Books by Berwick Coates

Berwick Coates found it something of a shock when he worked out that he had taught over 40,000 lessons. However, with a record like that, it seemed not unreasonable to suppose that he might have a thing or two to say. Among others is the great truth that the classroom is not a democracy, a salon, a debating chamber, or a symposium; it is an arena, which is pervaded by a semi-permanent state of friendly undeclared war. Victory does not go to either side; you win some and you lose some. Survival depends on proper knowledge, awareness, flexibility, resilience, a willingness to learn, thinking on the feet, a sense of humour, and low cunning.

Here is a History teacher`s tribute to error - the error which defies correction, the error which has a logic of its own, the error which often deserves to be right far more than the truth does.Which port in Spain did the Armada sail from?El CidWhat was a toga?A rape-around robeWhat does the name 'Christ' mean?Something has gone wrongWhy was England dull under Cromwell?He closed the cinemasWhere was Hitler born?Burnham Thorpe, NorfolkWhat did men use to build the prehistoric huts on Dartmoor?Their hands.

The story of Starkeye & Co