Sir: One of my major objections to public schools has
always been that because of the place they occupy in society their inmates are almost bound to succeed to many of the leading positions in the community. Yet they are unlikely ever to be able to provide leadership of the quality we need (as opposed to get) since by virtue of their education they are in a poor position to appreciate the aspira- tions of the groups to which they offer leadership. Simon Raven's review of T. W. Bamford's book (30 June) further confirms me in my view since it would appear that he has reached his present mature years under the impression that grammar school boys go into a form of suspended animation at 6 p.m. every evening until, presumably, about 8 a.m. the following morning.
Let me assure Mr Raven from personal experi- ence that anything that can happen to a public school boy after 6 p.m. can, and does, happen to the Majority of grammar school boys. Moreover, grarnritar school boys have the advantage of acquir- ing their experiences in a more balanced community which includes such things as homes, women as well as men; young, middle aged and old age pensioners; carpenters and bus conductors as well as teachers and barristers; paying rates, catching the 8.32 a.m., shopping for groceries and so on and so on.
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