The male teachers used to hit hardest but the female teachers seemed more adept at hitting the hand accurately. I think that my conclusion is that the cane in front of the class was more embarrassing than in private but that my deputy headmistress was the most painful caner in primary school. She could ensure that the wait was terrifying and the lecture before frightening. Then she would flex the cane several times before tapping my hand. She would hit my hand right across the fingertips with at least one stroke so the whole hand hurt. She also had a method of flicking the cane slightly just before it struck my hand and this seemed to enhance the pain factor.
I would like to know which you think was the most painful, the cane or slipper, male or female teachers