Sir: Simon Raven's letter to his son (10 March) was
wholly admirable for what it was, but it contains one fallacy. Mr Raven advises his son, wisely perhaps in the circumstances, that his extra three years at school will help him to acquire 'the poise of mind and body necessary to one who would pass an adventurous and pleasurable life.' Good; but is it not also possible that the traditional education of the English middle class may instil in him the traditional middle-class urge for respectability and security? These dreary enthusiasms are entirely inhibiting to the adventurous life, and because neurosis will surely attend their achievement, no less to the pleasurable one. His son's plainer brethren, on the other hand, leaving school at fifteen, are uncluttered in this way. For them there is no premium on the status going with the job with prospects and a pension. They can launch out in business on their own with sixpence, without fear of having to resign from their clubs if they fail and they can even follow Mr Raven's own calling on the dole until they succeed without being nagged by ambitious mothers, or suffering loss of respectability.
Mr Raven's counsels are, however, more winning than any that were put to me at fifteen, and if his son has inherited half of his father's reason- ing liberality, he will be well set to enjoy life. But I can't help feeling that those three extra years will not have been very much to do with it. Robin Symonds 45 Elmwood Court, Pershore Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham 5
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