I Received Corporal Punishment At School

At English schools in the 1950 and 60s, the standard punishment for serious or repeated offences was the cane. At my school canings were always given in private, so none of us knew exactly how many strokes other boys got, but we always assumed it was six. Why did six become the standard dose, I wonder? Or perhaps it wasn't so standard, and "six of the best" is a sort of urban myth? Did anyone ever get more than six?

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Sharon · F

Six seemed to be the maximum at school and we often got fewer. In general it was the most with the slipper too, only the PE mistress every gave more to my knowledge.

At home, six was more like a minimum with the cane, twelve being more usual. Slipperings tended to be a minimum or six too, with one or two dozen being usual.

ReggieFane · 61-69, M

Would you get more pain and deeper welts from home or school ? @Sharon What was your max no of cane strokes from mum/dad?

MartinII · 70-79, M

@Sharon12 with the cane is a lot if laid on hard, which I expect they were.

Sharon · F

@ReggieFane Canings at home were about the same as at school - knickers don't provide any protection. The most I remember getting at home in one go was two dozen. I didn't think I'd ever be able to sit down again.

ReggieFane · 61-69, M

@Sharon 24, OMG. Must have been VERY naughty. Did mum or dad cane harder ?

Sharon · F

@ReggieFane There was little in it. After a couple of strokes my bottom was on fire so it was difficult to precisely decern the difference between mum's canings and dad's.