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The internet has many
sites dedicated to memories of canings at senior schools, especially the
British Public [Private] Schools. The following is fairly typical:
Bingham Kirk (G38)
Remembers Fettes 1938-1940
My recollection is that the prefects did not
abuse their authority. During my time at Fettes, I received only one
caning from house prefects. Another student and I were caught on school
grounds with BB guns shooting at small birds. Our guns were confiscated.
On the evening of the same day, we were called before the head house
prefect and told that we had broken school rules and would be punished.
We were asked if we wanted to appeal to the housemaster. We both said
no. On the evening of the following day during the time when students
were required to do their school homework, the lowest ranking house
prefect came to each of us and took us to the house library room. I was
the first to enter the room where the other four house prefects were
waiting. Chairs and tables had been moved to the side except for two
chairs which were set back to back at one end of the room. I was again
told of my infraction and asked to kneel on the seat of one of the
chairs, bend over the two backs, and hold on to the seat of the second
chair. After doing so, I heard the scraping of feet over the floor and
felt the blow of the light cane on my buttocks. I received four more
blows, after which I was asked if I wanted to be left alone for a while
before leaving the room. As I passed my schoolmate in the hall, I looked
away so that he could not see the tears in my eyes. The infraction and
punishment were never mentioned again by the housemaster nor by any of
the house prefects.
Below are a few
more examples.
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