I Used to Get the Cane At School

When I was growing up, the cane was used anywhere, not just at school and in the home... places like the cubs and scouts, the choirmaster at church and the Sunday school teacher, among others. This was the natural order and had the benefit of consistent expectations and consequences everywhere. At that time, parental assent was assumed unless they opted out, but that made life worse not better for their offspring because it created confusion and put them on the receiving end of teasing, being accused of being "mummy's little boy" or a softie or whatever. Some, for that reason, opted to be caned like their friends. This will seem odd or alien to this generation, but this was a very different age, when there were rules and consequences. If punished at school or elsewhere, parents generally supported the action taken.... certainly no forays to the European Court of Justice...