Did all parents hit their kids in the 1970s?

[Polythene]

I often hear that this was the norm. But was it, really?

I recall classmates being hit on the hands by a teacher at school and I even witnessed a teacher push a kid down carpeted stairs. The kid was horrible. I never told anyone. The cane was fazed out just before I started school in the early 80’s

I got smacked in the 90s (a lot). Although now I am informed that I imagined it, so that's good eh.

90s kid and I was thrashed by my friends mum a couple of times.

No I didn't but had suffered terrible abuse as a very young child from my stepfather

but everyone else I knew did it all seemed so normal

I do not remember anyone getting the cane at school but a few friends who are the same age (went to different schools)

Totally normal

I used to get the odd smack if I was really naughty and it never did me any harm. Never held it against my parents, thought the world of them.

Born in 60s, rarely smacked and then a quick slap on the back of the legs, which was more of a telling off than anything that hurt. At school had a blackboard rubber chucked at my head by a teacher. Honestly the threat of a telling off generally did the trick.

I was on the right side of the deal, but at Junior School in the late 50's, I thought it unfair that the boys got the cane for serious misdeeds; slapping was just accepted and shrugged off, not worth complaining at home. Not that I got slapped very often.
What changed my perspective was starting at grammar school; it was never spelled out, but the message was clear that there was no corporal punishment at all; good order and discipline were a matter of self-control and consent; I was no saint, but there was a clear understanding of what was expected.

As a kid in the 70s I was smacked, but kids I knew were hit with a belt!
I vaguely remember kids at my primary school being lined up to get the slipper from the headmaster!

Was it a carpet slipper then?

How am I supposed to remember that, I was under 8 years old at the time 😆 you clearly don't believe me, that's ok!

What?!

Born 1971. My Mom was the 1 who did the smacking, it was probably closer to a beating tho, she'd hold my arm up and swing at my legs with an open palm and smack repeatedly until her anger subsided. It wasn't a regular occupancy but enough to keep me controlled. The reasons for it were usually based on what other people would think of her

It was the norm for me. Would get smacked so hard on the back of my legs I would have a raised hand shaped red welt for several hours afterwards
From Middle school (aged 10) onwards the headteacher would use the cane if you were sent to them for punishment

She put me over her knee and spanked my bare arse. I wish I was joking but just one of those things that happened during childhood.

Smacked or threatened. Never beaten.

I was born in 1975, I definitely never got hit by my parents and neither did my brother.

My God! Your bare arse!? She sounds v dodgy! So sorry x

Yes, it sounds crazy to think about it now. She was very nice in other ways and would be an older woman now.

But I saw a lot of this as a kid, it was very common. A friend’s grandad used to whack him with a walking stick. Another mum used to slap my friend hard across the face.

And even the teachers used to do crazy things.

Since teachers were allowed to assault kids until 1986, I’d imagine it was pretty common. Unbelievable really.

No, not in our house

It was a large plimsoll usually. Same at my Junior school. Was not uncommon in the 70s and before

Yes, I remember quite a few of our teachers using a gym shoe, although a number used carpet slippers. Both girls and boys received it, but only boys got the cane. Strange times, but it was just the norm

I can't speak for the 70s, but we got walloped in the 80s.

No teacher did this in my school in the 80s or late 70s when my sister started school. It wasn’t common by then at achool even if it was legal.