Finally, they would ask you what your punishment should be and the answer –
if you were smart –
was always going to be ‘the paddle’.
You were then given two options –
three swats or six
. Out of fear, everyone always said ‘six’ because of a rumour that if you guessed wrong, it could be 10.
The principal or vice-principal would then write out an ‘orange card’ – an orange, index-sized card with your name, home room number, and how many swats you were to get.
Then you were dismissed from the office for your next class.
The principals did not give you your swats – these were given by the gym teachers when you showed up for gym class.