Humiliating punishment in school
In 1942, Mrs. Fenner of Woodmansterne primary school,London,SW16, was a dedicated red-faced, loud-speaking, domineering, teacher of the 3R's in the top class of the school and we were all scared of her and did not dare misbehave.
One of the children sitting behind me asked me to explain a point he did not understand and as I was giving him the answer, she called me out to the front of the class for punishment.
She took a chalk-filled duster and tied it under my jaw and over my head and sent me down to the sit in the class for 6-year olds until playtime.
All the children thought this was hilarious, as blushing, I did as I was bidden.
I have always regretted that I did not think of going into the cloakroom/toilet to wait for the break time. Nobody would have known.
I was very grateful to her, however, as her teaching got me a place at St. Olave's Grammar school, near Tower Bridge.