“Gradually, though, Wilson had to become less demanding and even to use the tawse to support a weak master. He also abandoned his opposition to impositions and made detentions the most common punishment. Perhaps the school had grown too large for the enlightened methods he had been able to operate at the high school. For all that, he was known for his justice and humanity and for a gentleness which contrasted strongly with the ‘beat first and ask questions afterwards’ approach of many schools in that period.”