Minor has a cold. His nose and top lip are very sore and he feels generally unwell BUT like a good little soldier he trotted into school yesterday.
It seems that in this part of Wales (I can speak for no other) the "Welshies" consider it bad manners to blow your nose in public ..... no alternative is suggested so I suppose they either sniff a lot or "cuff it".
In every class yesterday he was reprimanded for pulling out a handkerchief and blowing his nose. Each teacher told him he should raise his hand, ask to be excused and leave the room before blowing his nose. Since he was, and still is, in a permanent snot running situation this struck him as unreasonable so he tried dabbing at his nose instead of blowing it. This too was not liked. Many pupils objected (using the teacher to bully him) and again the teachers tossed him out of the room.
He was also subjected to a tirade from one teacher, later taken up by several of the class, that using a handkerchief was "Being Posh" and he should use tissues. Not unreasonably he asked if he would then be allowed to blow his nose in class and where was he supposed to dispose of the used tissues. Again "Get Out!" and a bony finger indicated the door.
He spent more time in the corridor than he spent in class so today I have kept him off school. I have telephoned the attendance officer at the school to explain his absence as required. She tells me that she personally considers handkerchiefs to be "unhygienic" and tissues are better. In answer to my question as to whether the staff would prefer a boy to have a couple of hankies in his pocket or to be filling the class room waste paper basket with snot filled tissues drew no reply.
The sooner we sell this house and move back to civilisation the fucking better!
