I must not make my pupils write lines. I must not make my pupils write lines because, apparently, it is degrading. I must not upset my pupils. I must not make their little hands ache by making them write out lines if they are late or rude or don’t do their homework.
I must come up with other ways to make them behave. I can put them in detention. I must put them in detention while I can, because, apparently, some children’s charities are taking legal advice that it might contravene pupils’ human rights.
I must not believe everything I read in the papers. I must look carefully at the tabloid newspaper story which started all this and note the missing facts. I must remember that it’s high summer, and they don’t call it the silly season for nothing.
