Feeling Fair Play

 My grand-daughter is in a senior class at secondary school. I was given the unlikely task, in my dream, to make a presentation to the class.

When I was that age, I was in a debating society that proposed lots of political improvements. Through my long life I was a civil servant, a lawyer.  a development officer, a trade union representative, a residents association, an Acton group and so on

So what to do for this teen-age Class! Well I passed a cheef of paper to each member of the class. Then I said, "There are three thousand trade union members in this factory in Seattle. So, I want you to describe how Fair Play is to be achieved.

Fhen. I sat back and let the pupils deliberate the issue.

I thought that some pupils would grasp the issues: the need for a democratic constitution; for individual representation of each grade and section; for proper selection of chairperson, secretary and treasurer; for understanding of each of these roles, and for universal Fair Play.

I knew that there would be many who would strive for democracy and Fair Play, but there would be others who would focus on their own advantage entirely, seeking favour and ingratiation.