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Advent Drabbles Day Ten: Lintons
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Author:  Advent Drabblers [ Wed Dec 10, 2008 8:15 am ]
Post subject:  Advent Drabbles Day Ten: Lintons
Letter to the Editor of the Daily Telegraph.

Sir – The question of education for young girls raises it's weary head once more. I have read many letters on this debate over the past fifty years, outlining some strong arguments on both sides. I have always reserved opinion in this matter, believing that as I had no children my views were of little importance.

However the news I received today was enough to change this opinion. I have a relative who works in a prestigious school for young gentlewomen on the Continent. This relative wrote to me recently outlining the behaviour of some of her charges to a colleague. I must say that I was appalled. Her collegue is a hard-working young lady who is in charge of the most junior girls and apparently works well with them. On this occasion though, due to her own financial circumstances, supporting younger siblings she was taking an extra class with much older children. She is to be commended for her diligence and attitude towards her family.

Would that the same could be said of the young ladies she was teaching. I am told that on this occasion they acted like savages, sitting on the floor, having painted their faces and wrapped themselves in travelling rugs. When their teacher spoke to them they answered in grunts and clicks, and one launched herself around the classroom in some kind of wild dance.

Since these children are daughters of well bred and well educated members of society we can only suppose that their behaviour is due to a weakness in the brain brought on by too much academic study. It has often been said that the brains of females are more susceptible to breakdown than those of men and I think this proves it. Those in charge of educating our young girls should take heed of this warning and concentrate on the more feminine skills of sewing, music and fine art with a smattering of French conversation for those of a more robust academic ability. It is time to stop all Latin, mathematics, science, history, logic and the like, encouraging girls to ape their brothers with such unfortunate results.

I can only hope that the children concerned recover some of their wits with care and a rest from study.

Concerned of Tunbridge Wells.
Author:  Cat C [ Wed Dec 10, 2008 2:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent Drabbles Day Ten: Lintons
*snigger*
Author:  PaulineS [ Wed Dec 10, 2008 4:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent Drabbles Day Ten: Lintons
O dear poor girls, if only there was such a simple explaination!!!
I wonder how he thought their teachers had been educated to a level to teach them at a level to cause brain weakness????
Author:  abbeybufo [ Wed Dec 10, 2008 7:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent Drabbles Day Ten: Lintons
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Thanks ADs :D
Author:  Advent Drabblers [ Wed Dec 10, 2008 7:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent Drabbles Day Ten: Lintons
Dear Dorrie

I had to write as I’m having so much fun! You know that I’m taking extra French with some students, with extra money that’s helping put Geoffrey through school, and that’s where the problem lies. I love teaching the Juniors, I can really relate to them, as you know, and have always been able to get the best out of them. Older children are a different kettle of fish, and I usually feel all at sea with them. I’d have been fine if the whole group were around the 10-12 year old mark. A bit older than I prefer, but generally they’re still in enough awe of the teacher to behave. Unfortunately, I have two older girls, Fifth Formers who you’d think would be old enough to know better. One of them is from the German upper classes, and a real snob of the first water. I can’t stand her, and nor can anyone else, staff and kids! Everyone here is pretty much below her in her own estimation, and to be honest, she needs taking down more than a peg or two. The other has come from a large school in England, and picked up straight away that I wasn’t at ease with the group. I think her school must have been given to ragging such teachers, because that’s what she’s been doing with me. Of course the younger girls follow suit, and even the great Thekla has joined in. It really annoyed me and has put me off this Joyce for what I suspect will be the rest of my life. They have pretended not to understand a word I’m saying, played games in front of me, and much, much more. You’ll say that I should have reported them, and you’re right. I’m supposed to be able to control a class, and this isn’t even a full class. And we need the money to pay Geoffrey’s school fees, so I don’t want to risk losing it. Then I thought of a cunning plan that would turn the tables, and give me revenge over Joyce as well. So I showed myself to be even weaker, and scared at what they’d come up with next, seeing just how far they’d go. Pretty far as you’ll see.

The latest escapade happened last week they started singing the National Anthem at the tops of their voices! We use a little room tucked away by the library, and they could be sure that no one would hear them. Unfortunately for them, the Head Girl, Jo Bettany, had a free period and came to look something up in the library. Justifiably thinking that the girls were unsupervised, she came storming in to deal with them, and pulled up short in embarrassment when she saw me. Of course, the little demons stopped singing at once, and behaved like angels for the rest of the class. But the seeds had been sown, and I felt that the time of my revenge was getting closer.

I’ll have to break off, as the bell’s just gone for Abendessen.

