Bring back the cane

It was the beginning of the autumn term at Cliff House School for Boys, and in the absence of the headmaster, Dr Graham, who was attending a conference on modem teaching methods, the college had been left in the charge of the assistant head, Mr Bishop. Although the head was a relatively young man, and had only recently been appointed, his assistant was middle-aged and had been at Cliff House for many years. Mr Bishop knew now that he could not aspire to a headship and was aware that Dr Graham regarded him as being rather old fashioned in his methods. The head was a great believer in 'cooperation' as distinct firom 'coercion' and believed that boys would behave well and work hard once they realised that this was in their own self-interest.

Mr Bishop took a distinctly more pessimistic view of boy-nature and considered that pupils must at all times be kept aware that disobedience or laziness would result in punishment. The sanction that he most favoured was the cane, for surely all schoolboys fear pain and will do their utmost to avoid it. The new head frowned upon corporal punishment, however, and whereas Mr Bishop's favourite canes had once been proudly displayed in the classroom, acting as a visible deterrent, they were now relegated to a cupboard behind the desk in his office.

Corporal punishment had not actually been abolished at Cliff House - it had merely fallen into disuse. Mr Bishop regretted this and had noted a deterioration in the behaviour of the boys, especially the younger ones. He could think of several first-year tearaways who, in former times, would have been summoned to his office for a dose of the cane with the firm promise of 'more to come and even harder' if they failed to reform. The head's method, on the other hand, was to call the offender in for a 'quiet chat', following which he left grinning rather than rubbing the welted backside which he really deserved.

Mr Bishop was in his office, taking a cup of tea after lunch, when there was a knock at the door and one of the prefects asked to see him. Two pupils had been caught shoplifting at the nearby confectioners and had been frogmarched back to Cliff House by the irate owner. The gentleman concerned was very angry, and had threatened to summon the police. Could Mr Bishop please speak to him?
Mr Bishop followed the prefect to the school gates where the shopkeeper was standing, holding two frightened youngsters by their collars.
'Thank you for returning those boys to the school. I shall ensure that they are suitably punished...'
'I've a good mind to call the police. There's too much shoplifting goes on these days.'
'As I said, they will be suitably punished. They will both be soundly caned by me this afternoon.'
'In that case I won't press charges. But if I ever catch them stealing again...'

'They will be soundly caned' - somehow the words had just slipped out. In the old days these young thieves would have been thrashed in front of the assembled school as a warning - and if anyone had ever deserved a caning these two boys did. Corporal punishment had not been abolished at Cliff House and surely even Dr Graham would sanction its use in a case such as this. Mr Bishop's thoughts were cut short by a question from the prefect.
'Are you really going to beat them sir?' Mr Bishop looked at the two 14-year-old offenders, standing with their heads bowed and shivering with fear and apprehension.
'As I informed the shopkeeper, they will both be caned this afternoon. You will bring them along to my office, dressed in PT kit, at three o'clock sharp. I'm sure you remember the routine from your younger days.'
The prefect winced as he recalled a painful swishing he had suffered for bringing cigarettes to school. Oh how the cane had stung - and he had never touched a fag since.

Word soon flew round the school that there were to be two canings that afternoon. Boys who had considered themselves immune from corporal punishment began to wonder whether it might soon be their turn to bend over for a whacking. As for Joynson and Grieve, the soon-to-be victims, the hour from two till three seemed to pass very slowly indeed. They found it impossible to concentrate upon their lesson and knew that by now most of the school was aware of their impending fate.
At a quarter to three the prefect came to the door of the classroom.
'Joynson and Grieve are wanted by Mr Bishop sir.'
The pair of miscreants reluctantly followed the prefect, stopping at the changing room to don white shorts and singlet.
Mr Bishop says shorts only, you two. No underpants.'
'B-but...'
'There will be no buts. Now get a move on!'

While the offenders were preparing for their chastisement, Mr Bishop was examining his assortment of canes. As it was some time since he had wielded the rod he practiced for a few minutes, trying different instruments before selecting a medium thickness pliant rattan. There was a knock at the door and the two shoplifters were ushered in. They looked pathetically slight and vulnerable, shivering in their PT kit, and their eyes blinked with fear as they spied the smooth shiny punishment cane lying on the desk. Mr Bishop asked the prefect to stay, as a witness to the punishment, and then addressed the two offenders.

