Six boys publicly caned for having no pens

When six boys were caned in front of the class because they had not brought pens to school it became national news in 1957.

Storm in inkwell

after a caning

A Schoolmaster made six boys bend over in front of the rest of the class and spanked them with a stick because they had not brought their own pens to school.

And yet the boys had done nothing wrong – for an Educational Authority official said.

“The rule is that the school should provide pens for pupils.”

Now, Mr Albert Lawton, 44, of Park-road, Conisbrough, near Doncaster, Yorks, who son Rodney, 11, was one of the boys punished at Conisbrough Secondary School, has sent an ultimatum to the Education Authority.

He has given them until the end of February to find his son another school – and he also wants an inquiry into the caning.

Mr Lawton said that the Education Officer, Mr E. B. Stockdale had written saying he had “had words” with the headmaster about the matter.

Mr Stockdale said yesterday: “I have no wish to comment.”

As published in the Sunday Pictorial, 24 February 1957.

Picture credit: Unknown.

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