School corporal punishment memories 1980s

[Cati79]

I remember when I first started year one in Manchester in 1985 I was terrified of getting into trouble. Most of my teachers were actually really nice. I only remember seeing 2 canings in my entire schooling life and the worst physical punishment I ever recieved was a couple of taps with the ruler on the knuckles in 2nd and 4th grade for not paying attention in class. I understand nowadays that this would be considered taboo but it certainly did me no harm and I always remember children actually respecting these sorts of teachers who were strict but fair. I told my dd whose in year 4 about the ruler story and she was horrified but said some of the kids in her class probably could use the ruler every now and then lol. What was your schooling life like back then from the 1980s- till now?

Iguana

I felt very much the same and when ds1 started school imagined them to be the enemy, but soon realised how much had changed.
However, in the intervening time when I had no idea what schools were like now, so for about 10 years, I felt the same.

I guess it's like anything else that some people have to suffer, you have no idea if it didn't happen to you.
I love clowns, but can see why many are freaked out, the same with spiders.
Some teachers back in the day were horrendous, and throughout my schooling I experienced one nice teacher, who never hit me.

I second an opinion up thread to beware of motives re a thread on this subject. Personally, am v glad physical punishment of any nature now not allowed. IMHO a profession which allows adults to hit children, invites adults who want to hit children.

Yes but clowns are performing with thick make up on and spiders are in human psyche as terrifying. A whole profession of thousands is a bit different, surely?

Belt here (Scotland). I can only remember hearing that one older boy had got it - the news went round the school like wild fire. He was a cheeky shit - can't say any of us were surprised.

Small Irish town early 70s. The first class teacher used to line whole class every morning and hit them with a stick for bad handwriting. Because hitting a 6 yr old with a stick on the hand is really good for handwriting.

Started school in 1983 and definitely remember children being hit. Last recall it from the first year of juniors which would have been 1986.

Started school in 78 and though corporal punishment was an option, the teachers were generally lovely (and the scary one didn't need corporal punishment to be terrifying). Each week anyone who had forgotten homework or had a Bad Mark had to stand up in Assembly to be told off - there was one boy who got a few Bad marks and got caned a couple times but I think they then gave up on him. There was one day when our Y3 teacher lost it with a bunch of us and we all got the ruler on our hands, once a boy used dirty words and was made to lick soap, but as it was generally a nice place with caring staff, it didn't really matter one way or the other. Though at all my schools and when I was a youth worker in the early 90s, pulling children apart or poking them into the rightdirection or an ear twist until they paid attention was all normal - and my A-level teachers in 1990 would throw stuff at anyone not paying attention - it's only in the last couple years I've seen on MN that teachers aren't supposed to do that now!

Did have school dances with a boys' school in 1991 where they still had the cane (not banned in private schools until 96) but in practice only one slightly pervy master ever used it, and the rest all gave classic punishments like gating or running round pitches at 6am or (worst of all IMO) cleaning the student kitchen. Caning would have been preferred which is why it was got rid of.

Iguana

Not when you have more to fear from the teachers than clowns or spiders.

The fact is, i'm quite a toughie and have always been known as such, I take a lot before I snap or get upset.
I give people the benefit of doubt, in general and don't take a dislike to a person without good reason. But, my education and the system it came under completely broke me, and I didn't do anything wrong except for struggle with the work due to many learning difficulties.

I was 7 and remember being smacked on legs with a ruler and knuckled because I couldn't add two columns of numbers. By the time I'd carried to next column, I'd forgotten what I'd done in the first.
My legs were red raw and i was so scared to go to school every day because I knew I'd get more of it.

However, when you look at the system that teachers work under, they have to go with that system and do as they are told.
I don't dislike teachers, I used to fear them and the past system they worked under because it ruined my childhood.
I have very few memories as most has been blanked out because it was too emotionally and physically damaging.

Of course the system isn't like this now, but there was a huge gap between then and when our eldest ds started school. So yes, I did shake the first times I had to become involved with teachers.
I'm fine now in terms of this but I don't think I will ever get over the damage the teachers and system did to me as a child.

When I hear people talking about corporal punishment like it's a good idea I want to scream, but of course they'll never understand.

NewLife and Joffrey

I don't think it's strange that you'd be frightened of teachers after that. It's nothing to do with the people or the profession, it's the fact that an experience like that is actually traumatic and trauma can cause fear/intense dislike by association. Not a strange thing as all. Just like some people are afraid of hospitals even though doctors and nurses are on the whole good, kind, hardworking people.

Interesting point:
DS primary school is on the whole well behaved so I don't think it would be necessary.

Do you think it might be that the school is well behaved because the teachers have to use tools other than fear and intimidation, generally try to have a positive relationship with the pupils and treat them with respect? I think that all of this does have a knock on effect on children's behaviour, quite contrary to the idea that bringing back the cane would have a positive effect.

Definitely, Bertie.

