SCHOOL RULES When I was at school in the 1950s, we had to wear a uniform, which we hated. We weren't allowed to talk to the girls at the school next to ours, but, of course, nobody obeyed that rule. Smoking was banned everywhere. The teachers made us work very hard, and we were forced to stay after school some evenings to do several hours' homework. The punishments were terrible. One day, I was behaving badly in class and the teacher got very angry. I knew I ought to apologize but I didn't, so I was punished: he hit me with a stick. I've had a problem with people in positions of authority since then. I think teachers have an obligation to protect children, not hit them.