My friend Miss F of course before teaching us was deputy head (one of two in our sister school. A lower-fifth girl was sent to her one day for smoking. To be fair to the girl concerned she had an impeccable discipline record and was a polite A-grade student and a credit to the school. Indeed she was seen as a future Head girl ( Head girls were all things sugar and spice; head boys well that’s something else…..) there are a lot of facets to this story for the potential teacher, but I’ll only highlight one. Most staff would have let the girl off with perhaps a few lines or a detention at worst…first offense A grade student unblemished record………and really remorseful and contrite to boot.( Believe me, this student meant it as well) Certainly not a potential re-offender. Miss F was adamant ..she must either take the cane (the ‘advertised’ tariff for her offence)or, if she refused be suspended, which would blot her school record. The girl was distraught, Miss F spent a long time with her and eventually coaxed her to accept.
The Cane and the Double Standard24
