School discipline
Stricter than nowadays
By William Dace
The teachers in the Senior School were rather more cruel. I am now in my 80s and I feel that, if the same punishments were used today, there would be 'questions in The House'. One teacher hit the back side with a 'training slipper', that really did lift the individual off the floor. Another hit the back of the hands, repeatedly, with a twelve inch rule or, with the same rule, on bent-over shiny trousers. One man stood 'the victims' on a chair and frightened them by wielding a four foot cane from all directions. One particular punishment really did raise eyebrows. A lad brought to the front of the class was having a fit of nervous giggles; the teacher, a lady, gave him a right hook that knocked his head through a glass door.