HE was a small man but had a way with words. And with a cane.

I had been sent up to his study because of a gross and unfounded allegation that I had been party to the bullying of a smaller boy. Which I hadn’t.

Mr Grimthorpe put his grizzled face close to mine and quietly uttered: “If I find you’ve been hurting Spindle, I’m going to hurt you.”

As it happened, Spindle cleared my name and no more was said. Certainly not an apology.

Did this teacher’s threat have any effect on me? Yes. The chip on my shoulder grew into a giant King Edward.

But did it teach me a lesson? Yes again. Of the absurdity of trying to stop (alleged) bullying behaviour by bullying behaviour.

Which is why the comments of the government’s Behaviour Tsar Sir Alan Steer – that sending pupils to the head for “a right royal rollicking” could be better than giving them a fixed term exclusion – are baffling.

He could, of course be correct. But only in terms of which option is the least ineffective.

Steer is right to point out that excluding children won’t see most of them heading for the town library. They are more likely to seek out gangs, he warns. But does shouting at people ever do any good?

I have always believed that firm but supportive behaviour has to be the preferred option. But, as Sir Alan – and many teachers – would point out, I have never faced a 6ft 6ins teenager whom I suspect of having a machete.

Which might lead to a rather rapid change of my opinion.