'You two boys are in very serious trouble. You can consider yourselves lucky that the shopkeeper did not call the police in. What would your parents have said then? As it is, he has left the matter in the hands of the school and if you take your prescribed punishment now, like brave boys, this incident need proceed no further.' The assistant head picked up the cane and bent it almost double between his hands. There was no doubt this was an excellent instrument, capable of imparting an extremely painful sting.

'As you are no doubt aware the cane has not been used for some time at Cliff House. However, it is still permissible for the punishment of serious offences and I intend to beat the two of you now. Do you have anything to say for yourselves before I thrash you?'
The two 14-year-olds said nothing. They were both terrified of the cane, but the possibility of their shoplifting being reported to their parents - or even the police if the shopkeeper discovered that they had not actually received the corporal punishment promised - caused them both to decide to accept what was due to them.
'You will each receive six of the best. Now who is going to be first? Does neither one of you wish to volunteer? Then step forward Grieve, since your name appears first in the alphabet.'

There were already tears welling in the youngster's eyes as he shuffled towards the waiting armchair and bent across the padded back in the required position, with his hands on the armrests.
'Joynson, you will stand over in the corner, facing the wall and with your hands on your head. Do as you're told lad!'
Mr Bishop instructed the prefect to kneel at the front of the armchair and hold the wrists of the boy about to be punished. He knew from experience that there might be some struggling expected, especially as this youngster was new to the cane. The sixth-former took a firm grip.

Mr Bishop took careful aim and there was a hissing sound as the whippy cane scythed through the air. 'CRACK!' The rod lashed smartly across the seat of the schoolboy's white cotton shorts and he yelped with distress. That must have stung like hell, thought the prefect, as he looked at the grimacing face and endeavoured to maintain his grip on the distressed boy. Joynson in the meantime stood shivering with fear in the corner, hearing the hiss and crack of the cane and the accompanying cries and sobs. All too soon it was his own turn.

'Get up Grieve and stand in the corner with your hands on your head. Joynson take his place!' The caned schoolboy was sobbing quietly as he shuffled into the corner.uncontrollably now. He had never imagined the cane would sting so much and desperately wanted to rub his burning backside. Mr Bishop took a short rest whilst Joynson positioned himself over the chair. Although it was now a while since he had caned a boy, he fancied that he had carried out a very professional job on young Grieve's backside, distributing the three sharp cuts in a neatly spaced row.

Philip Joynson positioned himself over the back of the chair, and felt his wrists being gripped firmly by the kneeling prefect. He was ordered to straighten his legs and push out his backside so that the thin cotton material of his running shorts was stretched tightly across his vulnerable young buttocks. The schoolboy felt a light tapping and steeled himself for the first cut. The hard springy cane lashed down and Philip Joynson felt as if a red hot wire had been laid across his bare flesh - the pain was that bad. As the second stroke landed the schoolboy found himself wriggling and squirming, pulling wildly against the prefect's firm grip. The next moment he was free and shot up like a jack in the box, frantically rubbing his burning behind.

'Dear oh dear,' said Mr Bishop. 'You really are making an exhibition of yourself. I think that an extra stroke is called for.' 'But please sir...' ' Get back over the chair - and every time you jump up like that you will receive an extra stroke - so be warned!'

The wretched boy lowered himself back over the armchair and felt his thin wrists being gripped extra tightly. Two scorching cuts of the cane were delivered and the tearful Joynson was then ordered to get up and stand with his hands on his head. 'Grieve, you may come out of the corner and join your partner in crime. Take care to keep your hands on your head though.' Judging from the pained expressions on their faces, the youngsters had bee taught a painful lesson.

The next day Mr Bishop received some unexpected news. Dr Graham, the headmaster, had been offered and accepted a position in educational administration. Would he, Mr Bishop, be prepared to take on the position of acting headmaster until his retirement in five years' time? Mr Bishop accepted willingly, and as the first task in his new job compiled a list of offences which would henceforth be dealt with by corporal punishment. His second - and even more urgent - task was to summon for immediate interview those boys whose general conduct or poor work merited an immediate dose of the cane. Mr Bishop asked the bursar to order a fresh batch of punishment canes from the educational supply company - he was going to be kept very busy over the next few weeks.