Think I was lucky...I somehow sneaked into a decent Grammar School in Streatham, where the teachers were all pretty good and some younger, more liberal attitudes.School is where a bunch of know nothings try to beat the individuality out of growing minds and bodies. I ****ing hated it and spent a fair amount of time being absent after the age of 14. Bless my mother, she didn't give too much of a **** and my father was gone by then.
On my final day my fellow 5th formers cheered me onto the premises. I was asked to leave pretty shortly afterwards - dyed hair and incorrect uniform - I was 16 and it was 1978, FFS!
I never hit a teacher, but know a few who did. There was one teacher who I heard has had to account for his actions on a number of occasions. My younger brother was expelled for refusing to be caned by him
But as a less than super-academic student (to put it mildly), I fortunately won the 'good at sport in a sporting school' lottery - so pretty much from 14 I led a charmed life - even somehow getting me a route through to A levels. Not because I had great O results - but because by 16 I was captain of the cricket team and also playing first team football.
The biggest risks I ever faced was when Tulse Hill or Elliott thugs wanted a day out 'blazer-bashing'
