[West Ender]

When corporal punishment in schools was the norm there was a different attitude to discipline and punishment right across Society. The era when a teacher could cane a child was the era when the child would get a clout from his father for being badly behaved enough to be caned. It was when policemen walked the streets and thought nothing of administering a "thick ear" to young miscreants, that was when most parents would warn their offspring never to "bring the police to my door" - in other words never to bring shame on the family. It was when children were expected to behave properly and to be polite to adults and a cheeky child would be told off, in no uncertain terms, by any adult who witnessed it.

What we have now is children who "know their rights" and have no respect for anyone, least of all their parents who, very often, have no self-respect anyway. We have a culture where, if an adult sees a child misbehaving and tells him to stop, the parents are likely to be on the doorstep issuing threats. They don't give a damn if the police arrive at their door, will lie vigorously to "protect" their offspring and snigger at the policeman's back when he leaves.

Yes, I think there are some instances, in schools, where corporal punishment is warranted but in the present climate it isn't feasible.