Mentioned in "The Corporal Punishment of Schoolgirls by Margaret Stone p99.

In 1984 the Sunday Times published an article by Peter Wilby condeming the use of corporal punishment in schools. Mr Wilby quotes a case where 3 girls aged either 11 or 12 are made to raise their skirts for an eight stroke caning at an independent school in the South East. They had been caught stealing money from the other girls.
The source of much of Mr Wilby's material was the STOPP publication a catalogue of cruelty which printed the complaint of the father of one of the 12 yr old girls.
"My daughter and two other girls(one aged 12 the other 11) had been stealing money from other girls. Altogether they'd stolen about £12. The headmistress gave them each eight strokes of the cane on the buttocks. Their skirts were raised for the beating"

Does anyone remember this case or know anything more about it?

I remember this case, but I seem to remember the girls as being two 11-year-olds and a 12-year-old.

I also recall that the girls were offered a choice between expulsion and caning and (no doubt upon advice from their parents) chose the caning.

If I'd have been the Head, I'd have caned them AND expelled them . . . and then brought them back and caned them AGAIN!

Sarajane,
I can see you would have made an excellent headmistress. Perhaps if you had been born a little earlier in the last century you would have found your true vocation.
I should think eight strokes of the cane,firmly applied in the right place would be an excellent reminder not to steal. Expulsion is surely not necessary.

Speaking as someone who, as a girl aged 16, had her skirt raised for the traditional six of the best with a school cane (not, I hasten to add, for stealing) I agree that eight strokes for girls their ages would certainly have taught them a well deserved lesson.

Sarajane wrote: I remember this case, but I seem to remember the girls as being two 11-year-olds and a 12-year-old.

I also recall that the girls were offered a choice between expulsion and caning and (no doubt upon advice from their parents) chose the caning.

You could well be right about the girls' ages, Sarajane. James wrote "3 girls aged either 11 or 12" but the text of "The Corporal Punishment of Schoolchildren" reads "three girls, aged eleven and twelve". As the daughters of the non-complaining parents are stated to be eleven and twelve, there must have been either two twelve year olds and an eleven year old or else two eleven year olds and a twelve year old (in accordance with your recollection). Probably, therefore, the daughter of the man who complained was eleven years old at the time.

"The Corporal Punishment of Schoolchildren" also confirms that the girls were offered a choice between expulsion and caning and that all had chosen the latter. The implication is, however, that the choice was made without reference to the girls' parents. The book also quotes the father who complained as saying "[t]he parents of the other girls felt the punishment was justified, and were annoyed when I complained."

I don't really care whether there were two 11 year old and one 12 year old. Perm any 2 from 3.
I think 8 strokes was way over the top for girls this age.
I can only recall one occasion in my school where anybody got 6 of the belt at this age.......and that was a boy.
Jockie.
PS. That Sarajane's a real stickler......wonder if she is a domme? She is certainly not a morning person LOL !!

Well being a tough Southerner and not a soft Scotty, I think 8 strokes was okay, so there,
regards,
jay

Clare

So what happened to you when you got your 6 of the best?

Jamie

Clare

So what happened to you when you got your 6 of the best?

Jamie

What happened was that I bawled my eyes out, it stung so much - we all knew of the cane's reputation but never had I dreamt that it could hurt quite so badly. My knickers were no protection whatsoever, other than for my modesty, and I really howled. it is a dreadful ordeal.

The whole point Clare is that your knickers were not MEANT to offer you any protection. I was at an all girls school in the North and the only reason why we were ever allowed to keep our knickers on for the cane was that of modesty and decency. No way would they ever have eased the sting of the cane because (a) the cane's dreadful heat is capable of penetrating a lot more than a girl's thin knickers and (b) the Deputy Headmistress would always pull a girl's knickers up tight so as to them apply the cane to a largely bare bottom.

I had six strokes twice and you're right - it is the most appalling ordeal imaginable. I know I cried my eyes out both times, but there was no option but to do so.

Clare.

You say your knickers were no protection whatsoever?

If you haven't been caned on the bare, how do you know your knickers were no protection?

JoAnne,

You say 'No way would (knickers) ever have eased the sting of the cane'.

You also say 'the Deputy Headmistress would always pull a girl's knickers up tight so as to them apply the cane to a largely bare bottom.'

If knickers are absolutely no protection, why would she pull them out of the way?

OK Sarajane - you're right - I've never been caned on the bare so no, I can't really say whether or not my knickers gave me any protection or not. It's just that I simply can't imagine how anything could have been any more painful than the caning I received.

I am quite sure Sarajane that the only reason for our knickers being pulled up was to increase the shame and humiliation being suffered in that pre caning moment. I can assure you it worked.

Talking about knickers,Iwonder why when we were upset as kids the girls used to say "knickers!" and the boys "Balls!"
Could anyone explain please.