Been there, done that. Or had that done to me, before age 8.

One day, as 3 boys, all age 11 or 12 were beating the heck out of me, we got sprung by a teacher. I’d taken refuge in the school buildings you see, but this time a door had been locked, so they trapped me.

They got 5 strokes of the cane each from the headmaster. I got 6, for starting it. Well, it was 3 words against 1, wasn’t it? It happened every day anyway, though usually I could evade.

We were told never to fight in school buildings again. Do it elsewhere.

How three 11-12 year olds, one pinioning each arm of a 7 year old while the third throws stomach punches could be considered “fighting”, that I don’t know.

The cane strokes on my hand didn’t hurt. Too many endorphins from the bruises I guess. But that 6th stroke… that hurt. The injustice of it.

May God forgive me, I hated that man then. Not the predators – they were just in it for their daily tribute, the lunch money from smaller kids. Nothing personal, strictly business. I hated him because he was supposed to be in authority, the dispenser of Justice. The “Responsible Adult”. And he took the easy road instead.

He wasn’t a bad man. I remember, the last time he caned me. I’d been summoned from the class I was in, the teacher escorted me to his room – and I received 12 strokes for vandalising bikes during lunch-hour. I denied the charge, and demanded to confront my accusers. The usual mob of extortionists. Hence 12 strokes rather than 6.

But my teacher came in to take me back to class, and asked why I’d been punished. Then told the Headmaster a few things. You see, that Lunchtime, she’d been supervising me as I took an advanced literacy test for gifted kids.

He apologised to me. And I, being seven years old, and red with rage at the injustice of it, told him that while I completely respected his office, and his authority… I didn’t care what he as a person did or said.

His face crumpled. I remember that. To have a 7 yr old kid courteously and politely tell you that – in front of a witness.. and with such obvious sincerity.. that you were irrelevant, not even worthy of contempt – must have wounded him.

I had justice on my side – but I was 7 years old, and had no mercy. 45 years ago, and I still remember what I did to him that day. With deep regret, for Justice without mercy is over-rated. I hope I’m forgiven for that. I hope even more to merit forgiveness, whether forgiven or not.

He wasn’t bad you see – just wanted to take the easiest path. I think many school administrators are like that.

I’m going to disagree with you. He was bad.

When the vulnerable are entrusted into your care (for pay, no less) and you allow harm to come to them out of your own laziness, that is the very definition of evil.

It makes no sense, given the daily attention these groups pay to the issue of homosexuality and their expressed Christian love of the sinners- by which I presume they mean bullied and dead gay 13 year olds. If a single wayward teacher used “King and King” in a single lesson 5 years ago, all of these websites light up for years thereafter with expressions of urgent concern. Therefore, it simply cannot be that 3 dead gay teens and 1 injured 11-year old would go unremarked.

I can only assume that there was such a great outpouring of grief and further expressions of Christian love that these organizations were forced to create a separate website to accept postings without prompting a server crash. As I understand that many equally loving Christians visit this site, if any of you could direct me to that website, I would greatly appreciate it.

You see there are Christians, the genuine variety here. And while your words are meant as chastisement for the (expletives deleted), they’ll wound some who least deserve it.

And as for those who do deserve it – they’ll just call your words “Homosexual Propaganda” and ignore them as “promoting the Gay Agenda”.