Letter: Childhood stress in the 1930s
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: Professor MacBeath's statement that "kids nowadays experience stress that kids didn't before" (2 August) must not go unchallenged.
I recall growing up in the 1930s; we had far greater unavoidable stress to cope with. Our childhood was spent under the shadow of one great conflict and in the expectation of another. We had no free medical treatment and no antibiotics. There was then no compulsory testing for TB in cattle; milk often came from affected cows. Hospital treatment was sometimes harsh and unsympathetic (I speak from personal experience). There was no safety net for the working class.
I took my School Certificate during the London Blitz (lessons were sometimes given in the school air-raid shelter). Had I not passed in Maths and English, I would have been obliged to re-sit the whole syllabus. In my life at least, religion loomed large; for several years I lived in fear of eternal damnation.
I am happy to say that our children did not have these same burdens to bear, nor, I hope, will their children. Today's stress for children is, of course, undeniable, but it is different and, dare I say it, sometimes avoidable.
JOHN DOUCH
Wellingborough, Northamptonshire
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments