Memories: Sentenced to three strokes by the prefects
In many schools in England senior boys known as “prefects” played a major role in punishing younger pupils. In many cases they might be permitted to beat boys themselves or else they could recommend to a master that he do so.
Graham Fielder
who attended Chichester High School for Boys (Sussex, England) from 1948 to
1955 remembered its “Prefect’s Court.”
He writes on a website for “Old
Boys” of the school that they were held every month under the direction of
Mr. A. H. Watson who was in overall charge of discipline in the school until he
retired in 1955 and by the Headmaster K .D. Anderson until 1962 when caning
ceased.
He says, “As far as I can
remember a boy could find himself in this position if he incurred three
detentions within a specified period or, presumably, had committed some form of
serious school offence. Fortunately, I never had to experience this court, but
as a prefect in my last year I remember the prefects sitting around in a
semi-circle facing the front of the room.
“The offender was brought
in and asked if he had anything to say in respect of the charge. He was then taken out of the room and a
punishment was discussed and agreed – this was usually a number of strokes
(e.g. three) of the cane. On being brought back into the room punishment was
administered by Mr. Watson.
“It was difficult not to
feel for the boy being punished as he bravely bore the stinging pain inflicted
by the instrument. All this took place in the days before Human Rights
legislation removed these sanctions against recalcitrant boys in the
educational situation.
“The present Head Teacher
still has the school Punishment Book, in which details of canings had to be
entered, and the school cane from those days. On occasions when groups of old
boys are at the school it is made available for inspection to those interested
in its contents.”
Doug Murgatroyd, also a
former pupil at Chichester High, adds, ‘This barbaric system came to an end in
October 1961 when the Prefects voted to abolish it. K. D., I seem to remember,
was rather impressed with this altruistic gesture and rubber-stamped the
decision. To present-day pupils these methods may seem anachronistic, but they
were standard practice in schools at that time and accepted as part of the
system.”
Wood-Kneller, who was at
the school between 1954 and 1961, also adds, “Barbaric it may have been, but it
served me well in my life. I received three detentions from Robin Wills and
duly appeared before the Prefects’ Court with Peter Thompson in the chair. I
was escorted to the court room by John Smale. I count both of these gentlemen
amongst my friends today. I was sentenced to ‘Three of the Best’ which K. D.
Anderson, the Head Master duly executed. I could barely walk to the railway
station, had to stand in the train and said nothing to my parents. I determined
there and then to toe the line in future and have never regretted it to this
day.”
Picture credit:
British-Discipline
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