I had the other three come to my desk and take their punishment information cards. I then dismissed them and had Woods face my desk. Mrs Seaton passed me a box of tissues and I took one and tried to dry my eyes. She warned me to behave myself in future and told me that if I didn't like the cane from her I would like it a lot less from the headmaster.

Now, what you have done is a serious offence. I see from your file that you are generally well-behaved. It is your first time here, but know that I cannot be lenient with you. You have to learn once and for all to respect your teachers. What did Miss Williams give you?” I… I am sorry, Miss.” She had stammered that words before, when she was still over my knees. I could see she really was sorry now. Suki Watanabe was just passing by. “She is still sore, sleeping on her belly each night. But yes, I saw her shortening her skirt up this morning. Hell, you should see her poor bum, I’ve never had it that worse…” No, Williams. I want you to serve as an example for the others. It seems to me that you wanted others to take a look at your posterior, so we will let them, don’t you agree?” The sports field she overlooked was almost deserted, just a couple of late stragglers taking a shortcut from Mainschool towards the school driveway. To her left a tall beech tree partly obstructed one corner of her window and in that shaded area of glass she saw a ghostlike reflection of her room.

The 6 pupils took a good look at what was now a very well-caned bottom. 8 swollen stripes covered it. And it felt even more painful than it looked. Well, obviously I should punish you. And I will. The dilemma is another one, Woods. How should I punish a girl, whoose recent encounter with a certain cane has seemingly had no effect on her behaviour?” My intuition tells me that you are not a bad child. However, everyone needs nudging in the right direction occasionally. What is going to follow could be thought of as just such a nudge.’ As a headmistress, I know that there are things that cannot be solved by corporal punishment. Girls like Jenny Woods needed strict discipline, yes, but a good thrashing was only one part of that. And by just letting her off with another good dose of the cane, I knew, I wouldn’t get the full message across.

Michelle Smith came from the same class as Lisa Müller. It was her first visit here, but she had been punished in class on several occaissions.As she did so, she straightened her skirt and brought it down to regulation lenght. I had both girls stand in front of my desk while I delivered them a good talking to about the evils of smoking. Woods looked frightened, while Fletcher still tried to look innocent. It was a technique she had probably perfected over the years. With her pouty lips, blue eyes and long blonde hair she looked angelic, and it had probably helped her out of some situations in which she may have deserved punishment. I knew form a talk with her mother that her father often was persuaded not to punish his daughter just by those innocent looks she threw at him. Well, it would not work with me. I am a great advocate of corporal punishment. Occasional sharp reminders of the rules, or half a dozen good reasons to change for the better.’ So it was friday again. And while there were certainly – amongst the pupils – those who thought I enjoyed the punishment sessions, that was very much not the case. Oh, I do feel the need for discipline, and I do carry out the punishments with no leniency, but it is not a task that I particularly look forward. How much nicer is it to award pupils for academic success or good behaviour than having to punish them for their infractions. t essay on the dangers of smoking, describing your punishment. You will read it to the assembly on monday before classes. Understood?”

There were a few moments of total silence, as though the world had stopped. Then movement from inside, a figure on the other side of the stained glass, and the door opened. We looked at each other for a moment, before she nodded and stood to one side, opening the door more widely to let me come in. Linde-Louise”, I called my secretary, “would you please bring me a cup of tea? I’ll deal with the rest after that.” Consequently we have given her permission to administer a punishment like the ones at her school, and she has agreed to do this as a favour to us. Not only will you go and apologise, but you will talk to her, listen to her, answer her questions, and accept any punishment she decides you need.’ It was true that additional privileges and freedoms were granted to senior boys, but it was firmly on the basis they should be mature enough to work hard without such close supervision, and the suggestion this was to blame for poor test results had infuriated Sophie during that previous tutorial meeting. January, and the beginning of spring term, now seemed a long time ago, but she remembered their conversation clearly and recalled how she struggled to remain calm.I was not looking forward to this. Only very rarely a pupil had to report to my office twice in such a short time. She had already received a severe caning on her last visit, and it positively looked like it hadn’t been enough to teach her a lesson. Ah! You little wretch. Scream away!" he exclaimed. "It's a beautiful sight to see you writhing and plunging under every scathing cut. May it do you good, and draw the imprudence out of your tail. Will you? Will you, try and behave better, or shall I send you off to the convent at once, in their holiday time? There! There!! There!!!" Her posture, leaning into what those familiar with fencing or other swordsmanship might have described as a slight forward lunge, kept the cane dead horizontal across the lower curve of his cheeks. In their slightly offset positions he mostly felt its pressure on his left side, but the whippy flex of the cane in full, high-speed motion would not spare his right cheek when the six strokes fell evenly across the width of his firm behind. Next was Daniel P. Addler from 10A. His offences were the usual ones for a boy his age. He seemed to be of the impression that not wearing a tie made him look cool, and tht girls were mainly there to be for teasing and playing pranks. Like many others alike him, he would learn a painful lesson.

Number four, in this case, was fifteen year old Gerard Dubois. His form-master sent him to me for his repeated tardiness and general misconduct in class. Fletcher, your punishment will be 8 strokes with the senior cane. Lift up your skirt and get over my desk again.” After everyone had gone past Mrs Seaton came marching up. She looked at both of us as if we were something rotten that the cat had dragged in and, without saying a word, went straight into her office. Lindsey made a face at me and we continued to stand outside in silence. So this it was. Half of the culprits had been dealt with. On fridays with more pupils on report I’d used this time for a short break, but today, with only two more pupils waiting, I chose to continue right away.

Now, Woods. I am not pleased to see you in here again this soon.” I adressed the girl. At least, she had enough wit to come with a regulation length skirt, certainly not shortened like the one that had earned her this visit. “You knew that non-regulation clothing is strictly forbidden at Wilhemsen, and you full well knew that what you were doing was wrong. You have heard the things I have told Caroline Fletcher just last week, and you have just had a good caning. Now, what am I going to do with you, Woods?” After another long silence, shifting awkwardly under her gaze, he finally slipped the thumbs of each hand into the elastic waistband of his boxer shorts and began to slowly ease them down. In a manoeuvre that might have appeared feintly comical in different circumstances, he inched the waistband lower, exposing just the first few dark strands of hair at the upper edge of his pubes. Well, I do well know that this is a lesson that is not taught with a dose of the cane alone.” Florian Meiers face reddened even more when the implement of correction was called by its name. “Therefore, before I will cane you – and I will do so severely – hear the following: You will write a 1000-words essay about the evils of racial predjudice, which you shall read aloud before assembly on monday morning. You will also write personal apologies to Miss Watanabe and Mr. Danquah. Understood?” Only when his eyes turned to meet Miss Sternwood's implacable gaze did he experience an unforgettable moment of sheer horror. Instinctively glancing down at his fully exposed nakedness, he promptly apologised, leaning forward once again into the prescribed posture. Yes, Dubois, you shall serve as an example. Which is what you deserve. Now stay in position and take your punishment.”