Chapter 3

True to his word, the teacher’s misdemeanour was not mentioned in the report; and the school received a good report. He made a note in his diary to visit again in three weeks.

The next visit, to a boys’ school, might have seemed out of kilter with the expressed priorities given to him; however ugly rumours of ‘goings on’ had been surfacing and it was thought politic to make a visit. He steeled himself and insisted on his right and responsibility to see all and any aspect of the school he chose. The headmaster, an imposing ex-army man with a blustering manner and a bullying, booming voice, set himself as an obstacle to this ‘young whipper-snapper’ as he called Mr Small. “No look here, young sir. I’ve been running this school for ten years and had no complaints. I’ll not have my authority undermined by some young whipper-snapper.”

“That is not my intention Major Johnson, but I too have a job to do. My job is to ensure that all the education in this county reaches a standard that will show the county in a good light. We cannot be seen to give special favours to particular schools, I’m sure you understand.” He was trying to be emollient at the moment, but he’d been warned about Major John Johnson MC – he suspected this was the opening salvo of a battle which he could not afford to lose. “I am simply requesting the same access here as I have the right to have at every school – primary, secondary, grammar, private, girls’ or boys’ - I would appreciate your compliance. It would make things run more smoothly that way”

“Not sure I like your tone you young pup.”

“Sir! Let me be frank. You have no authority to prevent me looking round the school – alone. I shall do so today, or I will report that you have obfuscated and prevented me. I will not have that because it would set precedent. The county have a range of sanctions at their disposal. Let me ask you – will you allow me access?”

Major Johnson had not been spoken to like that since he had attempted to tell a General ‘what’s what’ and been invited to resign his commission rather than be cashiered. Though a blustering fool, he was canny enough to realise when he was defeated; it was not Jack’s impressive physique, simply that the Major saw he had nowhere to retreat. This victory for Jack increased his self-confidence no end. He asked for a senior boy to show him round, and in his perambulations he was able to put the boy at his ease. Without meaning to, the boy released some information on the strict discipline imposed. The head had selected a boy who was supportive and indeed enthusiastic about the imposition of canings, freezing showers, naked runs in winter, and roasting punishments for young’uns. Major Johnson thought that in picking a boy who bought into this, his school would receive no criticism from the guide; he did not realise that since the boy agreed and enjoyed the punishments (‘I went through it, it made me tougher, so they should too’) he would also not think there was a reason to hide it. One of the ‘victims’ would have been much less willing to open up in case that resulted in more punishment.

So in a discussion on whether discipline helped the pupils, it was easy to get the boy to provide examples of justifiable punishments. That one boy was hospitalised was just the unfortunate luck of the draw, the boy explained.

Mr Small recommended a root and branch re-organisation of a school structure based upon bullying and cruelty. One or two of the board members (one, an old boy of the school) wondered if they weren’t being a little soft, but generally he was commended for a clear and well-argued report. Major Johnson was thanked for his efforts and put out to grass. Jack recognised that he must be careful in his own approach – as judge and jury he could become just as much a tyrant if he had the opportunity; and tell himself it was all for the general good.

Many inspections were a delight. He liked visiting the primary schools where the children were treated well and wanted to learn. Some schools used corporal punishments or shaming too much – an example was in Lidley Manor school where a girl was standing in a corner, her dress stained from where she had wet herself. She had been too frightened to ask to go to the toilets until it was too late. The punishment simply added to her shame. Jack quietly suggested she should be treated with more sympathy and, without allowing a free-for-all, that young children especially cannot always wait until break. He was dedicated to the idea that school and lessons should not be seen as something to fear. Other schools, like Lady Lorna’s Private School for Young Ladies, was a pleasure because of the pretty girls walking around. They only taught up to fourteen of course, but there were plenty of pretty girls at that age, and some of the teachers were close to either side of twenty. These were a delight to watch – that was his job after all – as they taught. When Miss Cranston stretched up to write on the board her blouse tightened most attractively across her bosom. For all that, Jack concentrated on the work in hand – inspecting schools.

Three weeks later, a second visit to the village primary school was made, this time he was alone; but armed with experience from his other visits. Being alone was just as well, for as he turned in to her classroom at lunchtime, he saw Miss Havers putting a flask away. “Miss Havers? Surely you have not forgotten your promise?” She reddened, from which he surmised that she had been caught out. He reached passed her and took the flask, yes, it smelt strongly of gin.

“Oh, Mr Small, you must believe me, I felt unwell this morning and this was a purely medicinal draught. Oh, sir. Please!”

“Miss Havers! You tried that approach before! I really feel you have been given sufficient leeway”

“Sir, perhaps we could discuss it after school? I need this job, I support my mother who is an invalid.” This he believed knew was true. He did not like to seem to be so hard hearted; but what could he do?

“Well, I shall think about this this afternoon, and we shall discuss it after school as you suggest. But I have to warn you, you should prepare for bad news; we simply cannot have alcohol in the school”

All afternoon he thought about what he should do. There seemed no way to avoid the letter of dismissal. Tempted as he was to impose a similar punishment as before, it was clear it had not had the intended effect; he was grateful that none of the board were with him so he could consider this himself. Mrs Dolmaine would have been punctilious, he felt sure, in insisting that the woman was dismissed forthwith; and it would have been impossible to mention the previous punishment to any of the men – they would either have been horrified or rather too keen to repeat it.