I had exactly the same fears about my own son as you mention here: a clever, sensitive and sweet lad, great at sports, but let’s face it, cosseted by a very comfortable middle class life that I didn’t grow up with. I was mildly terrified at the thought of him going to secondary school. He is 14 now and thankfully has flourished thus far; he is still all of those nice things BUT he is clearly grappling with the fact that some of his mates aren’t all like that; they are less bothered about doing well in school, happier to get in trouble. So when he dresses up in his proto-Top Boy or Casual gear and meets up with them for their general mooching about sessions, he does it with warnings of “doing the right thing” ringing in his ears. It must be take the edge off his enjoyment, grappling with impressing his parents or his mates. I really hope he chooses his parents, as some of his mates would make a troop of chimpanzees look thoughtful and considered.
I had exactly the same fears about my own son as you mention here: a clever, sensitive and sweet lad, great at sports, but let’s face it, cosseted by a very comfortable middle class life that I didn’t grow up with. I was mildly terrified at the thought of him going to secondary school. He is 14 now and thankfully has flourished thus far; he is still all of those nice things BUT he is clearly grappling with the fact that some of his mates aren’t all like that; they are less bothered about doing well in school, happier to get in trouble. So when he dresses up in his proto-Top Boy or Casual gear and meets up with them for their general mooching about sessions, he does it with warnings of “doing the right thing” ringing in his ears. It must be take the edge off his enjoyment, grappling with impressing his parents or his mates. I really hope he chooses his parents, as some of his mates would make a troop of chimpanzees look thoughtful and considered.
Secondary schools seem to be the absolute worst factories of conformity.
I do hope things have changed and Len can keep his soul.
It's unfortunate that it can take so many of of us so long to come out the other side.
And some never make it out.