theirhistory
Somersham School punishment book.
A school punishment book from a village junior school in 1951-1952, that was quite sparing with the cane.
About six entries per year, I could have managed that almost on my own in a year, and with similar crimes at a couple of junior school I attended in the 1960s.
Talking & disobedience would have been an easy crime for me to be punished over.
Pee Fights were an often punished affair, mostly it was just the slipper, most of the teachers did not use the cane or have time to take you for the cane, the nearest plimsoll or the longer teacher style ruler was often quickly found and the matter was soon over.
One of my crimes which I was caned for, was during a game of "Highest Up The Wall" in the outside lavatory block. The walls were only about 5 foot high, this allowed any teacher on playground duty to see what we were up to. The dare between junior school boys was to see who could get their stream over the top, in most cases we failed, normally one of us was picked to watch out for teachers on the prowl.
A friend managed the task, just a as teacher came into view of the lavatory block. On entering, he did try to get a confession straight away, but failed, it was easier just to cane the ten or so who were there, as probably there was the chance we all were guilty of not using the urinal properly. All of us were soon in tears after a couple of hits with the cane.
The other antic we got up to was peeing on the back of another boys legs if they were taking too long at the urinal. A few boys did find it difficult to go if there were up to 100 others wanting to use the urinals at that point, had they waited and been at the end of the queue there would not have been any problems for them.
We were trying to take aim at the urinal wall in the gap at the side, if they moved they were soaked. A few complained to the teachers, but as they were unable to name us, and we would vouch for others that they had not been responsible, There were only a few punishments were ever given for soaking a younger boys legs and shoes. If they were in wellingtons, then we did intentionally pee on their legs, as there was little evidence as to what we had been up to.
Wetting a raincoat could happen over a challenge of who could go the furthest. Two boys stand at an agreed distance facing each other. The winner is the one who can hit the other one, the looser the one whose stream did not reach as far, or was not as long lasting if it hit the coat. Waterproof rubber raincoats were the ideal garment to wear as any hit of pee just ran off, a cloth raincoat or duffel coat might stay soaked.
The punishments of only one stroke was a bit mild, mostly I received two or three strokes, but I didn't get the full six very often.
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Among the collection of photographs, maps, and letters is the School punishment book with entries from 1902 to 1962.
In February 1911, John Plummer was given three “strokes on seat” for “writing indecent matter on slate”. Who knows what the schoolteachers would have made of modern graffiti.
Ipswich - The Changing Face of the Town
The book by David Kindred in hardback. Photographs are grouped in themes showing how the town has changed in over 120 years.
There are over 320 photographs, many in colour with detailed captions over 176 pages. More information available at Old Pond Publishing.
Somersham School punishment book.
A school punishment book from a village junior school in 1951-1952, that was quite sparing with the cane.
About six entries per year, I could have managed that almost on my own in a year, and with similar crimes at a couple of junior school I attended in the 1960s.
Talking & disobedience would have been an easy crime for me to be punished over.
Pee Fights were an often punished affair, mostly it was just the slipper, most of the teachers did not use the cane or have time to take you for the cane, the nearest plimsoll or the longer teacher style ruler was often quickly found and the matter was soon over.
One of my crimes which I was caned for, was during a game of "Highest Up The Wall" in the outside lavatory block. The walls were only about 5 foot high, this allowed any teacher on playground duty to see what we were up to. The dare between junior school boys was to see who could get their stream over the top, in most cases we failed, normally one of us was picked to watch out for teachers on the prowl.
A friend managed the task, just a as teacher came into view of the lavatory block. On entering, he did try to get a confession straight away, but failed, it was easier just to cane the ten or so who were there, as probably there was the chance we all were guilty of not using the urinal properly. All of us were soon in tears after a couple of hits with the cane.
The other antic we got up to was peeing on the back of another boys legs if they were taking too long at the urinal. A few boys did find it difficult to go if there were up to 100 others wanting to use the urinals at that point, had they waited and been at the end of the queue there would not have been any problems for them.
We were trying to take aim at the urinal wall in the gap at the side, if they moved they were soaked. A few complained to the teachers, but as they were unable to name us, and we would vouch for others that they had not been responsible, There were only a few punishments were ever given for soaking a younger boys legs and shoes. If they were in wellingtons, then we did intentionally pee on their legs, as there was little evidence as to what we had been up to.
Wetting a raincoat could happen over a challenge of who could go the furthest. Two boys stand at an agreed distance facing each other. The winner is the one who can hit the other one, the looser the one whose stream did not reach as far, or was not as long lasting if it hit the coat. Waterproof rubber raincoats were the ideal garment to wear as any hit of pee just ran off, a cloth raincoat or duffel coat might stay soaked.
The punishments of only one stroke was a bit mild, mostly I received two or three strokes, but I didn't get the full six very often.
-------------------------------------
Among the collection of photographs, maps, and letters is the School punishment book with entries from 1902 to 1962.
In February 1911, John Plummer was given three “strokes on seat” for “writing indecent matter on slate”. Who knows what the schoolteachers would have made of modern graffiti.
Ipswich - The Changing Face of the Town
The book by David Kindred in hardback. Photographs are grouped in themes showing how the town has changed in over 120 years.
There are over 320 photographs, many in colour with detailed captions over 176 pages. More information available at Old Pond Publishing.