GIVING US THE CUTS

When I was at primary school, in the 1970 s, physical punishment for bad behaviour was still officially allowed. This was called "getting the cuts" . A smack or smacks to the palm of the hand or bottom, with a ruler or feather duster handle. Mr Sleeman used to take the naughty boys outside and give them that, I was told. I'm told he only pretended with the girls, and hit the wall instead. I only saw red marks, no "cuts" to the skin. The boys would pretend they had not been crying.  I was never called out. Mr Sleeman told me to be a writer. He taught me for two years.

Fast forward decades, and I'm told Mr Sleeman reported child sexual abuse by clergy in a parish where he was Principal, and lost his job over it. In 2016 he was vindicated at The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse. More about that in the safe link at the bottom of this page. How do I feel about Mr Sleeman? He was a good teacher for me. He was also a product of his time in the 1970s. I think we learned the 3 Rs (reading, 'riting and 'rithmetic), better than kids do today. However physical punishment is now no longer allowed in schools in my state.

From Wikipedia:

State	Government schools	Non-government schools
Victoria	Banned in 1983.[46]	Banned in 2006.
Queensland[47]	Banned in 1994.[48]	Not banned.[49]
New South Wales[50]	First banned in 1987.[46][51][52] Ban repealed in 1989.[53] Banned again in 1995.[54][55]	Banned in 1997.[54]
Tasmania[56]	Banned in 1999.[57][58]	Banned in 1999.[57]
Australian Capital Territory[59]	Banned in 1988.[60][61]	Banned in 1997.
Northern Territory[62]	Not banned, but contrary to Education Department policy.[63]	Banned in 2009.
South Australia	Banned in 1991.	Not banned.
Western Australia	Banned in 1999.[64] Effectively abolished by Education Department policy in 1987.[65]	Banned in 2015.[66][67]

Getting back to The Cuts. The Government here, right now, wants to cut benefits to ordinary Australians and the poor. At the same time they are wanting to give tax cuts to wealthy corporations. 

 

Sign here at this safe site if you want to stop the cuts to the poor:

stop the cuts link

Mr Sleeman and the Royal Commission :

mr Sleeman in "The Age" link