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CORPORAL PUNISHMENT AT SCHOOL

On the sport’s field we started to set up To play cricket but the ground was hard And the stumps would not go in. So my mate Used the cricket bat to hammer them home. The game’s master was soon upon the scene, Shouting. “That’s no way to treat the willow, You cretin.” Sir then snatched the cricket bat And with hefty sideways swipe cracked my mate Across the head. The lad collapsed and was Shaking violently, lying on the ground. Then his shaking stopped and he was still. The whole team went silent and stood and stared. Then one lad shouted: “He’s dead. You’ve killed him. You’ll be hanged for murder”. Sir was silent. He looked worried. But the victim came round. He then stood up, a bit wobbly and we Carried on with our game of cricket.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2024




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Date: 12/3/2024 1:11:00 PM
Wow, what a brute he was, they thought they were above the law back then. Shocking. Tom
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Tony Hargreaves
Date: 12/5/2024 11:23:00 AM
Thanks Tom. The law was that teachers could punish a child by using a slipper, strap or cane. But only if applied to the palm of the hands or the buttocks. A crack across the head with a cricket bat would have been a serious criminal offence. But he got away with it as no one complained. Hope you are well and keeping warm. Tony

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