When I was growing up in the late 40’s, 50’s and early 60’s, it seemed to me that every youngster got his or her bottom smacked at one time or other.
Most of the time it was an impromtu spanking, the culprit hauled unceremoniously over the irate parent’s or guardian’s lap, and a flurry of smacks landed on whatever part of the struggling culprits clothed anatomy was available to the descending hand.
Not in our home though! Corporal punishment, when carried out on me, or my siblings (there were 7 of us with me second oldest), took the form of a ritualised ceremony.
Mother was the prime disciplinarian, Father only playing a role if you were stupid enough to resist!
In that case you got a bottom thrashing from father, with his hard hand, then he left you to the tender mercies of mother, who proceeded to give you the same smacked bottom as you would have gotten originally!
We learned early to co-operate!
The Ritual of Discipline Part 1
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Miss Roberts Slipper1
Mary Gallagher was one of a large family from a new housing development. She had the good luck to...
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Pupils in a Class of their Own for Bad Behaviour35
The other time was during break. There was a grassy bank by the side of the playground that we...
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Mrs Worthington’s Sunday School Discipline
1963 was a year I still remember. The Dallas Cowboys went on to a great season and I even...
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School Corporal Punishment References60
Joseph Whitaker School Mansfield Trudy caning people for silly things, our class all got caned cos someone opened the...
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Did the Cane Hurt as Much as you Thought6
Most teachers were not monsters; most schools used corporal punishment moderately. In most cases the cane was meant to...
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Corporal Punishment in Mixed Secondary Modern3
Now, all the state wanted from such schools was control. The kids were unlikely to go to uni. Most...
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Dreams and Awakenings6
Drowsily awakening from his slumber, Carlton became cognizant that his body was that of a five-year-old boy rather than...
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Sent for the Cane 3
When in Secondary school we were taught woodwork by one of the housemasters. One day one of the guys...