Painful memories from the class of 1971

IN 1971, in a CBS school on the northside of Dublin, I witnessed two first-year boys receiving six slaps on each hand using a leather strap.

Administered by a lay teacher in his mid-20s, the ferocity of the blows caused the two boys to faint.

The brute who inflicted the blows told other students to carry them across to the science lab where they could be revived with smelling salts. While being shouldered over, the brother superior met the boys. He was utterly shocked, stormed into the classroom and ordered the teacher to come to his office after class was over.

Whatever took place between them I will never know but for the rest of us who witnessed the assault it was sickening and emotionally traumatic.

In second and third year I had another lay teacher. He was violent to the extreme and one never knew when or where he was going to strike.

In my experience the majority of Christian Brothers were decent enough.

However, some of the lay teachers they employed, and for whom they were responsible, were pure sadists.

I would like those teachers to know that their behaviour was extremely damaging and has not been forgotten.

Jim Jackman

Park Drive Court

Castleknock

Dublin 15