The End of an Era

The Indy announces the news that a 100-year old tradition will end next year. It appears that in reply to questionnaires sent out by the College, parents of children attending St. Aloysius' College felt that the system of Wednesday-Off Saturday-School was disrupting family life. Parents who had no choice but leave their children alone at home on Wednesday were not happy about this arrangement.

Having been an Aloysian for over seven years I am not impressed by this pussy-footing attitude. First of all whatever happened to the strictness of the Jesuit formation? That strictness that is resented all through your formative years but that is slowly (very slowly) appreciated afterwards. And what's all this business of the poor mummies and daddies who cannot leave little baby Anaximander at home?

For heaven's sake, Wednesday at home is what makes us different. It's what allows you to learn how to cook. It's that day for those adventures into the tunnels of Manoel Island, into Sacred Heart Convent grounds with Prof Edward Mallia running after you like a deranged australopithecus. It's how you get used to poring over every single item in the Times in the morning (when the Social & Personal Column provides the exact amount of reading until the chips are well fried). It's the first cigarette, the first porn, the first everything practically. And what will they punish the students with now? "Come in next Saturday" does not have the same feel as "Detention on Wednesday", does it?

I never thought I would ever be speaking about the loss of the stiff fibre that society was made of in my childhood. I always thought that that kind of stuff was reserved to the Conservative grandads reminescing a younger age. Well humbug to that. I think changing this 100-year old tradition is the worst thing the Jesuits could have done since the Inquisition. I think they should round up all the parents who answered in such a pussy-like fashion in the big hall, make them look up at the Knight which adorns the ceiling and then force them to choose... either SAC with Wednesday off, Saturday on or just send their bloomin' wusses to another school that will be glad to grovel and pander to their kiddy widdies needs. Like St. Edward's for example.