I can remember one teacher really well, y4.
She never hit me, nor shouted, no putting me in the cupboard, no head smack when I stuttered, in fact the complete opposite.
The obvious difference she was married and a mum of a dd a couple of years older. She knew my mum well and knew of my background.
She got me out of what I can only describe as my foggy head. Everytime I was a bit vague she'd say "Class, keep the kettle burning" ns I'd jump, focus and be fine.
I learned how to write properly, how I do today and my times tables, all in this year.
I never improved mathematically after this point according to the age given for the tests I did from the ed psych at about 38 years old

Posted too soon.

Everybody behaved well in her class, she was that lovely old fashioned type we remember sometimes.
A great sense of humour and never belittled anyone.
She had lots of one liners but never humiliated anyone.
She made me believe in myself and every other child the same.
I never did get to tell her just what she had done as I moved areas as soon as I could.
I must add my parents were fab, they worked with me every night but I have such a low IQ and lots of learning disabilities, I'm not even sure what half of them are called.

Mid 70's I'd not long started infant school, I defied the teacher and carried on walking on some toy bricks, was sent to headmaster, over the knee for smacked bottom, over the top of my clothes, never forgot that, I didn't have any lasting harm from it apart from never forgetting. It didn't make me hate him, he was a decent bloke for the rest of my time at that school, this was acceptable then.

My son has special needs. If he had of been at my school in the 70s/80s he would have been caned and had the slipper. The thought makes my blood run cold.

The boys who received it clearly had ADHD.... But were labelled as naughty. Makes me so sad to think of what they went through.

School in the 70's.

Caned with a cane. Once our whole class was caned - 3 strikes on hand. For talking.

Teacher took my pants down and smacked me very hard on the bottom - I was 4. I don't remember why.

In front of a class (for being helpful and cleaning the blackboard) given the 3 tongued leather strap half a dozen times so hard I couldn't write for the rest of the day. I was 7 or 8.

I went to primary from 76 to 82. There must have been a rule that only the head teacher could use corporal punishment as they were the only ones who ever did. The headmistress of my infant school used to put people over her knee and give them a hiding during hymn practice. In Junior school the headmaster would give children the slipper, but not in public. I remember him calling children in for it though. I also remember him coming into the classroom and whacking a boy for kicking someone in the head. The local secondary school next to the primary school had the cane, but i went to a girls school where they didn't have it.

First time poster/namechanger requests details of corporal punishment used on schoolchildren. I'm SURE that's all perfectly above board.

I got caned

But it was in 1976 when i was 6/7

Does that count?

Not a good idea, you would have to drag me off a teacher if they still did that nowadays

Have made it back from school run now and I'm still in one piece.
I even managed a joke with dd form tutor who is lovely, btw.
Well, whether or not the OP is genuine once again it's been very good to talk about the past horrors, the more people who are prepared to share their stories the more people will realise it can't possibly be allowed to happen again.

Expat
I imagine your ds would have had the most dreadful time.
I'm so glad he isn't

I remember being caned by the Nuns in year 3-5 (1987 - 1989).. Girls got it on the palms of the hands and boys on the backs of the legs.
The school headmaster saw me pull a leaf of a tree in year 7 and he pulled my hair and made me apologise to the tree.
This was in Australia.
Oh I got hit on the head with a stapler by Sister Ricardo in year 4 for using the wrong lead pencil.
Oh yeah, the all forgiving church.

I think that the stress we put our kids under with SATs is worse than caning in the 1980. I was at schools where there was the cane, but I never saw it used. The threat was enough and low level distruption was much lower inspite of larger classes. However it is not right for children to live in that kind of fear.

Right can I just point out that the op says they started school in 1985, corporal punishment was made illegal in 1996, so the year they Were in their SECOND year of school, YET she remembers seeing canings?! How?!?!?!

I started school in 85 and certainly no corporal punishment through out my schooling

Naught Do you not remember things from when you were small? In year two (1986) I had Mr Bold as my headmaster, I had no friends because Luis Rodriguez made fun of me all year, I travelled to Thailand with my grandparents and the concierge of the hotel gave me a present of plasticine for my sixth birthday, I got a new red and blue bmx for my christmas....and so on.

I remember that Benjamin something or other got the cane in year three and he was hit so hard the ruler broke.

Yes I remember things from when I was small - like knowing corporal punishment was ILLEGAL

I'm not doubting ops 'Memory' I'm doubting they saw canings!!!

How did they see canings when corporal punishment was illegal?! That's what I mean.

Right can I just point out that the op says they started school in 1985, corporal punishment was made illegal in 1996, so the year they Were in their SECOND year of school, YET she remembers seeing canings?! How?!?!?!

So either your dates above are wrong or the OP's dates are wrong but by the what's above then certainly someone would remember what happened in 1986.

The weird thing for me is that I am in a workplace where the supervisor is clearly and directly bullying staff, making up errors, excluding one particular person (the highest performer) from new work opportunities, humiliation tactics like baa-ing like a sheep to welsh members of staff, and its all treated in an 'understanding' manner, rather than what I think it needs..a bigger metaphorical stick. I do feel like I am in a classroom where no one wants to 'harm' the bully.