Most schools in Sri lanka do not allow leave to students without reasonable cause. Usually a reasonable cause is falling sick, which children in tropical countries such as ours, do, on frequent intervals. Travelling abroad on holiday however does not fall within this definition of 'reasonable cause'.
My colleague's six year old was offered the prospect of touring abroad with her parents over a long weekend. However, one day's leave had to be obtained and the child would have to obviously put a 'sickie' on that day, as was intimated to her by her elders and betters. This six year old mind was suddenly burdened with a choice that would constitute a breach of honesty and having to live with a guilt - ridden conscience for the rest of her life in exchange for four days of rollercoaster rides and entertainment parks.
After mulling over it, the child declined the trip, on grounds that she did not want to tell an untruth to the school by saying she was unwell, when in fact she was going to be abroad. This was the obvious decision that didnt cross the adult mind.
Infact it had escaped my mind, how sweet and innocent childhood can be, to such an appalling extent, that it was almost unreal, a choice for me.
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