I went to a Baptist school in the mid 1970s and each teacher had a paddle. Some of them were decorated as if they took pride in their paddles. I got whacked one time and that was because I was defending myself when another kid picked a fight. Those paddles were amateur hour compared to my father's belt.
On a separate note, before I was to get a spanking from my mom, I put some books in my pants. When she spanked me and hit the books, she started laughing.

Meh, you guys are all rookies! In my twelve years of schooling back in the 50s-60s, I was received multiple paddlings every year every year except for 1st grade. (I came close that year after forming a train of all my school mates - with me as the engine. I led them on a route that covered all the tables in the classroom!)

I never resented the punishment because in 95% of the time, I earned it. I liked the idea that the punishment kinda cleared the record, sorta like a pardon, and the teacher and I were back on good terms going forward until my next transgression.

It wasn't because I was a bad kid. In fact, I graduated with honors. I just got bored easily and had an inventive mind.

Elementary school, California, mid-1960s. It was authorized, but I don't recall details.

quote:

Originally posted by Suppressed:

On a separate note, before I was to get a spanking from my mom, I put some books in my pants. When she spanked me and hit the books, she started laughing.

I hid my moms wooden spoon in the bushes in front of the house. It was found many years later.
I still get teased about that.

Second grade. 1956-7. Page Military Academy. Sgt bullshit (Beauchamp) used his knuckle on top of my head. Hard. Or in the chow hall, he used the back of a spoon. This might explain the lumps on my head.
Others there would make you stand at attention with your nose touching the wall. If there was not a wet spot on the wall from your nose, you stood longer.
I hated that place. Stuck there Monday-Friday. All alone in a crowd.

Growing up in south eastern Idaho in the 60's and early 70's getting your ass whacked was what kept us in line. The board of education was a clear and present danger. We also had a policy that boys shirts must be tucked in. If the weren't they would cut the shirt tail off.

Started grade school in a catholic school and the nuns were sadistic. Yardsticks, rulers and that round pointing stick across the shoulder blades. Went to public school in 4th grade. Probably got paddled every year up until 9th grade. Then it stopped or I got smarter. In junior high and high school every teacher and administrator had a paddle. They even had a shop day before school started in the fall to build replacement paddles or get the new teachers their own paddle. Some were very elaborate. My father was the superintendent of the school system and behind his desk hung on the wall was an exquisite paddle that had the words "Board of Education" carved on it. Being the son of the super meant the teachers were a tad more forceful in applying discipline with many of them knowing it would be worse that night after they called my father.

My son was in kindergarten in 2001 in Louisiana--we were required to sign a release authorizing corporal punishment. I signed it--after i lined out anything involving the staff putting their hands on my child..and instead wrote "you will immediately call me at <cell number> or at <24/7 command center who can track me down anywhere> and upon notification, I will immediately respond to the school and make the determination if corporal punishment is warranted. That decision is mine alone. There is no emergency where corporal punishment needs to be meted out where I am not consulted."

The only citizens in the US that can legally be beaten are children.