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.
Berwick Coates was educated at Kingston Grammar School and Christ`s College, Cambridge. Since then he has been, at various times, an Army officer, writer, artist, lecturer, careers adviser, games coach, and teacher of History, English, Latin, General Studies, and Swahili. He is the author of nine works of non-fiction, and lives in the West country where he works as a school archivist.