"Snow! Little bits of lace! I don't believe it!"

"I suppose she wanted us to have a grasp of what was out there surrounding us, and it's amazing...the extent to which my idea of the various counties is still set by these pictures Miss Emily put up on her easel." (Page 65)

     It doesn't take a genius to realize that these kids are sheltered beyond belief. They're growing up in this controlled boarding school, and they have literally never been outside the fence. Their only knowledge of the world outside comes from their teachers (They're called Guardians - I mean, come on. How much more protected could they get?) and the little bits of culture they can obtain through their Sales and Madame's fickle presence. And she's scared of the little boogers! 

     As I was reading this description that Kathy gave of their geography class, I was reminded of that scene from the King and I when the King of Siam's children and wives refuse to believe that snow exists simply because they have never seen it. Granted, the children of Siam were even more culturally sheltered than the Hailsham students, but the Hailsham students responded better to new things. I don't mean to say by this comparison that the students in the book didn't believe about the rest of England, but the idea that they can only learn of something from a teacher and not actual experience is similar. The biggest difference, of course, is that these kids are going to be thrust into society at age 16. Good luck!