Why? What did it achieve apart from enhancing Miss F’s ‘hard’ reputation? Well according to her this later to be Head Girl a lot. Miss F argued that she was a potential head girl. Someday she herself might have to refer girls, probably of a very different nature and background from herself, to the Deputy head, and they may well, in extremis, get caned. What did that look like, and more importantly, how could she do it, if she herself was not prepared to accept this discipline when it was earned? She would be completely morally compromised. ….Miss F ‘won’ giving her some leeway on the ‘normal’ tariff in recognition of her record and contrite apology ( highly unusual)…Years later when I discussed with the now young lady concerned she agreed that the Deputy head, whilst understanding and sympathetic to her plight, was right to insist…for …..The high office carries high responsibility; and as Zeno reminds us all actions carry consequences that you shouldn’t be able to avoid, no matter who you are… ( Alamo values!). …….
The Cane and the Double Standard25
