The question of whether a caning was deserved or not is often asked.
When I went to school back in the late 50s – early 60s, the use of the slipper or cane as a form of punishment was part of everyday life. I believe it might sometimes have been a case of the teacher thinking that is was about time a caning was given.
Its like a football game that is getting out of hand and the referee decides that the next player to commit a foul should receive a yellow card. That player may consider himself unfortunate as worse fouls had gone unpunished.
That some teachers felt that it was necessary to administer regular canings just to keep order is unfortunate and these days many people would be horrified. On the other hand, the bring back the cane brigade would feel that this might be the best way to restore discipline in out unruly society.