At my all-girls state grammar school in the south Midlands, corporal punishment was rarely used, although we always knew it was available to staff. Most punishments handed out involved writing lines or detention. Detention sessions were held on Monday and Thursday evenings and could be for one or two hours. In detention, we were allowed to read a book, but not do homework, and they were conducted in absolute silence. I only served two one hour detentions in my entire seven years at that school.

There was a strict uniform policy; navy blue blazers with the school crest, white blouse, navy blue skirts, white knee length socks and black shoes. Underwear had to be ‘appropriate’ although I never heard of anyone being pulled up over their choice of underwear.

I was caned just once, along with everyone in my class. It was a mathematics lesson and the teacher had to leave us for some reason, telling us to get on with our work and not to talk. After she was gone for several minutes, we started talking and getting out of our places, and gradually the noise level rose and rose. We were so engrossed with what we were doing, no one heard our teacher return. Naturally, when her presence began to get noticed, we all stopped what we were doing and stood in silence. We were told to stand at our desks and remain silent while she left us again. This time, we all more or less obeyed.

When she returned for the second time, she brought with her a cane! It was quite short and thin, and pale yellow in colour. She stood at the front of the classroom and, one by one, each girls was called to the front where she had to hold out her non-writing hand and receive one stroke of the cane across the palm. It obviously hurt, because every girl returned to their place wringing their hands. Some were even in tears.

About ten girls had been caned by the time it was my turn. I was very nervous as I made my way to the front. In those days, teachers were like gods so when I was told to hold my hand out I did so without delay. I watched as the teacher held the cane up high over my little hand, but closed my eyes when it started to descend. The pain was excruciating when it hit my hand, like a really sharp sting that you can’t imagine.

As I was sent back to my place, I held my hand under my armpit and felt tears in my eyes. I sat down and saw a thin red line etched across the palm.

GM