Perceptions of merit

In which different guiding principles find themselves in opposition in a school

- David Haley

Larkdale Primary was a small rural school. With around 15 pupils in each year, its sports teams came from the two oldest age groups. Normally, this provided opportunities for all who were interested.

This year though, for football, even with its team of 11, not everyone could be included in the team. Thirteen boys hoped to play. Someone had to be omitted.

Of course, on occasion a boy was unavailable due to illness or a family event. Therefore, the first reserve, Richard, had played.

What about the 13th boy, Michael, though? Robert Jones, the sports master, followed both the school’s policy and his own principles by always choosing the best eleven. Unfortunately for Michael, this kept him out of the team. Although keen and always giving of his best, he was, at most, moderate as a player. Robert decided that Michael could play only if two boys were unavailable.

Michael lived in hope - however, the fixture list was not large and there were never two absentees.

Michael's mother, Julie, knew how keen he was and, of course, wanted him to be in the team. She was particularly anxious for this to happen because Michael was not a confident boy.

He was not one to impose himself in class and he did not stand out academically. If he were to play, it would make a considerable difference to his confidence, and to his character. She resolved to fight for this in the best way that she could.

She explained everything to Robert. Could he see his way to putting Michael in the team? Surely it would not make much difference, and, even if it did, it was not as if they were playing in a league?