 |  | | | Educated in Kirkcaldy | There are 11 messages in this section. |
Wilma Anderson. Posted 20 Jun 2002.
Educated in Kirkcaldy, 1952-1966. Just really horrid memories, what a cruel place school was. Discipline? It was cruel child abuse. I can't imagine allowing anyone to 'belt' my child, or my grandchildren.
What an easy 'cop-out' for parents, just send the kids off to school, they will raise them belt them black and blue and no repercussions. Shame on all you 'teachers' for the harm you did to so many kids.
Sure we had a good education, but that's what they were paid for, not to hurt us. And shame on the parents who sat back and did nothing to stop the abuse. I have no fond memories of Fife, of school or of any teacher. And just so you know, I was never strapped once!
Good riddance to the old days. No wonder I emigrated as soon as I could. Dont romance the old days, they were terrible days, we all should have learned something from the days of abuse and teachers who actually got a "kick" from seeing a child squirm in pain... | | |
|  | John Sandland. Posted 31 Jul 2002.
I have nothing but fond memories of school in Kirkcaldy. I was a reasonably active lad and as a result got the belt on quite a few occasions. It never did me any harm. Im still in touch with some of my school chums and when we meet we reminisce on our time at school and the fun we used to have.
Kirkcaldy in the late forties and early fifties was a great place to grow up and had an excellent education system. There were loads of things for young kids to do and the sun seemed to shine everyday. Im glad I was brought up there and although I now live in England, Im always glad to Come Home.
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| | Arthur Davies. Posted 18 Nov 2002.
Wilma Anderson is correct, belting children never was a good thing to do. I too remember the teachers who handed out punishment to children using the Lochgelly manufactured tawse with relish. The teachers got away with terrible deeds, many a child must have grown up emotionally disturbed. Those so called teachers were nothing more than inadequate bullies, some bordering on the insane. I also was belted, what for? Supposedly chewing a sweetie, despite my protestations, I was not eating sweeties, I was dragged out and humiliated in front of the class and given the belt. Many of those teachers still alive today must be dreading the human rights act and the thought of being taken to court for their harsh treatment of children. Thank goodness we now live in a much more tolerant society, and the use of such punishment is now illegal.
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| | Andrew Hope from Minnesota, USA. Posted 14 May 2003.
I'm always dismayed when I hear of the great harm done to poor children by the dreaded belt. Utter rubbish. One needs only look at the problems in school these days to see that no discipline is, indeed, a terrible thing. I got the belt quite a few times. I didn't like it, and it hurt, and I think it probably kept me from making the same mistakes more than twice. It's always easy to look back on things having gained a political slant one didn't have as a child and point out the flaws - I do it myself. However, the original poster's comments are incredibly over the top. It's quite clear that this person has very few good things to say about growing up in Glasgow over and above the "cruel" school system. To say that she was happy to emigrate, but only mention a school punishment she never received, seems ludicrous to say the least. I would have no problem with a teacher giving my daughter the belt these days. It's no more a hysterical reaction than the one over spanking. I think there's a clear line between what constitutes a simple physical reprimand and beating. A couple of swats on the behind is a lot different than geein it laldy with a slipper. Likewise, a couple of belts on the hand (which was the majority of the beltings I ever witnessed, or was part of), is a lot different than the "insane" beatings as claimed. Please restrain yourselves!
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| | B.Hume from Edinburgh. Posted 15 Sep 2003.
I, like a lot of boys at school were given the belt or strap because we missbehaved
or would not pay attention to our teachers. It did me no harm and made me respect most of the teachers. We had no respect for the teachers who did not use the strap we called them "Softees".
I have been sucessful in my life and retired at age 56 and the the strap helped me instead of hindering me. Todays kids do not have respect for people because they know they can get away with murder and the teachers cannot do a thing about it.
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| | a russell from dunfermline. Posted 19 Sep 2003.
