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>This is my first post. > >This is a memory of when I was smacked by my primary >school new entrants teacher. I started school around >mid 1991 not long after my 5th birthday, so I was only >in that class for about 5 months. > >One day myself and two other boys were playing with >these plastic cones that could be stacked on top of >each other. Our teacher called us over to join the >rest of the class on the mat (carpet area in her front >of the teacher's chair). We ignored her and continued >building our tower. > >The actual memory is kind of fragmented and more like >a series of still photographs. I don't remember what >she said or her face but a figure coming towards us. >She grabbed my arm and pulled me to my feet. While >holding me arm with her other hand she delivered 3 >hard smacks across my shorts to the exact some spot. > >I don't remember her releasing my hand or me running >to take my place on the mat. My next memory is me >sitting cross-legged on the hard carpet, my bottom >stinging. The classroom was quiet none of the other >students made a sound. I have no memory of the sound >of my two friends being smacked behind me, but I >remember it happening though. Although it stung a lot >I was more in shock than anything. I kept my head down >I was definitely embarrassed and ashamed. > >I am glad that I was smacked first, so I didn't have >to watch and dread what was about to happen to me. I >wonder if being first I got the harder smacks or >whether my friends did as she worked into it - or >maybe we were all smacked equally. > >At 5 years old I didn't know that corporal punishment >had been banned the year before in 1990. I never told >my Mum probably for fear of getting in trouble - >wooden spoon at home. Over 30 years later my Mum and I >were on a walk and my new entrants teacher came up in >conversation. My Mum told me that my teacher was known >for hanging naughty students upside down. This >surprised me as I hadn't heard this before and had no >memory of this. I told my Mum that she had smacked me >once. She seemed surprised and asked why. Despite >being in my mid to late 30s my response was only a >sheepishly mumble "for not listening".

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