Swing To Skin

In the news today its been reported that a lot of parents are in favour of letting the cane return to schools, and as someone who has been caned (on more than occasion) I am able to offer a first hand (no pun intended) experience of this type of corporal punishment.
I attended comrehensive school from 1981 to 1988, and corporal punishment was used freely for 6 of those years. You could be caned for any number of different offences, and they didn't have to be that serious either. (Although to be fair, if it was at the lighter end of trouble you could get lucky and be let off at the last minute). I recieved the cane ('cansen' in Welsh) on four occasions and it wasn't limited to the traditional six of the best. My 'sentences' were 4 strokes, 6 strokes, 8 strokes and 6 strokes, all over the palm of my hand. (I also recieved the 'slipper' across my behind in both junior and comprehensive but I'll stick to caning here).


Let me read your palm boy

excerpt from my story, 'Iron Abacus Oiled in Spit':
'Boy! Get in here NOW!'
'Yes sir.'
I hated standing outside the headmasters office/orang utangs lair, waiting for the cane. It was like awaiting death by electrocution, and just before the cane fell the caped clown would ask your religious denomination.
'Catholic?'
'No sir.'
Presbyterian?'
'No sir.'
'Methodist then?'
'I really couldn't say sir. Whenever I think of religion I bring bile...'
'Six of the BEST!' (Six lashes land on my palm)
And off I'd go to sting and simmer the rest of the break, and sit under a tree to immerse myself in more poetry.
(Whispers)