A long ruler whacked down hard on a desk, and a manner that brooked no weakness, set the tone from the start. With a solid frame established, some mellowing would be possible, and learning could proceed. The military model of learning is said to be that ‘when you fear the instructor more than the task, […]

“Punishment for failing to learn a lesson has several intensities and purposes. It can be done as an example. Adam and Eve received no chance to learn from their mistake. The learning opportunity was for others. It is not by chance that such strong, pre-emptive discipline occurs near the start of the Bible, and many […]

  Thirdly, I know there’s at least one Scotchie on the list – so I thought he might be interested in seeing this. A couple of definitions – The Hill refers to the area of the school traditionally occupied by boarders. Satura is a student newspaper/magazine. And now for the quotes: “Various models were available […]

Boy Prefects: “They were exempt from corporal punishment. They entered the Study Hall last (after ‘interviewing offenders in line’). They could communicate ‘sparingly in study, and leave free periods and Chapel without the permission of the master in charge, and go to the head of lines for leaves and confessions. The charter was ‘natural’, no […]

All punishment was public. Even if a boy was strapped behind closed doors, in an institution with private corners he was forced to parade his bravado or his tears to the public scrutiny of his peers. In the classroom he was on stage. He had to stand, hand outstretched and watched by half sympathetic, half […]