I think that teacher was actually mentally ill, the way he used to rant and rave over nothing and throw blackboard rubbers at your heads. Others in the class cowered in fear and I did until I made my outburst, I didn't even decide beforehand I was going to call him what I did, it was a spur-of-the-moment reaction after he'd called all of us a bunch of lazy slobs. These days, he would be sacked and banned from teaching for life. He may have got some satisfaction from seeing me caned - by the headmaster - but nowhere near the satisfaction I got having the balls to stand up to him. And as you say, "lix", respect has to be earned, its not an automatic right. Its a two-way thing too and he made it clear from the outset he had not one iota of respect for us but expected us to have it for him. Well, tough titty and on the day I left that school, I blanked him. My Scorpio birthright doesn't often rear its head but it did then and, despite getting the cane, I still feel I was the one that scored the points. He thought as we were k i d s, he could get away with it but I bet you if anyone of his size and age had stood up to him and challenged him to a fight, he'd have shit himself. Apologies for using such a disgusting phrase but his type are all the same, all mouth and no substance