Continuing the theme of crime and punishment in the classroom, Jason Renard recalls how a minor offence in school helped him develop a lifetime aversion to a favourite garment! I used to have a pullover which I really loved, and when I first started school I would wear the pullover every Friday - in childhood celebration that the week-end was near and I'd have two whole days at home.
Now I don't remember what I did wrong, which is surprising as I was hardly EVER naughty, but I think I must have talked in class when I should have been listening. By way of punishment I was immediately sent out of the class-room to stand, penitent and motionless, in the centre of our large sunlit hall. Sunlit from above, through large skylights, and very very warm.
I was too upset, and too frightened, to remove my beloved pullover and must have endured almost an hour's suffering. To be fair I don't believe my teacher had intended such a trial of endurance, more a general humiliation in front of my peers, but I never wore the pullover again and to this day I have to be absolutely freezing cold before I'll consider wearing anything more than a shirt.
