Nihilistic youth
Sir: Mr David Holbrook's article
'The nihilistic barbarians (January 13) is deeply disturbing. Over the years he has made a distinguished and enlightened contribution to the teaching of English and he is, of course, a serious poet and novelist. That he should have been forced "into a sulk " after his experiences in a college of art, and insulted by students at a progressive school should be a general warning of unpleasant trends in the educational world. If such students will not listen to Mr Holbrook, to whom will they listen?
But perhaps much depends on the total environment of a school. For the last four and a half years I have been Head of the English Department of a co-educational boarding and day school which, though in no way repressive, does not try to be fashionably progressive. My sixth-formers are a
delight to teach. They have what Mr Holbrook calls an "excited courtesy." They are willing to accept responsibility as school and
house prefects and, to make the progressive squirm even more, they do not object to wearing our sensible school uniform for their
working day. They are fine young men and women and I should like to invite Mr Holbrook to come and speak to them about Chaucer or anything else. They will not "slouch out."
G. E. Hester
The Bungalow, Royal Russell School, Croydon, Surrey
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