One common story is about the use of the cane. Boys were often caned on their hands or bottoms for misbehaving, like talking in class or not doing their homework. It was a painful punishment.
Another story involves students having to write lines. They would be given a sentence like 'I must not be disobedient' and had to write it hundreds of times. This was not only a punishment for the misbehavior but also a way to make them remember to be good in the future.
One common story is about students being late for class. Usually, they are given detention. For example, if a student is late three times in a week, they might have to stay after school for an hour in detention. This is to teach them the importance of punctuality.
One common story could be about a girl getting detention for talking during class too much. She might have to stay after school in a quiet room and write lines like 'I will not talk during class'.
One common story is about students being given detention for not following the dormitory curfew. They might have to spend an extra hour or two in a study hall supervised by a teacher. Another is when students are punished for cheating on exams. They could be suspended from classes for a few days and have to write a long apology letter. Also, some students get punished for disobeying the dress code. For example, they might be made to wear a special uniform for a week as a mark of their misbehavior.
Common themes include the importance of academic achievement. Students were expected to strive for excellence in their studies, like learning Latin and Greek, which were highly regarded. There was also the theme of friendship. Pupils formed bonds with their classmates, sometimes across different grades or social standings. And the role of teachers was a significant theme. Teachers were usually authoritarian figures, and their influence on the students' lives, whether positive or negative, was often explored in these stories.
One common theme is discipline. For example, when students break rules like using mobile phones in class, they get punished. This shows that schools are strict about maintaining order in the learning environment.
A common one is students getting detention for talking back to teachers. They have to sit in a quiet room for an hour or so after school.
A common one is extra study time as a punishment. For example, if a student failed to complete their homework regularly, they would be made to stay an extra hour in the study hall every day for a month. This forced them to focus more on their studies and develop better study habits.
In a Victorian school, a group of boys were caught playing pranks during break time. Their punishment was to recite long passages from the Bible in front of the whole school at assembly. This was a very serious punishment as it was a public humiliation. They had to practice for hours to get the passages right, and it made them think twice about causing trouble again in the future.
No. In most modern educational systems, corporal punishment is not allowed. However, there might be some old stories from the past when such practices were more common. But now, schools focus more on positive discipline methods like counseling and community service.
One school punishment story I know is about a student who was constantly late. The teacher made him stand outside the classroom for the entire period. He learned his lesson and was never late again.