Three days later, and things have come to a rather dramatic head. You’ll be pleased to know that everything’s sorted out, and I feel very satisfied. It wasn’t pleasant at the time though. The English girl, Joyce Linton, had come up with the brilliant idea of the whole group behaving like savages! This, apparently, because I’d called them that last week! Anyway, I came into the classroom and stopped dead in amazement. The whole group were crouching on the floor, with rugs wrapped around them, hair on end, and paint all over their faces. As soon as I told them to get up Joyce started leaping around and uttering war whoops. That was the last straw, more than time to act. I could feel my face going white, much as you can sometime feel yourself blushing, though most of that was trying to control my expression. they'd played right into my hands! I told them that I was going for the Head, and left the room, locking them in too! That was unprecedented behaviour, as the girls are generally trusted, but I really wanted Mademoiselle to see them as I’d found them. I think they were truly shocked when I came back with her, since I’d shown that the last thing I was going to do was report them. Then the fat really hit the frying pan with a vengeance! After a good telling off, and being made to apologise individually to me, the girls were sent to clean themselves up. As Mademoiselle rightly judged that Joyce was the ringleader she was ordered to the study, along with Thekla, when they were clean and tidy. That was when we realised that Thekla hadn’t come to the lesson. She was discovered reading in the Third Form room, having decided that she was above this last stunt. I can’t blame her for that at least, though of course she was in trouble for skipping the lesson.
They have all apologised and are behaving themselves like unfledged angels with me now. Finally I think they are improving in the French department too.

Looking forward to hearing all your news.

Your loving sister

Ivy
Author:  PaulineS [ Wed Dec 10, 2008 8:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent Drabbles Day Ten: Lintons
I love the fact that Ivy set them up.
Quote:
I had to write as I’m having so much fun! ...............
You’ll say that I should have reported them, and you’re right. ....
I showed myself to be even weaker, and scared at what they’d come up with next, seeing just how far they’d go. Pretty far as you’ll see.
That was the last straw, they'd played right into my hands! I told them that I was going for the Head, and left the room, locking them in too!


Joyce and Thelka played right into Ivy's hands and between her and
.Mademoiselle they were dealt with throughly
Thanks AD's
Author:  Lisa [ Wed Dec 10, 2008 10:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent Drabbles Day Ten: Lintons
Enjoying these immensely, thank you! :D Love Ivy's role reversal too :lol:
Author:  Advent Drabblers [ Wed Dec 10, 2008 10:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent Drabbles Day Ten: Lintons
I don't understand this School - and I don't think I am treated fairly. I'll admit, I made a very poor start - parroting the out-dated views of my Father because I was just so terrified being in such an alien environment. I didn't know how to react to the girls either - at home I was taught that our family and class were paramount - yet here the views are so different. Should I change my views? But that would mean rejecting my family, rejecting their views, their ideas. Surely I couldn't be expected to do that? Why did Papa send me here? Did he even know that it was an English school? Surely not - I've heard his views on England and her people often enough, there's no way he would have sent me had he known. I think all he did was seize upon the fact that the Crown Princess of Belsornia had been here, didn't make any other enquiries at all. The indecent haste with which it was all arranged suggests he and Mother were trying to get rid of me. I know they are worried about the letters Wolfram has send, about the new Party he has joined. But couldn't they worry a little about me, too?

I was so humiliated, having to join those lessons with Miss Norman. I'm sixteen years old - and I am expected to work with children of ten. Miss Norman is a weak fool - yet I wondered if she did have a breaking point. I know that Joyce thought not - yet sometimes I wonder if Joyce is quite so clever as she thinks. This latest row proves that I was right about Miss Norman. It was a silly idea anyway, acting as though a savage - I am almost grown, I would never lower myself, never behave so childishly. So I told them so - and decided that, rather than take part, I would just not attend. I did hope, for once, that this would mean I would stay out of trouble - but no, that's where the unfair treatment comes in - even though I played absolutely no part in the 'savages' lesson I am punished for it - indeed I am additionally punished for not being at the lesson - whatever I do I cannot win. When I protested at the unfairness Mademoiselle retorted that I should have stopped the others, I should have reported them - I cannot understand - I am blamed when I do something and blamed when I do nothing.

I am only grateful that at least I have one friend. No one else at this School has any time for me - I have made enemies of so many, especially the Prefects, Joey Bettany of course - but I care nothing for her - she is English. But I was always less than kind to Cousin Marie - and she did at least attempt to help me, in the beginning anyway. Joyce is my only true friend now and one that I will do anything to keep. I know she has been in even more trouble than I. I realise that both of us have a great deal to do to manage to erase our previous behaviour - but, with her beside me, I think perhaps that I can. That I will work hard and try my best to change into the type of person they want of me here at this school. It will be difficult, very difficult - but with Joyce by my side I think I can manage it.

I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have Joyce.
Author:  Pat [ Wed Dec 10, 2008 10:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent Drabbles Day Ten: Lintons
Thought provoking when you consider what happened later. Thanks.
Author:  Sugar [ Wed Dec 10, 2008 10:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent Drabbles Day Ten: Lintons
Thanks! Three very different perspectives. Poor thekla though.
Author:  Lyanne [ Wed Dec 10, 2008 11:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent Drabbles Day Ten: Lintons
Poor Thekla.
Author:  Cath V-P [ Sat Dec 13, 2008 3:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent Drabbles Day Ten: Lintons
That's fascinating, especially the last. It must have been very difficult for Thekla, given her upbringing.
Author:  Lisa [ Sat Dec 13, 2008 7:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent Drabbles Day Ten: Lintons
Wow - sensitive writing; you have made me feel empathy for Thekla :shock:
Author:  Vick [ Sat Dec 13, 2008 8:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent Drabbles Day Ten: Lintons
Thanks ADs. Food for thought there :D
Author:  Fiona Mc [ Tue Dec 16, 2008 1:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent Drabbles Day Ten: Lintons
That last update certainly gave a different spin of Thekla
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