The question of reliability inevitably arises.
One useful form of verification is what might be called peer confirmation.
If several former pupils independently remember the same teacher, punishment practice or school rule, the account becomes more persuasive.
The profile of the person contributing can also provide clues.
A long-established former-pupil group containing ordinary photographs, school memories and discussions among people who plainly know one another is rather different from an anonymous account appearing solely to make a sensational claim.
There is also a curious possibility that shorter recollections may sometimes be more reliable than elaborate ones.
An ordinary statement such as:
“I received three strokes on the hand for smoking in the fourth year”
has the ring of a straightforward school memory.
By contrast, an exceptionally theatrical account containing an unlikely combination of elaborate details deserves greater caution.
This does not mean that unusual events never occurred.
It simply means that extraordinary claims require stronger supporting evidence.
