belfasttelegraph.co.uk – By Fionola Meredith
Going back to school after the long summer break is hard for most children. It’s not just that they have to swap lazy, carefree days for hard work, scratchy uniforms and strict discipline.
There’s also the challenging social terrain that has to be renegotiated. The school jungle is a noisy, febrile place where power struggles thrive and any kind of difference – ginger hair, a posh accent, a funny-looking overcoat – is seen as a reason to be singled out for ridicule.