To all who agree with the belt. How about me, who went to school in Dunfermline in the 1950s, coming along to you and belting you on a regular basis with a leather belt, 6 on each hand with all the force i can command.
Not to worry to much, at 58 years old Iam not as strong as i used to be.
I agree i have never seen so much cruelty as i witnessed in school in the good old 1950s
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| | Sheila from Vancouver, Canada. Posted 5 Jan 2004.
I went to school in the 1950s and 1960s in Dundee, and got the belt many a time. No, I didn't like it, but how bad could it have been when given a choice of writing lines or taking the belt, most of us chose the belt. I don't know whether the belt actually did me any good, but I do know it didn't do me any harm. It was just part of school life, and you accepted it like everything else at the time. Like others in this forum, I think the controversy over the belt is an overreaction. Some teachers may have abused it, but although the belt is gone, those who would abuse children find other ways. It's not the belt that was at fault, but the person using it.
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| | Ron from Norfolk. Posted 27 Jul 2005.
These "do-gooders" who condemn the use of the belt in school need to start living in the real world. I was at school from 1942 to 1955 and was on the receiving end of the belt quite a few times. I didn't like it and I know that it kept me in line and I am sure that applied to other pupils as well.
Nowadays, we read of schools having to exclude more and more pupils, teachers being assaulted and, as a result, children who want to learn are being impeded. Is that sensible when a good "six of the best" would have solved most of the problems we face now?
I am now a magistrate and sit in the Youth Court where it is sad but true that many of our customers have had no discipline at home or at school and, believing that they can do as they like, graduate to become the petty criminals we all abhor.
Those who brought about the abolition of corporal punishment have a lot to answer for.
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| | MF from Dundee. Posted 10 Aug 2005.
The reason I found this site is that I am attempting to "exorcise" a phobia which regularly keeps me awake forty years after leaving school.
I am still haunted by the concept of belting although, by the standards of the day I probably got off very lightly.
My memory is that it was administered for everything and nothing according to the whim or, more rarely, judgement of a teacher. My problem is less with the "just" cases, although I have considerable misgivings over the use of violence by adults in all spheres, but with the absolute right given to all teachers, many of whom had obvious problems of social or professional inadequacy, to publicly humiliate children.
The point of corporal punishment is less about pain than humiliation - to have the right, even if not fully used, reduce a child to a state of abject pain where all dignity is lost in front of others and at the same time to have acknowledge the right of an arbitrary adult to inflict that humiliation.
Was scottish education "the best in the world" as often claimed? What are you comparing it with? Although better than today it was for me a miserable experience marred by the constant threat of gross injustice, unexplained, and often unjustifyable rules, with the good work of a few good, even outstanding, teachers diminished by incompetant, lazy and authoritative social misfits within a system which gave them absolute authority. That it was others rather than myself, usually those in "lower" classes, who suffered most does not diminish to concern.
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| | Peter McCluckey from London. Posted 10 Nov 2005.
I am writing on the day a teenage schoolgirl was scarred for life in school after having her face slashed by a classmate.
I was at school in the 1970's and the belt was still very much in action. We all did our best not to break the school rules because it was extremely unpleasant to be on the receiving end. Although we hated it at the time, it was only years later that I understood this was the point. I didn't enjoy getting the strap - so I behaved well. I didn't even swear in front of adults, let alone assault my classmates.
I believe I turned into a decent and considerate adult, despite a fairly humble upbringing. Today's kids, many of whom lack discipline at home, would benefit greatly from its return.
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| | Sara Wonka from UK. Posted 16 Oct 2006.
I may be 15 years old, but even i can see that the school "discipline" system has gone pathetic.
Theres no respect towards teachers nor other pupils, and many things go un-punished resulting in more extreme behaivior. Everybody needs to know their boundries and have respect for others, but, in today's society its full of petty laws. I hate how uncontrollable kids have gone, because its me and many other shy quite kids who get hurt.
Saying that though, i've been belted before but by a family member and it does hurt alot. I think the "strapping" should never have been banned in schools.
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