Previous – Book1 Page101 – Next
have to be a really good one and truly entertain people. Quite a lot of would be musicians, actors and authors have to think about getting a day job, or finding a romantic benefactor to keep them alive! Without a social welfare system there is nothing to fall back on. What you can be sure of, is that if nobody in your household has work, then you have no money.”
Kayt looks on in astonishment! She’s a good singer songwriter. And here, indirectly, is Mr Rafone telling her that she should be on the look out for a proper job. In school music lessons Kayt and Conning sometimes duet and they’re pretty impressive! Just ask the boys! And the girls! The unofficial Kayt and Conning fan club contains most of this year group, and lots of the younger kids throughout Broadland Park High School. And beyond!
“Don’t we get to choose our jobs?” asks KristalClear.
“Yes and no,” says Mr Rafone, well aware that KristalClear has a part time job at the stables, and that NutJob is already doing some work for The Lancastrian.
“The quality of the work that you’re likely to find depends on the diploma you get when you leave school, and that depends on how well you study, and how long you study.”
Mr Rafone’s class of fifteen and sixteen year olds will all be sixteen by the time they leave school at the end of this academic year. In Wolfland, and everywhere else, there is no system of further education. At sixteen people become adults, and they go out and find work.
“Assuming that you make the grade, then at the end of the summer term after your sixteenth birthday, you’re awarded a Diploma of Distinction. Some students leave school earlier. The best they can hope for at fifteen is a Diploma of Merit, or at fourteen a Diploma of Education. In theory, it’s possible to be a sixteen year old school leaver and receive a lesser diploma if your studies are not up to scratch.”
“It’s not officially recognised, but you’ll hear some people use the abbreviations DOD, DOM or DOE. And some drop outs talk about a Diploma of Sod All … or a DOS.”
Previous – Book1 Page101 – Next