Sir, – Eileen O’Brien’s apology to all those pupils she slapped was moving and most revealing (Life Features, May 22nd).
Like the majority of Irish children who attended school before 1982, I was at the receiving end of such violent punishment. A few of my peers would be of the opinion that it did them no harm and regret its abolition.
However, now almost 55, I am in no doubt that the physical and emotional abuse I suffered throughout my schooling affected me adversely for many years afterwards. I still admire the few teachers I had who did not resort to such violence. In some small way I forgive the teachers who practised corporal punishment but were disciplined in its administration. However, I had teachers who could not hit you hard or often enough. To those in that bracket I doubt if this testimony would bother them too much.
I thank God my own children were spared such a degrading and sadistic “education”. – Yours, etc,