It was the introduction of comprehensive schools that began the decline of the UK education system. The usual Labour ideologues believed that the progress of the Comprehensive’s better pupils would miraculously spur the less intellectual mob to try harder; instead they merely threatened the achievers to dumb down their efforts and thus excuse the scum from having to try.

Oh yes, and corporal punishment was banned. I had the cane: it hurt, it was deserved and I realised I was being stupid and thoughtless, so I stopped doing that. There is much to be said for a little pain to remind people of where they went wrong. Reasoning with them is at best word-game ‘feel good’ gymnastics and at worst a waste of time.