I remember the slipper at school, but when was it introduced in schools? All the old books talk of caning and birching - when was slippering introduced - and who thought of it?

I have a feeling, and I’m not often wrong about these things – sometimes, but not often- that slippering (at least of teenage girls) was first introduced into British schools as long ago as 1966 at Copland School in Wembley. Those undergoing such punishment were required to wear green knickers.

If I am wrong then I’m sure someone will correct me.

Don’t be so silly, Simon! Teenage girls were NEVER slippered in British schools.

Your date of 1966 is a long way out. Here’s an excerpt from a letter published in ‘The Englishwoman’s Domestic Magazine’ in 1868.

‘I object to the rod as unfeminine, so, up to the age of ten or twelve, I whip all my children, boys and girls alike, with my slipper; it punishes quite as much as a birch, and leaves no marks behind.’

I don’t know when the slipper was first introduced into schools. Retired Headmaster George would probably know.

He, He, I remember a whole group of girls being caught smoking behind the greenhouse at the back of the school, and later being lined up outside the office waiting to get sir's slipper, by the way I wasn't one of them I never smoked.

That was in 1976 and it had been going on for decades by then at our school, who knows when it began?

Megan,

You were a goody goody then!!

Did you never get the slipper - just watch other
girls get it

I was a bit of a goody goody yes, saved me a few smacked bottoms though, which I was quite pleased about at the time. I didn't really see anyone get slippered, but I did see people waiting outside the office, and everyone would hear about it afterwards. All cp was done in the privacy of the office.
That time was particually funny as they were such a horrable bunch of girls, all thought they were so grown up and cool, you know all wearing makeup,bright red lipstick (very tarty) and crimmped hair, unbeleiveably short skirts with stocking tops showing, all very sophisticated.

couldn't have happened to a nicer bunch of girls really.

No sorry I was never slippered, althogh I was threatened with a smacked bottom once at primary school, and was good ever since.

How many girls was there for the slipper?

There were at least ten maybe even twelve, the headmaster had a very busy morning.

I went to primary school in London Colney between 1956 and 1960. Teachers and the Head would use a plimsoll on boys behinds al the time. On one occasion over 60 pupils were punished at the same time, girls one n the hand, boys two, for wearing plimsolls out in the playground when it was wet.

Meaghen;
When I was growing up Meaghen I got the Scottish Wooden Hairbrush on my bare bottom.
Wow!!! Did that ever hurt.
My next door neighbour and best best friend Eileen she got the slipper from her mother when she was naughty.
By the way all of our spankings were done on our bare bottoms.
Please write to fornacation101@hotmail.com
Thanks.
Laurey

I am pretty sure there is a reference to slippering as a punishment in Tom Browns Schooldays, but (wierdly enough) it is given on the hand.

Soon, however, a noise of striving urchins arose, and muttered encouragements from the neighbouring boys of "Go it, Tadpole!" "Now, young Green!" "Haul away his blanket!" "Slipper him on the hands!" Young Green and little Hall, commonly called Tadpole, from his great black head and thin legs, slept side by side far away by the door, and were for ever playing one another tricks, which usually ended, as on this morning, in open and violent collision; and now, unmindful of all order and authority, there they were, each hauling away at the other's bedclothes with one hand, and with the other, armed with a slipper, belabouring whatever portion of the body of his adversary came within reach.

Out of context it is a bit hard to folow this passage. If I recall rightly the boys are fooling around in the dorm and the slippering takes place strictly between the boys. None of the schoolmasters are involved. Neither is matron unfortunately. Isn't it odd how tadpoles keep cropping up on this message board?

Yes, and as the proud possessor of seven, hand dug ponds in our garden, it's been a good year for them & the newts.

We've had tadpoles in the main pond for seven years running now & they usually arrive as spawn the 3rd weekend of January.

Mind you, it's hard work with the hose in the present heatwave to keep the smaller ponds from drying out, but it's worthwhile to see all those newts & shortly the baby frogs smiling at you.