The Old Draconian School System, Part 1

To many, school in the 50s and 60s was a place to play,
A place for the studios;
A place for cleanliness and the ability to regurgitate;
but for others, like me, it was a place of hell,
A place of contrast, a place we learnt our place in society.
Children proud of their fathers
Who were trappers, farmers and truck drivers (truckies)
Were soon taught that such occupations were frowned on.
What one learnt at home, and was often concreted
Into the minds of the older generation,
Was sometimes in contrast to what was taught at school.
Many old books praised Stalin,
Whilst teachers of the 50s and 60s talked
Vehemently of his atrocities.
We were taught about our great, proud nation
With its White Australia Policy and its universal voting;
We were taught about the wrongs
Of apartheid in South Africa;
We were taught about the atrocities in Germany;
We were taught to be proud of our
Queen and country and God; our protectors.
We were never taught about our atrocities
Towards our Aborigines.
We denigrated their existence.
This was the time of perceived white supremacy.
Thank God the old Draconian system is only
A haunting memory in some ageing Australians.
I wonder how many descendants of Aborigines or Chinese
Cringe at such sentiment -
How many felt that they were betraying their ancestors
By the denial of their school days?
© Judy Brumby-Lake