You also don’t know how it feels.
I've a pretty good idea how it feels, cos it happened in our school to a child I know very well. The child and mine played soccer in the same club. Soccer training was on the night before the Sciath Na School final and us parents used to share taking them (it being a good few miles away). That night the boy decided not to go to soccer so as to be best prepared for the school final the following day. My fella went to soccer anyway. Both in 6th class.
We all went into PUR the following day. Massive occasion. My fellow got his game, but the other boy, who had played in the matches all along, was not played - and 5th class boys were played. Teacher wanted to win, it being a final and all.
The boy was devastated, and the parents weren't far off. None of 'em let on, all smiles and all until back in the car on the way home. I of course knew, so I kind of sympathized (with the mother - not in the presence of anybody else) the next time we met. The parents had considered going into the teacher to complain, but in so so many things the teacher is a fantastic teacher and is very good to his pupils so they decided to let it slide and not complain to the teacher (I would have done the same).
Even without that experience, I have a good idea. I was once that age myself, and I raised children through that age. I can't fathom where some of ye are coming from on this issue in this thread, but like a lot of things I have to accept that other people have very different views to mine and "right" and "wrong" are relative human-derived concepts that evolve over time and culture.
I appreciate that you rationally discuss the issue - we have some on this thread who just ridicule, name-call, etc. - but we all know their track record in that regard and it's just a pity that they distract from whatever rational case they may have which we might otherwise better-consider.
www.limerickleader.ie
