This statement contradicts and is confusing, “behaviour in girls less prevalent, but girls misbehave more”.
and caning on the whole was not only reserved for serious misdemeanours, but petty infractions that both genders committed.
Sometimes, but not always. And far more commonly in boys schools than in girls.
How can the cane be an effective deterrent if used frequently for petty infractions?
The problem seems to identify itself where co-ed schools treated boys and girls differently, did these schools feel what worked well in girls schools, would work in a co-ed situation with the girls, hence girls were subjected to less CP or given alternative punishments.