A non subserviant girl's opinion-pls read this objectively
Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2006 11:34 pm
Dear forum users,
I have been aware of the existance of this site for some time now but have only recently visited it and read some of the many many posts. Until July of last year I was a pupil at St James' Girls school which I attended for my entire education (from the age of 4 until I was 18.) Having left St James I decided to take a gap year and am currently in West Africa taking part in an outreach run by a charity called "Mercy Ships." This has been one of the most challenging periods of my life for many reasons. Firstly the poverty in this part of the world and the lack of social infrastructure provides a stark reminder of just how lucky we all are. Secondly, this charity, although primarily a medical charity providing surgery and other health care to those who could otherwise never afford or have access to it, is Christian. When I say Christian I do not mean hymn singing and the occasional Amen from a docile congregation, I mean full on evangelical and (some would say fundemantalist) Christian.Since I have been here I have seen some of the most incredible examples of generosity and service. Examples of self sacrifice that are simply overwhelming. And yet I have also observed narrow mindedness and self justification like I didnt think was possible.
Having been here for almost 7 weeks now I am beginning to appreciate the freedom of thought I was permitted at St James. I have begun to realise how lucky I was not to be forced into accepting anything as "The Only Way" and I am increasingly thankful for all the opportunities I was frequently given to enquire into any subject and to make up my own mind about the issues that affected me.
Before I continue I would like to assure all of you that no-one has "put me up to" writing this and I have been upset by the suggestions that some of the other posts have been a "hoax." I know for a fact that the statements enterred on behalf of Mr Body were genuine and that the boys writing in on behalf of their school are in no way being forced to defend it. I am not sure why many of you find ot so hard to believe that the school today is no longer a place filled with misery and oppression. In fact it is an extremely nurturing environment full of happiness and warmth. Please do not write off what I am saying as false, I simply want to defend a place that I have great affection for having recieved so much from it over the years. Not only did I recieve an outstanding education that has meant that I have got a place to go to St George's medical school in September. I obtained 6 A*'s and 4 A's at GCSE and two A's and and B at A-level and, i also left with an incredible set of friends and a strong sense of who I am. I greatly resent the implication that because I am a woman who has been through St James I must be subserviant to men and have no idea of what living in the "real world" is like. In fact I was given excellent careers advice throughout my time in the Senior School including talks from many past pupils who had made excellent careers in a wide variety of competitive fields. Surely, if the school honestly believed that all we would be good for was serving men they would have presented us with examples of "happy housewives" and images of the bliss of motherhood. We were also given a thorough education on drug abuse including the wider affects of using (beyond personal health issues)and sex education including methods of contraception and a detailed understanding of STI's. You may argue that this is atandard in all state and public schools but I have spoken to many of the friends I have met here who went to British state schools and they have said that they were often given little more than a video depicting two cartton characters "getting close in bed."
I do not have the time right now to go into the many details of St James life that I have enjoyed but I would wish to say that I hope this posting reveals that it is possible to gain a lot from an education there. I would also hope that it might allow some closure to those that suffered there in the past- at least you know that the schol has realised that those practices are harmful and dangerous and that they have stopped them completely. You can be safe in the knowledge that children are no longer being exposed to the treatment that you were. I do understand that some past pupils experienced terrible times at St James. I have 5 elder siblings 4 of whom are brothers and all of them went through St James. They too say that some of their experiences were terrible but; having seen the way in which the school has developed through watching the younger of their siblings go through it more recently, they have been able to let go of their past experiences and see the schol for what it is today. I would please encourage you to do the same so that the school can continue to grow in the positive way it has been for quite some time now.
With great sincerity
Mary Edmunds
I have been aware of the existance of this site for some time now but have only recently visited it and read some of the many many posts. Until July of last year I was a pupil at St James' Girls school which I attended for my entire education (from the age of 4 until I was 18.) Having left St James I decided to take a gap year and am currently in West Africa taking part in an outreach run by a charity called "Mercy Ships." This has been one of the most challenging periods of my life for many reasons. Firstly the poverty in this part of the world and the lack of social infrastructure provides a stark reminder of just how lucky we all are. Secondly, this charity, although primarily a medical charity providing surgery and other health care to those who could otherwise never afford or have access to it, is Christian. When I say Christian I do not mean hymn singing and the occasional Amen from a docile congregation, I mean full on evangelical and (some would say fundemantalist) Christian.Since I have been here I have seen some of the most incredible examples of generosity and service. Examples of self sacrifice that are simply overwhelming. And yet I have also observed narrow mindedness and self justification like I didnt think was possible.
Having been here for almost 7 weeks now I am beginning to appreciate the freedom of thought I was permitted at St James. I have begun to realise how lucky I was not to be forced into accepting anything as "The Only Way" and I am increasingly thankful for all the opportunities I was frequently given to enquire into any subject and to make up my own mind about the issues that affected me.
Before I continue I would like to assure all of you that no-one has "put me up to" writing this and I have been upset by the suggestions that some of the other posts have been a "hoax." I know for a fact that the statements enterred on behalf of Mr Body were genuine and that the boys writing in on behalf of their school are in no way being forced to defend it. I am not sure why many of you find ot so hard to believe that the school today is no longer a place filled with misery and oppression. In fact it is an extremely nurturing environment full of happiness and warmth. Please do not write off what I am saying as false, I simply want to defend a place that I have great affection for having recieved so much from it over the years. Not only did I recieve an outstanding education that has meant that I have got a place to go to St George's medical school in September. I obtained 6 A*'s and 4 A's at GCSE and two A's and and B at A-level and, i also left with an incredible set of friends and a strong sense of who I am. I greatly resent the implication that because I am a woman who has been through St James I must be subserviant to men and have no idea of what living in the "real world" is like. In fact I was given excellent careers advice throughout my time in the Senior School including talks from many past pupils who had made excellent careers in a wide variety of competitive fields. Surely, if the school honestly believed that all we would be good for was serving men they would have presented us with examples of "happy housewives" and images of the bliss of motherhood. We were also given a thorough education on drug abuse including the wider affects of using (beyond personal health issues)and sex education including methods of contraception and a detailed understanding of STI's. You may argue that this is atandard in all state and public schools but I have spoken to many of the friends I have met here who went to British state schools and they have said that they were often given little more than a video depicting two cartton characters "getting close in bed."
I do not have the time right now to go into the many details of St James life that I have enjoyed but I would wish to say that I hope this posting reveals that it is possible to gain a lot from an education there. I would also hope that it might allow some closure to those that suffered there in the past- at least you know that the schol has realised that those practices are harmful and dangerous and that they have stopped them completely. You can be safe in the knowledge that children are no longer being exposed to the treatment that you were. I do understand that some past pupils experienced terrible times at St James. I have 5 elder siblings 4 of whom are brothers and all of them went through St James. They too say that some of their experiences were terrible but; having seen the way in which the school has developed through watching the younger of their siblings go through it more recently, they have been able to let go of their past experiences and see the schol for what it is today. I would please encourage you to do the same so that the school can continue to grow in the positive way it has been for quite some time now.
With great sincerity
Mary Edmunds