Memories: Fear of corporal punishment was ever present

The threat of being caned, slippered or slapped perpetually hung, like the Sword of Damocles, over our heads – a retired teacher shares his experiences of his own schooldays with his local newspaper, the Leicester Mercury.

Retired history teacher Steve Marquis, who lives in Thurmaston, looks back on his experiences of school discipline in Wigston in the 1950s and 60s.

To be honest, most of my school career was pretty bleak, mainly because I wasn’t very good at anything schools prized in their students, especially the secondary schools I attended.

The frequent casual use of violence didn’t encourage a more positive attitude, either.

Bits of chalk often flew past my head – even a board rubber on at least one occasion.

The threat of being caned, slippered or slapped perpetually hung, like the Sword of Damocles, over our heads.

One particularly intimidating maths teacher had a nasty habit of gripping your hair around the temple then twisting. Very painful.

In those days, schools enthusiastically adhered to the Christian tenet: “Suffer the little children....”

There was no point in trying to gain any sympathy or support from your parents because they’d always side with the teacher and say you must have deserved it.

Later, as a teacher, I sometimes wished that custom had been maintained.

Apart from an interest in history and geography, all other subjects provided struggle and boredom.

During my time at Bushloe High, Wigston, the only event that stands out in my mind was coming second out of Year 9 in a geography exam.

Apparently, this caused quite a stir because someone from such a low-streamed class wasn’t expected to do so well.

As published in the Leicester Mercury, 17 December 2019.

Picture credit: Unknown.

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