Memories: Giving the slipper man a run-around
Charles Habib started at the small Hardenwick prep school at Sandridgebury, Hertfordshire, England in 1967, aged seven and stayed there until it closed in 1971.
The master I
remember most vividly was Mr. Harris, he writes on the Harpenden
History website. He was a
“slipper man.” and “he didn’t hit hard.”
He recalls, “One surreal
scene, which I'll never forget, was when he caught Daniel, a Kenyan, and me out
of bed after lights-out – dressing gown on – downstairs. Daniel, was new to
corporal punishment and when Harris, holding the slipper, ordered him to bend
over he kept standing up every time Harris raised his arm.
Harris, totally frustrated,
grabbed Daniel by the elbow and the whole scene culminated in Daniel screaming
and running in circles, while Harris, turning with him, kept trying to hit him
on the backside with the slipper, missing, and shouting “Stand still, Stand
still!!” – all the while poor Daniel screaming and hopping, until Harris
finally gave up.
Now someone from today’s
generation would think “how horrific.” But it wasn’t, it was simply surreal,
and bottom line, almost normal. I liked Harris – I was never afraid of him.”
Picture credit:
Unknown
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