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Yes indeed Howard the school system in Ireland was austere and in my view very violent. Not from the other pupils, but from the teachers. I went through the system...nuns from an early age and then as one got older, Christian Brothers, who are a half hearted variation on the priesthood. These Christian Brothers were brutal..a long stick was the norm. If you failed to learn something or failed to pick something up, you were unmercifully bashed and even thumped in the head on numerous occasions at such force that it would knock you off your feet. Nowadays you would have a lawsuit and quite right. Brutal religious system all round which nobody dared challenge. Fortunately that was as far as my abuse went...none of the other kind thank god.
But you can see why looking back how the priests were able to get away scot free with the abuse, and such sexual abuse. Nobody dared challenge anything, everybody was afraid. If you were excluded, put outside the religious system, you were sunk .
Two further things. Today I heard about the modern practice in schools here in the UK where the pupils have a say in who will be appointed teacher. Thats taking it way too far the other way. Clearly PC type stuff at play here, but...not good in my view.
also
Today I also hear the Archbishop of Canterbury here in the UK has spoken out about and against the Catholic system in Ireland. I dont welcome that. Its not helpful having a leader of another church sticking the proverbial boot in, and also its way toooo late and way too safe now to do it. Too little, too late, or a day late and a dollar short. Where were you when you were needed?
So overall...no not the happiest days of my life...