Dad knows best

We stayed three years in Johannesburg but in that time we had two houses. The children changed school and our son was placed in the practical stream. I think I was more upset than SD, who, despite getting a degree had started in woodwork rather than Latin. He said woodwork taught him to finish things; until you had glued the pieces together a box was just a few scraps of timber. We went to see the headmaster and he told us his three boys were deliberately in the practical stream. The professionals he knew worked long hours and were never home; the fathers who drove their children to school in Mercedes cars were electricians and plumbers.  He got his boys together now and then and asked each one what he wanted to be. If the first said he thought maybe he'd like to be a lawyer, the headmaster  told him - You've been talking to Hymie again, what are you going to be? - A plumber Dad - And you? - A plumber Dad - And you? - A plumber Dad.
I found a picture that is the real mining South Africa not the Garden Route and thought I'd show it.

www.sullatoberdalton.com/books/welcome-oakhaven