietly and things began to change.
My own rebellions were restricted to a rejection of uniformity and a refusal to obey petty rules that seemed to have no purpose. The biggest protest being a refusal to run in the annual cross country race; we walked from the start and of course finished long after the rest, only to face the wrath of the staff.
I was reminded of those days by Oscar the other day. Their sports day is coming up, and even the nursery class is expected to participate. Being there and four year olds, they need to rehearse and the other day they were lined up on the running track to go through the routines. When the moment came to start, Oscar, who is a good runner, decided to turn around and ran the opposite way to the rest, thinking that this was very funny. I have to agree with him, though four is a little young to make such protests. What will he be like when he becomes a teenager?
I went to a traditional grammar school where masters and mistresses all wore gowns and sometimes their hoods. Discipline was tight and old traditional values were thrust down from above. Even so the discontent was fermenting quietly and things began to change.
My own rebellions were restricted to a rejection of uniformity and a refusal to obey petty rules that seemed to have no purpose. The biggest protest being a refusal to run in the annual cross country race; we walked from the start and of course finished long after the rest, only to face the wrath of the staff.
I was reminded of those days by Oscar the other day. Their sports day is coming up, and even the nursery class is expected to participate. Being there and four year olds, they need to rehearse and the other day they were lined up on the running track to go through the routines. When the moment came to start, Oscar, who is a good runner, decided to turn around and ran the opposite way to the rest, thinking that this was very funny. I have to agree with him, though four is a little young to make such protests. What will he be like when he becomes a teenager?
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