Of course, in the classroom environment, the teacher did not have to record punishments, so in some cases that I know of, it was open slather.
I can recall only one teacher who blatantly over-used and abused corporal punishment in the classroom.
To this day I loathe the memory of that man, who made my last year in primary school an agonized, fearful, and desperate misery.
There were not enough checks and balances in those days,to prevent a cruel and sadistic person from abusing his position.
If I have one objection to the use of corporal punishment in schools,it is that inadequate supervision may produce tyrants, who damage children psychologically as well as physically.