Tomkinson’s Schooldays

Extract from the Australian values statement that immigrants must sign:

I understand

• Australian society values respect for the freedom and dignity of the individual, freedom of religion . . . equality of men and women and a spirit of egalitarianism that embraces mutual respect, tolerance, fair play and compassion for those in need and pursuit of the public good
• Australian society values equality of opportunity for individuals, regardless of their race, religion or ethnic background

Egalitarianism as a sentiment has a long-standing history in white Australia, although arguably it has been some time since it had a substantive meaning beyond just words, and it must be said, it was never applied equally to indigenous Australians. Nevertheless, even today most Australians in polls support the idea of Australia as egalitarian, which may of course just be the ingrained habit of an affectionless doffing of one’s hat.

I came to Brisbane in the late eighties from North Queensland to go to university, to the university that had the highest academic entry requirements in the state. This was long before degrees could be purchased.

I was one of only about 10% of students in my course who came from low-income families and state (government) schools, and not from private (fee-paying) schools and affluent families. This was when I first became aware of the entitlement mentality of the rich: the poorer (state school) students were expected to always defer to the requests and expectations of the richer (privately educated) students.

I remember saying to myself at the time: hang on, you’re no smarter than I, nor any better at sports,  not any better looking, you’ve never had to struggle, and you’re definitely not a better person, so what accounts for your superciliousness? The answer of course was money, they were from rich families, and their entitlement mentality is that it is right and proper that their money buys them superiority and privilege.

And then I met other students from similarly less affluent backgrounds, like Paul T Squires, and we’d smile and wink at the blasé crassness and oblivious stupidity of the rich kids, and how the joke never got the joke.  They would not then, and likely not now, understand that I would never give up the priceless experience of friendship with such as Squires for them.

The point of this story is that a Sydney Church of England Grammar  School (or Shore School) Grade 12 muck-up day challenge has been revealed after the entire manifesto was leaked on social media. Shore School is an exclusive (and very expensive) Australian private school.

Headmaster Dr Timothy Petterson has since written to parents to insist it was “not who we are as a school”.

“Unfortunately, the activities encouraged in the document … are illegal, harmful and, in many cases, disrespectful towards members of the public and portray an arrogant sense of entitlement and an underlying attitude that the school finds deeply offensive,” the letter reads.

Hmmm, I witnessed this 30 years ago!

Students were sworn to secrecy and urged to cover up the events of the night, and provide evidence of completed challenges via a private Instagram account.

“If anyone gets caught by a teacher/cops they will say that they were just having fun . . .  and won’t mention the tournament,” the document reads.

“What happens on the night stays within the night. No evidence is to be shared outside of the Year 12 2020 Shore community.”

“Remember the boys’ code: We protect each other at all costs,” the document stresses.

This is the truth. And so, for example,  the High Court acquitted Cardinal Pell of child sex abuse, despite a jury guilty verdict, despite a Court of Appeal guilty decision, despite Pell not giving evidence, and despite a strenuously cross-examined accuser being found by all independent observers to be a credible witness.

Whether as schoolboys or adults,  remember the boys’ code: We protect each other at all costs!

And they do.