Saturday 1 April 2017: The Times magazine printed an extract of my new book, based largely on the chapter titled “Maurice” in the Monsters and Vampires section. All the journalism on boarding schools and CSA (child sexual abuse) I’ve done so far has been in The Guardian/Observer: it’s collected here.
Outside Ashdown House School, 2014
You get a very different class of on-line commenter. On the Guardian site, because it’s free to access, you get hundreds of them – 650 when I first broached the subject in 2014. They’re combative, witty and largely they know the etiquette. The Times piece, though more prominent, has got just 14 comments, so far. Here’s a sample:
The Times comments aren’t all like that. This was more to the point:
test
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Well done on the excellent articles in the Times over the last few days. Beth Feingold
Bethf@talktalk.net
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Not all children disliked boarding school. Have you only interviews those who hated it, or have you added some balance?
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Sorry that should read ‘interviewed’…….
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Yes – many. My own brother liked it! I address that in the book.
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Age of consent is an important legal principle .
It is there to help protect children as long as those related laws are properly enforced .
We have to remember that these children need guidance
& are not capable of informed consent .
They will need discreet trustworthy counsellors to discuss their questions & anxieties with them .
This exists even among those in adolescent-age group & those aged 14, a difficult age .
Children will also have fantasies & other elements of imagination .
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