When you have a set of 1980s TV Principles like me, you have a clear sense of right and wrong.
You can keep it quiet or play the card like a Sword Of Justice and use it to mete out revenge, to protect the weak, to uphold morality.
You can do the right thing despite any cost and in spite of your own demons.
You can do it simply because it needs to be done.
This method serves you. Although like any, it has its price.
It should be in the curriculum.
Choosing to live through the agenda of others. Offering to help. Finding a way.
Playing a part in life, in lives.
If some of that teaching came from the well-engineered emotional triggers of TV, I think that's all for the good. That's just what schools try to do now isn't it? - engage cheap teaching with technology using CD ROMS and computer based learning packages.
But my teachers had charisma. Mine were heroes whose words you might want to quote as you look in the mirror, whose car you may want to drive and whose actions you wanted to emulate. Whose theme tune you tapped the furniture to and ringtoned 20 years later.
It's not a religion.
But it's not far off.
And Edward Woodward was one of my teachers.
I miss him.
