Initiation (no boundaries) – what are boarding schools thinking!

Pene Kimber I am with you because of your child but also at 38 I still have memories how we were initiated at boarding school (primary and high) and I really don’t think it is an isolated incident as the boarding schools in particular think it builds character but believe you me it can do the exact opposite depending on the severity of humiliation and violence.

As a girl child in primary school we were subjected to staying up all night on our knees with our noses touching the wall and bearing in mind we were girls but what happened to the boys was just as bad. We got hit on our hands with a thin reeds or wooden rulers and our hair pulled at the hairline above the ears and down the neckline. It is one thing to carry a rock around as a pet and a totally different thing when you are physically been hurt.

It is a double edged sword to use the cliché but I also feel for the kids that carry out these “traditions” they know no better as that is the way they were taught which then brings me to the teachers and principals. While I fully appreciate the stance Mr Tom Clark took on Carte Blanche last night (7 June 09) he created his own circumstances by allowing these “traditions” to carry on.

My message is really simple – boarding schools and any other school for that fact need to re look at their “traditions”, carrying a matric pupils suitcase and doing silly sports is acceptable the physical abuse of child on child whether primary or high school is totally unacceptable as it does leave a lasting effect.