Whilst the cane is hard to take when applied with full force, there are those such as me who seemed to get into trouble quite frequently. My first offence earned me 3 strokes, touching toes, in school uniform short trousers. My next offence earned me 6 similarly applied.
However I saw the headmaster several more times. Having given me 6 strokes of the cane I couldn’t get less the third time so it was 9 strokes, then 12.
Probably out of exasperation my 5th caning was also 12 strokes but I had to take them in PE shorts.
My 6th caning was also in PE shorts but with a thicker cane.
By then I had got the message. None of my offences would have merited expulsion – this was unknown anyway in my day.