Letter: John Patten's schooldays

Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Sir: John Patten regrets the passing of corporal punishment in school, recalling the days of the ferule at his old school (5 January).

In 1961, I was a 10-year-old boy in my first year at Wimbledon College and he was my form prefect. One morning, he ordered me to take his briefcase to the prefects' room. The next day, he ordered me to write a two-page essay as a punishment for the serious offence of placing his briefcase the wrong way up.

What I learnt from this was that those intoxicated by power can exercise it irrationally. Perhaps I should be grateful that only the Jesuits, and not the prefects, were allowed to beat us.

Yours faithfully,

DAVID GEANEY

Beckley, Oxfordshire

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Thank you for registering

Letter: John Patten's schooldays

Bookmark popover

Join our commenting forum

Thank you for registering