Posted by Alex Forbes on January 06, 2010 at 16:31:25 user Pitsligo.
In Reply to: Re: Ages in GN posted by John Lambert on January 05, 2010 at 19:16:53:
I have to agree with Ross. I can't help thinking of Daddy's line from WDMTGTS: "Grab a chance and you won't be sorry for a might-have-been." Personally, I think it's entirely likely that Commander Walker would have seen the GN expedition as an excellent piece of hands-on seamanship education for his son, and entirely worthwhile for his younger children as well, even at the deferral of their formal education.
I can vouch for this: when I was 16, and a senior in high school, my father actively facilitated my efforts to sign onto a large schooner yacht with which I had gained some experience over the summer, "Jessica", now "Adix". He was perfectly ready to let me defer my schooling indefinitely in favor of an education. Sadly, Jessica was in the process of being sold, and was not taking on crew.
Commander Walker --and Mary Walker-- had a fine sense of priorities, and an excellent grasp of the importance of experiential education. I can easily see GN happening during the school term.
I think Molly Blackett would have followed the Walkers' lead, and I like to imagine Professor Callum would have weighed in on the side of experience over irregular verbs.
HOWEVER, there is also the presence of the Young McGinty to account for. Any thoughts there?
Alex