rising unemployment adversely affects Mickey’s life and tempts him into
crime. Being out of work creates low self–esteem; particularly for traditional
men who feel they need to support their family.
Although the 1945 Education act had made grammar schools free, working
class children had to pass the 11+ exams to gain entry to the grammar schools.
The pass mark was kept deliberately high. Few children were allowed the
privilege of a grammar school education, and even if they gained a place, there
was no guarantee that they would leave with qualifications, as the school leaving
age was 15.
Social Views at the Time
“Blood Brothers” is set in Liverpool, between the 1950s and the 1970s. At the
time, people strongly disapproved of sex before marriage and this is why Mrs
Johnstone ‘has to’ marry quickly. Divorce was uncommon and this is another
reason the neighbours might disapprove of her.
Council Housing
Council houses were the homes of most working class people in the 1950s and
1960s. The terraced houses had a lot to recommend them, but they were also
cramped and lacked inside toilets and bathrooms. They did not have central
heating and were heated mostly by coal fires. Their inner city locations were often
dirty and there was nowhere for children to play as they rarely had gardens.
To improve standards of living, the government moved people away from the
terraced houses into new council accommodation in the countryside. ‘New’ towns
were created like Skelmersdale, and existing places were developed, like Runcorn
and Winsford. Some high rise blocks were built also.
There is a clearly established link between poverty and under- achievement at
school. Edward is sent to a private, fee-paying boarding school and will take O
levels, A levels and go on to university. Mickey leaves school and goes into
employment; things go wrong when he is made redundant, whereas Edward has a
much more secure ‘white collar’ job. Manual workers were called ‘blue collar’
workers; they were more affected by closure of factories and the scarcity of work
connected with the docks.
Mrs Johnstone’s family is certainly helped by their move, although not as much as
she had hoped. In many ways, it is already too late for the older children, and the
unemployment situation was often worse away from the city. Also, many missed
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