I attended a primary school in Great Britain during the nineteen fifties.
In those days it was customary for all the pupils to receive a medical examination. Conducted at the school by clinicians employed by the local education authority.
For boys , it was a humiliating experience.
An entire class was asked to appear in the school assembly hall.
Where the LEA clinicians had installed themselves.
The pupils were then divided.
With boys on one side of the hall and girls on the other.
We then had to undress completely.
And remain like that.
Until it was our turn to be examined.
This was a source of great delight to the girls.
They got to stare and giggle at all the boys wilies.
Whilst the boys had nothing at which to stare and of which make fun.
This was just something that had to be endured by the self and my fellow male pupils.
Possibly one of two of the girls may have found it distressing.
I for one never noticed it.
The measuring of weight and height was acceptable.
Also, the examination by the doctor.
However, at one point we would be turned over to a school nurse.
Who did further examinations.
One of these involved her grabbing your private parts.
And asking you to cough.
Talking with the other boy pupils.
None of them ever told me that they did not find this uncomfortable.
Simply because all of our mothers.
Without exception.
Had delivered stern lectures to us.
Telling us we must never allow any stranger to touch us in that area.
And school nurses with
whom we only ever came into contact once a year.
Were certainly in that category.
Strangers.
The crunch came in my ninth year.
My developed mind had decided I was no longer going to submit to this assault.
When it became my turn to be examined by the nurse.
I agreed with everything up to this offensive procedure.
When she attempted to grab my privates.
I stepped back and told I did not want her touching me there.
She sort of half laughed and told me not to be silly.
When I refused to move closer to her and submit.
She moved closer to me grabbing my arm.
Now.
Shortly after starting at the school.
I was bullied extensively by other boy pupils.
On learning this.
My mother arranged for me to be tutored in boxing. The ‘ Sweet Science ’
And that very much turned the tables.
After one or two encounters with some of the bullies.
And their coming off worse.
My reputation spread like wildfire throughout the school.
And I was never bullied again.
So when the nurse grabbed my arm.
I behaved in a similar manner.
I delivered a precisely aimed ‘ haymaker ‘ to her midriff.
She collapsed like a felled tree.
The commotion attracted the attention of the doctor and one or two teachers who were present.
The suggestion she had simply fainted, was dismissed by one of these teachers.
Who had seen me deliver the blow.
The same teacher grabbed me by one of my ears.
Dragged me to the Headmasters study.
Where I remained sometime.
Not being permitted to dress myself.
Eventually my maternal uncle appeared.
Since my mother worked.
He was the only person available in my house at the time.
I was then quizzed by the headmaster.
His inference was my behaviour was totally unacceptable and thuggish.
I was allowed to explain why I had committed this act.
I explained that I had no other option.
I had after all.
Made it clear to the nurse.
I did not want her touching my privates.
But she had just ignored me.
The headmaster said that I had no excuse.
He would be reporting me to the police.
With a recommendation.
I put before a juvenile court.
He then asked my uncle to comment.
My uncle pointed out that when my case would be heard in court.
That would not be done privately.
Members of the public would hear the details.
And also the press.
And he added that newspapers had a talent for putting quite different interpretation on facts.
The headmaster then asked my uncle.
To take me back to the assembly hall.
So I could get dressed.
He further suggested I be taken home.
Naturally, I was quite worried about the outcome.
And the suggestion of appearing in a juvenile court terrified me.
A week or so later the headmaster summoned me to his study
once again.
And told me that the incident was now going to be considered closed.
The following year.
I was excluded from the school, medical examination.
The LEA had made arrangements for my own doctor to conduct the examination.
Naturally, because he held my entire medical history.
He was able to conduct a far less rigourous examination.
I was only ever asked to strip to my underwear.
My private parts were never touched.
I left the school after a few years.
And whilst at my secondary school.
I heard that pupils were no longer being examined on a ‘ conveyor belt ’ They were examined individually in a screen area.
And they were not required to undress until they were in that area.
But I never found out if the assaults on boys private parts were discontinued.
I am now an adult, advanced years.
But that encounter still haunts me.
And makes me feel for people who were more severely molested during their childhood.