I was a boy Midshipman (technically a Cadet Midshipman), one of the last in the Commonwealth.
They let us join the Navy as children. They let us do a lot of things as children.
But they also always made sure that there was somebody there who had a chance of getting us out of trouble in an emergency.
That’s how it was for the 300 years that boys were allowed to train as officers. It’s a very different situation from the one Ms Sunderland found herself in.
Adults should allow children the chance to fall - but always be there to try and catch them when they do.
A fair point, sir. Though Farragut took a command at twelve, he certainly wasn't alone. There were many seasoned men on that ship well able to see to it that she'd fare as well as possible under any circumstance.
I guess my point in stressing Farragut's "tender age" is that the definition of "adult" has been pushed ever farther up in age over that same 300 year period, and it does not appear that push has served us well. I think that our current attitudes allow people to remain children too long; to not have to apprehend real responsibilities for so long that they becom habituated to not apprehending them, and are therefore quite resentful of reality forceing it all upon them later.
If the reality of inescapable responsibilities were imposed at age fourteen, say, instead of after college graduation at age 21 or 22, that'd be seven less years getting to live without being responsible, seven less years indulging the habits of not having to be responsible, and seven more years building a child into a capable, productive adult. I think the overall change in society would be highly beneficial.