Memories: Terry and the public caning
Terry was the class hardnut. He’d been caned so much that I was sure that his arse had become leather. He also had a pain threshold that was extraordinary.
Opher Goodwin, a teacher and prolific writer,
who went to school south of London, England during the 1960s shared this experience
on his website in 2016.
If caning made me sullen,
disdainful and confrontational that was nothing to what it did to some of my
fellow students. To a number of them it became a badge of honour. It gave them
status and power.
Their disdain for being
caned took all the school’s power away. These miscreants learnt to cope with
the pain and their insolence merely undermined the authority of the teachers.
Their attitude was ‘Is that the best you can do?’
They were immune. There was
nothing the school could do.
This was exemplified by
Terry. He was the class hardnut. He’d been caned so much that I was sure that
his arse had become leather. He also had a pain threshold that was
extraordinary.
I can’t remember what
terrible crime Terry had carried out. I know he was capable of just about
anything. He was a big bully and a thug at times. He was confrontational and
he’d once pushed our English teacher through the glass of a bookcase cabinet.
Looking back it is hard to believe that he wasn’t expelled. But they had
decided to make a public example of him. We were in Year 10 [aged 15 and 16].
Regardless of anything else it was a bit late. He was far too entrenched to
change.
A full school special
assembly was called. Trevor, who must have known what was going on, was sitting
with the rest of us on the floor in the big hall. When we were all settled,
Terry was called up.
I think that the whole idea
was to create a public spectacle that would show any miscreants what happened
if you stepped out of line.
It failed miserably in all
respects.
Right from the start it was
clear that the venture was a failure.
Instead of looking
frightened and apprehensive Terry looked as if he was going up for a prize. He
was centre stage and he loved it. He stood up slowly grinning round at everyone
and, with hands in pockets, slouched up the central aisle towards the stage, a
knowing smile on his face.
All eyes were on him. They
knew how much this was going to hurt. They had no doubt as to the viciousness
of what was about to happen. The school wanted to break Terry. They were going
to do their utmost.
Terry was equally adamant.
This was his big chance. He knew the procedure and he was determined to milk
it.
The gym teacher, the
biggest bully on the staff, had been deployed to apply the punishment. He stood
to one side of the stage.
Terry looked round at the
hushed hall. All eyes were fixed on him. I can still see his smiling face. This
wasn’t a brave mask. He seemed to be enjoying it.
I cannot remember a word
being spoken though I’m sure we were lectured on Terry’s crimes and what
happened to people who stepped out of line.
Terry was motioned to the
table on the stage. He was calm and compliant. He bent over, gripped the edges
of the table and laid his head down looking out at us.
Then he winked at us and
grinned widely.
The gym teacher actually
bounded across and jumped into the air to bring that cane down with all the
force he could muster.
I watched Terry intently.
There was no discernible tightening of his grip on that table, his eyes did not
blink, and the smile never left his mouth or eyes. It was an act that was
almost beyond belief. He took that huge blow without flinching.
I knew the unbelievable
pain that had to be shrieking from his buttocks. I could imagine the welt it
produced and the blood trickling down his legs. Yet Terry did not show the
slightest indication of that excruciating pain. It was more than impressive.
When all six blows had been
delivered, Terry rose majestically, looked the Head straight in the eyes,
turned and grinned insolently at the Gym teacher who looked far more agitated
by the experience than Terry did, and then strolled back down from the stage.
Terry swaggered back down
the aisle like a hero with the whole school fixed on him. He returned to his
place and looked around, as if taking a bow, and then sat down on the hard
floor as if nothing had happened.
Picture credit:
Unknown
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