Bring back the cane in schools, say one in five British teachers

As a high-spirited youngster at school in the '60s I was caned quite often. Sometimes I would be given a choice of lines, detention, or the cane. I always took the cane as it was all over and done with in seconds. It never did me any lasting harm, and mostly I deserved it. And when I didn't, it made up for the times when I'd got away with it. No harm done. Teachers then had been through the war and weren't scared of gobby little snots like they are today.

- John Austen, Cranbrook, England, 03/10/2008 10:58

This from the Daily Mail:

One in five teachers would like to see the cane brought back in schools to help discipline unruly children, a survey has revealed.

They would back the return of corporal punishment because they have had enough of deteriorating pupil behaviour.

The research comes amid rising concern about poorly behaved children who routinely flout authority both in school and out.

The Times Educational Supplement (TES) survey of 6,162 teachers found that overall, 20.3 per cent backed 'the right to use corporal punishment in extreme cases'.
Support was strongest among secondary school teachers, with 22 per cent backing the idea compared to 16 per cent of primary school teachers.

But only 12 per cent of heads and deputy and assistant heads agreed with its return.

Supply teacher Judith Cookson told the TES that she 'strongly' supported the return of corporal punishment.

She said: 'There are too many anger management people and their ilk who give children the idea that it is their right to flounce out of lessons for time out because they have problems with their temper. 'They should be caned instead.'

And primary teacher Ravi Kasinathan said: 'There is justification, or an argument, for bringing back corporal punishment, if only as a deterrent. I believe some children just don't respond to the current sanctions.'

But John Dunford, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: 'Thankfully, corporal punishment is no longer on the agenda, except in the most uncivilised countries...