Rudyard Kipling argued in “Stalky & Co” that much of the value of British public-schools (private boarding school) experience lies in learning to oppose the dictates of routine, the cult of athleticism and the public parading of patriotic sentiment.  Probably some of the most unpopular sentiments expressed in a book, guaranteed to cause fury today among those who fiercely oppose private schools, or who sit in front of the telly watching sport.

  I learned little or nothing at my school about chemistry, physics and even mathematics (although I can do mental arithmetic without resorting to a cellphone).  But what I came away with was a huge distrust of group-think, convention, acceptance of the status quo, nationalism parading as patriotism, and the obsession with sport, important though teamwork and exercise undoubtedly is. I relate to Kipling’s words.

The other night I attended an event where a football helmet signed by some prominent sports personalities from the local team was being auctioned for the cost of feeding the Washington homeless for a month.  I scarcely recognised the name of the team.  But this is a direct effect of boarding school, I guess.  Everyone else was excited about a helmet.  Not me.  I like to follow the example of Epicurus – come into my garden and talk about real life.