Rev Gerry Baudains on Greenfields

http://www.thisisjersey.com/2008/11/25/it-is-not-a-childrens-home/

I have just been reading the letter by the Rev Gerry Baudains on Greenfields, who says she visited Greenfields when the Grand Prix system was in operation. One comment stood out in particular.

On our first visit, the Grand Prix scheme was outlined in detail. I recall that it was a system of reward and punishment necessary to manage and contain the 'high spirits' of the 11 youngsters - a number of whom had recently held a rooftop protest. None of the panel members voiced a concern about the system, and there were no complaints from the youngsters working towards getting a TV or playstation in their room.

It is clear that she did not see or hear about the isolating treatment involved in the Grand Prix system. I would give her letter more credence, but one phrase in particular stands out - "there were no complaints from the youngsters".

That rang alarm bells about naivety, as it reminded me so much of Charles Darwin's comments on slavery.

I will not even allude to the many heart-sickening atrocities which I authentically heard of; nor would I have mentioned the above revolting details, had I not met with several people, so blinded by the constitutional gaiety of the negro as to speak of slavery as a tolerable evil... Such inquirers will ask slaves about their condition; they forget that the slave must indeed be dull, who does not calculate on the chance of his answer reaching his master's ears.

One could paraphrase this as:

Such inquirers will ask children about their condition; they forget that the child must indeed be dull, who does not calculate on the chance of his answer reaching official ears.

Darwin was of course a shrewd observer, who applied intelligence to his observations, and did not take everything at face value. Before the Rev Gerry criticises the Howard League so strongly, perhaps she might reflect that she might not always have seen all that was occurring at Greenfields when the Grand Prix system was in place, and that when the children were uncomplaining to the visitors - who as Lay magistrates had sent them there - there might be good reason for their distrust of such an obvious authority figure for lending a sympathetic ear .