Monday 17th
… Divers jaws to house by Max. I think the school system is wrong because, public opinion [i.e. the pupils] having no say, nobody troubles about the organization of their community. An autocratic rule is useless to train democrats—I think school councils in each form and for the whole school are the answer; no executive power except in its own concern would be necessary even—but to have opinions which pass unnoticed or, worse, to develop no opinions, is wrong, I’m sure. zsd zpn zey
Have just read ‘Children of the Soviet Union’ which impressed me a lot. zbp
Tuesday 18th
More sun, with East wind. An unsuccessful Music period—why I don’t know—feeling off. … I went to read C. Day Lewis by Splash Point in the sun. ‘Overtures to Death’, ‘The Nabara’ and ‘Newsreel’ impressed me most—I like his poetry. zwr zmu zpo
To continue last night’s outburst on school government—I think ‘socialist competition’ between forms would be excellent (… but the general environment here has already worked it’s way into people, and it probably would not be a success). The open criticism in form would be most healthy, I feel—and the relation between staff and pupils in the Soviet Union seemed much healthier than here. …zsd zpn zey zru
And now to bed—and autocratic rule from above decrees it, but I don’t mind this one as it’s based on medical reasons! zsd zpn
Wednesday 19th
Letter from Nora (yesterday) and Mommy—she’s had to give up nursing. Poor girl, she is so terrified of other people—no self-confidence. Still, I hope she’s happy with children. Daddy is going to enter me for a medical student at Christ Church, and I am going to work harder and harder, and I hope I’ll get a ruddy scholarship in the end. Mommy has already found an exhausting job, so any hope of her getting fat and rested are blasted—she’s visiting homes of service men for some society and the Citizen’s Advice Bureau. zfl zem zop zca zmw zhk zch
