A word on corporal punishment. I first got the strap in grade three, aged eight from a crusty old Boer war era teacher. The first time was an absolute shock in its harshness and cold brutality. I was being punished for talking. I was strapped several more times that year and every subsequent year of primary school for talking. It taught me nothing except that the big teacher had power over me and could hurt me at his say so. It taught me fear, not respect. It became a twisted rite of passage in grade four when the tough kids went for an unofficial record for getting the cuts. Alan Fisher won. I cannot imagine these dear little pampered darlings going through this archaic punishment. There would be civil assault charges and convictions. Why werent we protected from these sadists? Catholic kids got it worse. I dont want to hear any of that it didnt do us any harm bullshit. It did.
Posted on: Wed, 16 Jul 2014 09:35:56 +0000