Lord Bonkers' Diary: A regiment of teachers

A second day on the, er, unique Bonkers Hall Estate.

Tuesday

I have, ever since serving on the Escape Committee at prep school, taken a keen interest in the latest developments in education and have been able to introduce many innovations to the village school. Vocational training, the teaching of foreign languages, shoes... we have been at the forefront of all of these. So I was intrigued to read of a school that will be drawing its staff from former members of the Armed Forces.

Funnily enough, here in the East Midlands there was once a regiment that was drawn entirely from teachers. Though it had its successes – one fellow won the VC at Rorke’s Drift for telling the encroaching Zulus to “Go back and walk” – on the whole the experiment was regarded as a failure. You see, rather than drill, practise throwing their blackboard rubbers or polish the leather patches on their elbows, the teachers generally preferred to sit around moaning about their pay and conditions.

Lord Bonkers was Liberal MP for Rutland South-West, 1906-10.

Previously on Lord Bonkers' Diary

• The tramps of St James's Park