1. The Implement itself
Mostly, “The Slipper” in school tended to be a well-worn white plimsoll, anywhere between Size 9 and Size 12, with the laces removed as these are an inconvenience for the person using “The Slipper” and without laces “The Slipper” becomes more flexible and therefore better for slippering bottoms effectively. Other implements that I also saw in use included a training shoe with a hard sole; an Indian leather flat leather sandal or chappal; and a baseball shoe of the “converse keds” variety. Some plimsolls had ridged soles and other had smooth soles. Thinner plimsolls tended to have more bend, a lighter impact but possibly more of a sting and whilst thicker plimsolls knocked into the buttocks more and were more likely to result in bruising.
Slippered at School20
