Hey Jdupille, cheers for the reply :)
Have you read the entire book? Do you know where I could get a copy?
I've only read the bit you can get for free on the net! Alternatively
do you know if it's on the net in full?

It seems that to parents the links between the organisations are
still covered, which doesn't seem right to me. Mr. Boddy, soon to be
head of the boy's school himself said they were separate
organisations. If the teachers make it clear to pupils that this is
not the case, something is not quite right here.

It's interesting that they divided you for meditation. Did they
separate you into different rooms? Was it to allow them the
opportunity of neditationg alone? Were they just genuinely interested
to see who meditated and who didn't? Was it to make a good example of
those who meditate (if so were they also in SES? Sorry to sound like
a conspiracy theoryist! -just trying to cover all the options.)

I think that's a good point you made about the education of the
pupils possibly being influenced by SES politics in a bad way. I also
have it on good authority that a main reason for a sixth-form
master's recent departure was he was not suceeding in getting a good
turn over of boys from the sixth form into the SES Youth Group. (I
will double-check for exact details...watch this space!)
If this is one of the main 'functions' of the school's educative
process then surely education will be incomplete for those who's
plans for the future do not involve participation in the SES.
Damaging?
It is also a bit worrying that a teacher would choose to express his
dissapointment at a pupil not joining the SES, the implication is
that he has made 'the wrong decision'. I'm glad that you were still
able to do what you felt was right for you, but am afraid others
might not be so strong and would be joining for the wrong reasons
which could be harmful to them. It's really very weak emotional
blackmail, (in my opinion of course, but I think I'm right in saying
that), but it comes from the person supposed to be looking after the
pupil and doing the best for them. If the best for a pupil in St.
James includes encouraging membership of the SES then I think it is
an abuse of the position of teacher, esp. as they're supposed to be
separate organisations anyway.
All the best.