My sister and I would dread coming home with a test score below mother’s minimum.
I remember I got a 90 in mathematics one time – the lowest I ever scored.
I was so afraid to face my mother that day.
I handed her my test and began to cry.
Mum glanced over it, gave me a steely look, and scolded me soundly for failing her.
Then she dragged me inside and caned my bottom.
I received two strokes for every mark below Mum’s minimum.
These frequent punishments for academic matters kept my sister and me on the straight and narrow.
We rarely actually misbehaved because of the fear of mother’s discipline.
You may well think that my mother’s punishments were harsh, but they were successful.
After the maths test I mentioned, I scored 100% next time.
Both my sister and I excelled academically and we have built successful professional careers.