Chapter 2

Teacher’s Meeting at Millennium High

The day after the first ‘special assembly’, at which the new discipline regime at Millennium High had been demonstrated to the students, Headmaster Barton called an afternoon meeting of the teaching staff in order to update them on the new regime and brief them on how the demerit system was to be operated from now on.

“The first thing I’d like to say”, Barton started, “is that I was sorry not to see more of you at the assembly yesterday. The punishment regime is now an integral part of our school’s culture, and since you are the ones who will be handing out demerits, it is desirable for you to be familiar with the punishments that they will result in. I will therefore now show you a video recording of yesterday’s assembly. Please watch carefully.”

The assembled teachers watched the video of Burt’s, Cindy’s, Cliff’s and Kimberly’s punishments, some with satisfaction, some with disbelief and barely concealed outrage and pity. There were a few male teachers who developed fairly prominent erections – in Mr. Warner’s case (he was wearing loose canvas pants), this was fairly obvious and he blushed profusely...

When the video was over, Mr. Barton announced that he had decided that, from September onwards, teachers would be required to attend punishment assemblies as part of their job, and that there would be two rows of reserved seats for them at the front of the auditorium. He continued:

“I am modelling myself pretty much on a former New York mayor: ZERO tolerance. However tiny the infraction, it should be met with at least one demerit. I will keep a record of demerits awarded by teacher, and if you award fewer demerits than your colleagues I will ask you to explain to me why this might be the case. Any demerits awarded should be accompanied with an explanation of the infraction and its circumstances; please feel also free to suggest an appropriate punishment. Are there any questions?”

Mr. Jones, one of the math teacher, had a question: “It has been my practice to hand out five or ten demerits for missed or badly done assignments – under this new regime, this strikes me as a bit harsh. If, as you originally suggested, any pupil with ten demerits or more gets punished, aren’t you worried the assembly will last all day?”

“That was really two questions, Mr. Jones! Let me answer them one at a time. First, it is not at all the idea that you should soften your discipline regime because of our new rules. Quite to the contrary! Poor or shoddy work should be rewarded with the same number of demerits as before. And for your second question: we will cross that bridge when we get to it. I am currently minded to restrict punishment to two or three students per assembly, and we will start with the ones with the most demerits. Everybody else’s will be carried over to the next month. If we have more than one student with the same number of demerits, we might let lots decide, or think of something else.”

There was a buzz of approval in the room.

“Ok, if there are no further questions, the meeting is dismissed. See you all tomorrow!”

Mr. Warner, the English literature teacher, was grateful that his erection had subsided somewhat by then. His thoughts were racing. He was not the most attractive of men, and his success with the opposite sex had always been on the indifferent side. In front of his PC, surfing a number of his favorite BDSM sites, he pictured some of his female pupils in the place of the models ... realizing that he now had the power to make this a reality!

A rather unusual English lesson

As Mr. Warner made his way to his class room the next day, he was thinking of Rebecca, the school beauty – a petite, innocent looking 16-year old with a slender figure, small but firm breasts and the most exquisitely pretty face. The class was covering Romeo & Juliet.

“Class, please settle down. We got as far as Act 3, Scene 4 last week – so let’s continue with Scene 5. Who will be Romeo? Nobody? Well, Cliff, the role is yours. Rebecca will be your Juliet. Begin, please!”

“Wilt thou be gone?”, Rebecca read. “It is not yet near day. It was the nightingale, and not the lark, that pierced the fearful hollow of thine ear.”

“You could read that with a bit more emotion, Rebecca!” Mr. Warner interrupted. “Juliet is worried that her new husband is going to part from her, for an uncertain time. She wants the night to continue.”

Rebecca tried again, but Mr. Warner was still not satisfied. “I suggest you stay behind after class and I will try to teach you then. Let Judy take over now, please!”

Judy did a better job, but, after a few lines, Peter interrupted her to ask why Shakespeare’s language was so incomprehensible: “‘Jocund day stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops.’ Who speaks like that?” Laughter. Mr. Warner was furious.

“You are mocking the greatest playwright in the English language. Think again. That’s five demerits!”

Shocked silence. There was no more criticism of Shakespeare’s use of out-moded vocabulary, and the lesson proceeded without further incident. Afterwards, as the class was leaving, Rebecca came to the front.

“Ok, let’s see if we can make the whole thing a little more realistic. You will have heard of method acting, where you ‘become’ your character? Maybe this will help. So, put yourself in Juliet’s position. She has just spent her wedding night with her new husband. It is now morning. What would she be wearing?”

“A nightie?”

“Highly unlikely, I would suggest. She has just made love. They only put on nighties after that in cheap Hollywood films. I suggest she would have been entirely naked. To really get into the role, I suggest you do the same.”

“You mean, here, now?”

“Yes.”

“In front of you?”

“Well, yes, how else am I going to help you?”

“I am sorry, I do not think that is an appropriate thing to ask me to do.”

“Ok, well, at least strip down to your underwear. You want to learn how to do this, don’t you?”

“No, again, I do not think that taking off any clothing at all can be part of the English literature class. In fact, I think I am going to report you to Mr. Barton.”

“Let’s cut to the chase, Rebecca. You have the following choice: do what I ask, and I will give you an ‘A’. Refuse, and I will award you 30 demerits for flagrant disobedience, which should give you top billing at the next assembly. If you want to report me, feel free; just ask yourself who out of the two of us is more likely to be believed.”