WHEN the boy entered Grade Six,his teacher repeatedly advised his mother:“Be prepared,your son’s chances of going to a middle school,even a mediocre one,are slim.”Other children in his class had the same opinion.They kept their distance from him,and called him“truant.”Yes,he played hooky,regularly.The reasons were legion,but poverty predominated.His family could not afford the tuition and fees-or even a new schoolbag.He still lugged the same backpack since starting school five years earlier.It was now too small for him and,like his clothes,tattered and patched.This made him feel ashamed,and hypersensitive.Too often nobody meant to hurt him,but he took offense at certain remarks anyway,or even at a mere gesture or glance.More than once,his mom chided him:“We’re obviously poor,but still you won’t swallow your pride.If I’d known that you’d never be happy,I wouldn’t have brought you into this WHEN the boy entered Grade Six, his teacher repeatedly advised his mother: ”Be prepared, your son’s chances of going to a middle school, even a mediocre one, are slim. “ Other children in his class had the same opinion.They kept their distance from him, and called him ”truant. “ Yes, he played hooky, regularly. The reasons were legion, but poverty predominated. His family could not afford the tuition and fees-or even a new schoolbag. Still lugged the same backpack since starting school five years earlier .It was now too small for him and, like his clothes, tattered and patched.This made him feel ashamed, and hypersensitive.Too often nobody meant to hurt him, but he took offense at certain remarks anyway, or even at a mere gesture or glance .More than once, his mom chided him: ”We’re obviously poor, but still you will not swallow your pride.If I’ve known that you’d never be happy, I would not have brought you into this