We're Drilled and Dressed and Disciplined ...

Something of a surprise today to be alerted by a friend to an article in Hong Kong's free English language newspaper - The Standard - (Page 13), about my old school. This was the establishment that taught me many things: the good the bad and naturally the downright ugly. Of course, and honestly to my eternal regret, I wasted the (free) education I was offered, and yes okay life did not turn out too badly for me in the end.

The thing is, I hardly ever see the old place mentioned in anything at all and it is only a few people who even know where I went, so my eyes opened a little wider when I read the article. A sort of shadow of what it was when I attended, but nevertheless still providing at least some of the virtues I experienced when there. Self-reliance, leadership, and a pledge in some ways to equip students to do something useful once they have left school. And delighted to see from the article that there are currently six students from Hong Kong.

The school started life in 1803 as a military school for the orphans of soldiers (not the children of Officers), and even when I was admitted it was only open to the children of the "Other Ranks", with priority being given to orphans, then one parent, and then others. Hence my arrival at the school, as both my parents were sergeants in the army - only one surviving the war.

I won't bore you with my experiences of wearing military uniform every day from age 9 when I went to board at the school, marching to the dining hall at mealtimes, nor the sense of relief I felt at age 16 when I finished my full-time education - two years earlier than perhaps I should have done.

But the headline of the article brought it all back. "Learn to show some respect" it read, and in the world of today it seems to me it is a quality that is sorely lacking. There appears to be a conflict between what people see as their right to express their views versus a lack of respect for the feelings and views of others. If I, for example, have a point of view I have to accept that others may differ. Not, so it appears, in some quarters where the speakers consider their view is the only view and they are not prepared to accept that there are alternatives.

Such a view is evident on a daily basis, and seems to revolve mainly around political commentary and the interpretations of a media that claims to be unbiased. Sadly it, particularly in our world today, also extends to religion too where diversity of opinion exists not just from religion to religion but even within religions. Degrees of intolerance are becoming unacceptable and somehow or other we have to get this right. I am not at all sure that the current drive to nationalism and some of the unpleasantness surrounding that direction is helping the process. If we cannot practice tolerance with one another, understanding the views of others but also respecting the fact that there are alternative beliefs, we are as in many other things heading down that slippery slope I have alluded to previously.

When you consider we are moving into an era of robotics, AI, and technology generally where jobs once done by humans are going to be carried out by others of an inanimate nature, you are creating a potential problem. Unless you can find worthwhile things for those displaced to do, you are going to have many young, able-bodied individuals who are highly intelligent but totally bored. And as the old saying goes, "the devil makes work for idle hands". It adds to the already growing discontent of the disadvantaged and plays into the hands of the bullies, those people with great powers of persuasive oratory and a desire for either absolute power or total disruption.

And how do we get this current process back in sync? It has to be from the very earliest interactions we have with children. If you cannot teach them tolerance and understanding - although yes you do also have to teach them to stand up for themselves too, then nothing will change. In fact it will only get worse.

So, back to my school. The title of this Blog is part of the opening line from my old school song, the full first line of which reads "We're drilled and dressed and disciplined and proud of our great name ..."

And we were all of those things. The school, despite the odds they faced with me, provided the strong foundation from which I guess I survived, even without taking proper advantage of the education on offer. The fact is, being disciplined in my approach (alright, I admit to being a pain in the backside at times!) has helped me get through life - so far.

And if we lose things like being properly drilled and dressed and disciplined, and do not show respect for others, I am not confident as to where we go from here.

Comments

[John Scruton]

A great blog David. I was also at school from 1953-60 and like you made the mistake of leaving at the end of the 5th form. Should have stayed on! However it still taught me to uphold those values you allude to

[Mike Acott]

Great blog David - from a fellow old Dukie

[David Eldon]

Boys (in particular, it would appear) need to know that the "line drawn in the sand" is there for a purpose. It seems these days that if the "line" doesn't suit everyone then it is easier and less hassle - particularly for parents I am sorry to say - to just move it. Peer pressure is a nightmare in this but honestly parenting is all about instilling appropriate behaviour. It doesn't need the strap or the back of a hair-brush or whatever of the past, but it needs resolve and patience.
Good luck Kevin

[Kevin]

" If you cannot teach them tolerance and understanding - although yes you do also have to teach them to stand up for themselves too, then nothing will change. In fact it will only get worse."

Many thanks David for the wise words!! So true! I will put it into practice from tomorrow. One of my boys certainly need that :)