They clearly do care about their charges, and try to improve their situation through the Hailsham experiment, but even so, working in a position like that does mean they help maintain that horrible system. Better that than the treatment they'd get in other places, no doubt, but still... don't envy them that sort of dilemma.

Hm. I want to say yes, I'm generally in favour of openness, including towards children when at all possible... it would cause them more pain and discomfort while still at Hailsham, though, so it's a good question. I think I'd still end up with yes, but of course the next question is at which age, and if you tell the older children won't they just let the younger ones know? Difficult.