I used the cane and I now wonder if I was right to do so.

I was a teacher from the late 1960s until the late 1980s - a fairly short career as these things go although I was quite successful - spent my last few years as a Head Teacher.

Part of my job was to use corporal punishment. I believed then that I was doing this in the best interests of the children I taught and I'd like to continue to believe that. But I find myself in a world now where we're constantly being told this was bad for children and that worries me immensely. I just can't reconcile it with what I saw as a teacher. I saw it work. I saw it turn children around. I saw it help children. I really do think that's true. But I take psychological and pedagogical research seriously and I can't reconcile it with what I saw myself.

I am honestly horrified at the idea I might have harmed these children.

This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »

ArishMell · 70-79, M

I admire your courage in questioning what had been considered normal in your past career.

Assuming you were sparing, just and careful; not just some cane-happy sadist, any you damaged were probably a small minority of those you punished.

The worst long-term damage physical punishment seems to inflict on children is to make them grow into adults with an ingrained desire to beat children - their own or others'. That's been known for ages, too: Charles Dickens touched on it in his [i]David Copperfield[/i].

Corporal punishment was a rare, fairly sparing last resort in the schools I attended (lines and detentions were the usual punishment) yet overall discipline was generally good. I think it was because the staff were able to instil respect rather than fear masquerading as "respect", in an atmosphere of mutual respect.