better with Mr Braithwaite. Now he had his pupils attention, obedience and respect the lessons were much improved. They talked about everything, the pupils opened up to Mr Braithwaite and he learned much about them- what it was like to live their lives. Participation in the class was very good and questions were asked. Even at breaktimes, class discussions would go on. The class’ general behaviour and appearance improved, so much so that Mr Braithwaite was able to take them on a successful school trip to the Victoria and Albert Museum. “On Thursday morning when I arrived… the children were scrubbed, combed, brushed and shining. The girls were beautifully turned out and there was more than a suggestion of lipstick in evidence; the boys were smartly dressed and everyone was beaming happily at my delighted surprise.” (PG 88 para.2) The class carried on improving after this and Mr Braithwaite really enjoyed his teaching. He was very close to his pupils. He believed them to have changed for the better, to have matured. But this belief was doubted when one of the pupil’s, Seales, mother died. When the class heard of this bad news they were immediately sympathetic and compassionate. The class proposed the idea that a collection should be made, in order to purchase a wreath of flowers for Seales. They raised the money for the wreath and Mr Braithwaite was delighted by their thoughtfulness. But then all Mr Braithwaite’s achievements with his class were shadowed, “ ‘Which one of you will take it (the wreath) over to his home?’ Their reaction was like a cold douche… It was as if I had pulled a transparent screen between them and myself, effectively shutting us away from each other.” (PG 164 para.2) Nobody wanted to take the flowers because Seales was ‘coloured’. To Mr Braithwaite none of his teaching, talking, example, patience and worry mattered. They were nothing. H...
