Mr L was a big, tall teacher. He could not only mentally but physically put you in your place – he would grab you by the scruff of the neck, drag you to the corner and give one hard smack on the bottom – that was it.
Mrs E was a proper ‘old style’ teacher, and I had great respect for her. We actually had dinner together not long before her death, as we had kept in touch. She was in her 80s by then but still had her marbles.
Mrs E was a belter – she didn’t think twice about making you drop your trousers and pants, and giving your bare backside a good belting. I tell you, you didn’t sit down for two days afterwards.
When I had dinner with Mrs E as an adult, we spoke about how things had changed since I was at school. She said that respect had gone out of the window when CP stopped in schools, and that kids needed discipline to teach them right from wrong.
Well, one thing led to another as we talked about old times, and after I said I’d like to see whether she could still give it out, Mrs E had me bare my bottom like old times and gave me the belt. It still hurt a great deal, even as an adult! Rest in peace, Mrs E.