Not that I myself got a whack from the ruler but a couple of our friends and classmates did.
We were in Grade 1?
maybe even Grade 2? and 1 of our friends Joyce had to lift her tartan pleated skirt up and expose the back of her legs and recieved 5 strokes all over that area of her body.
Boy did she jump and try to cover her bottom from the other strokes of the ruler. And rub her bum also.
She did get the 5 strokes and 2 extra for putting her hands down there.
School rulers have always been one of those underestimated implements, a 19inch ruler ΒΌ inch thick applied to the back of the legs, aimed high up as possible for max effect, excruciatingly painful.
Primary school used the 12inch as an alternative to smacking . One particular male teacher was not unknown to occasionally use the board ruler, 34 inches, on the backside of some small boys..