Belting was unknown in infants-Miss smacked, Headmiss slippered, usually in front of the class. We girls had a wee concession, put across the knee rather than touching toes or across the desk.
The idea was the more delicate female bottom did not need to be hit as hard, so a freer swing of the arm was not required.
In juniors, the teacher smacked or slippered, again usually in front of classmates, the weapon o’ choice depending on the offender or the offence, ditto the number of spanks. With close-knit little streets like ours, there was nae point writing a letter to parents if you fell foul with a serious offence, with a slipper, Dad, with a belt or hairbrush would soon take up the cudgels if they felt you’d not been given enough!