Probably the worst part was being outside and waiting your turn, while listening to the punishment being administered behind the door. The headmaster, Mr Taylor, would normally come to the door with the cane already in his hand and call out the name of his next victim. The door would shut, there’d be a short silence (probably a discussion of misbehaviour) then you’d hear the cane come whacking down. Most kids would try to take it bravely but you heard some cry out after the stroke and a few (mostly younger) boys would cry like they were a toddler getting their first smacked bottom off their mummy.
I’m ashamed to say that even though I knew I’d be in there myself, bending over and getting whacked, I did find it interesting to listen to the others receiving their punishment on the other side of the door. I could feel myself stirring in my pants and it would occasionally turn into a full-blown erection, which I would then have to carefully hide.