It is a primitive culture that equates “literacy” with “rebellion”. In Somerset, “lack of freedom” is illogically equated with “literacy”. Creative expression is equated with a “deviation” from the norm – but whose “norm” are we talking about? A disadvantaged working-class child will continue to be a disadvantaged working-class child – even if their personal freedom is compromised. The “weight” of society is already balanced against them. No. Like the brutality of the Taliban – the Somerset Solution is designed all crush freedom of expression. Of course, the justification for all this suffering is that it allegedly “does the children good” – but surely – this is a form of child abuse. Not all children will be high-achievers or geniuses. Nature (and evolution) is just not like that. The lumpen proletariat (of which I am a part) are “average” in achievement – but this is precisely how humanity has developed. It is the “group effort” that matters – and not usually the antics of an individual whose “behaviour” (UK spelling) does not equate to the well-being of the collecive.
