This is a story of two head teachers.
For my first years in senior school we had an old style strict, conservative, disciplinarian head, and universal bullying. Every boy got beaten, it was the norm and teachers would do nothing about it because;
"That's the way it has always been, it was like that in my day and it never did me any harm"
This was only physical abuse, there was no attempt at mental abuse, which would have been much worse. At that age bruises soon heal, so long as they remain physical bruises.
Then along came a new head, who was 180 degrees to the opposite. Dick Copland was a radical liberal, modern, progressive headteacher who banned physical punishment, removed the emphasis on competition and hierachy, pushing the concept that every child is of equal value, regardless of ability. And this is true though you might not believe it, the bullying stopped. Just like that.
This made him enemies among some of the more old fashioned teachers and parents. To discredit him they created rumours that he was a puff, a dated insult meaning homo. I have no idea if there was any truth it that, it wouldn't have made any difference to us pupils, we loved him no matter what, and supported him in his fight to keep his job.
I am so grateful to Mr Copland, my schooldays would not have as happy without him.
His book about those times, 'Lessons in Class', is hard to find, one day I might get the chance to read it.
