Our physics teacher used to whack pupils on the head with a copy of Nelkon. This tome was so heavy that I eventually hurt my shoulder carrying it in my satchel. Pleased to say I never got bashed with it.
One other girl and me were the first in that school to be allowed to do physics and metalwork. The physics teacher was ancient. He wore a lab coat & used to wander out of the class mid-sentence & continue when he got back as if nothing happened. Loved it.