I don’t want to get into any debates about whether corporal punishment is bad, abusive, etc. it is too easy to criticise the past based on today’s perspectives and attitudes.
I got the strap at home and the cane at school. Speaking only from my perspective, I benefited long and short term. Short-term, it provided me with closure for my misguided actions and misbehaviours.
Longer term, I came to appreciate that my actions had consequences and that I had to learn from my mistakes and take heed of the teachings afforded to me. That has stayed with me all my adult life. I’m not perfect, I make mistakes and can still be unwisely wilful at times, but I have learned the meaning of accountability and responsibility.
Yes, cp, mostly the cane still has a valid role in my life.
