The class bully
The Ascham bullying incident takes me back a few years to my son's co-educational state high school in an upmarket Sydney suburb.
Each year the school welcomed refugees from local private schools. Late on one first day of term my son chatted to a new boy who had looked unusually apprehensive and nervous all day. He confided that he had been waiting for an "initiation" ritual, such as being roughed up or having his head shoved down a toilet.
This adolescent was wide-eyed with disbelief and relief to find himself in a safe environment with no bullying and a culture of mutual respect and support. And his parents had paid for the privilege of his humiliation and trauma.
Christina Hart, Bangalow
Always been a bit puzzled at how many people assume good things about private school education, without first checking whether the one they have in mind fits their stereotype of what to expect.
1 comment:
How true. It's also true that people are willing to jump on any bandwagon that passes them and write letters to the Herald about the woes of life! I suffered tremendous bullying at one private (Catholic) boys' school, but when I went to the next private school it had a terrific counselling service that was Christian-focussed. I was treated really well there... I reckon if I were in a public school at the time I wouldn't have had that protection.
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