by Lisa Berry
It was 1959 and Meadow Lane School was in crisis. The headmistress, who'd been appointed when the new school had opened three years earlier, had proved to be a complete failure, and the governors had asked for her resignation which she had agreed to offer. The hunt had then been on for a new Head and, after many applications and interviews, the Governors had decided to take a gamble on a very young woman, Marion Archer, who was currently Head of girls at a mixed comprehensive school. She was very ambitious, expected the highest standards and was a strict disciplinarian. The current Head was to stay on until the end of the school year to enable the new Head to see out the year in her current post.
As soon as the appointment had been announced, the Governors arranged a meeting of all staff to meet the new Head, and for her to set out her plans for the future. She said that things would be tightened up, and rules would be strictly enforced. These would be backed up by the use of the cane. After Miss Archer had set out her plans for the future, the current Deputy Head and two of the staff immediately offered their resignation. This meant that the new Head could offer the position of deputy to one of the teachers at her old school, Mrs Higgins, someone well in tune with her ideas and no stranger to corporal punishment. She accepted immediately and the Governors approved.
During the rest of the summer term more members of staff resigned and Miss Archer set about recruiting her own staff: teachers who were good at their job and not afraid to use strict discipline when necessary. The summer holidays came and Miss Archer could now devote her energies to getting things ready for the start of term. One of the first things she did was to order a good supply of canes and one was hung in every classroom.
Several days before term started all the staff were called in for a meeting where Miss Archer put the final touches to her discipline programme. All serious breaches of the rules such as stealing, smoking, missing lessons, cheating in exams etc would be dealt with by herself or her deputy. All classroom misdemeanours would be dealt with by teachers. Out of class infringements would be dealt with by housemistresses. One teacher asked about what would happen if anyone didn't want to use corporal punishment. Miss Archer said that the miscreant should be sent to herself or her deputy. Another asked about lines or detention and was told that these would all be recorded and strictly monitored. All other queries were dealt with and a mood of great optimism pervaded the staff room. So the stage was set for the first day of term.
Miss Archer arrived early to make sure that she was relaxed and ready to face her first assembly. At eight forty-five she made her way to the school hall after checking all her clothing was in place and putting on her gown. At the back of the hall she waited while the housemistresses and her deputy walked down the aisle to the platform and she followed. When the religious part had finished she addressed the school and told them in no uncertain terms what was expected of them and the repercussions if they didn't follow the rules to the letter. Half way through her speech she noticed a girl talking to her neighbour. Without batting an eyelid she marched off the stage and down the aisle to where the girl was sitting.
"You, girl, my study, straight after assembly."
The girl's face went as red as a beetroot.
As she was about to return to the stage Miss Archer noticed a girl two rows away wearing earrings. "You girl, you can join her."
Again, another bright red face. Miss Archer returned to the stage to address the school, which was now in a state of stunned shock. Who is this woman, they all seemed to be saying. She then left the hall and returned to her study where she took off her gown and hung it up. Then she went to one of her cupboards, took out a cane from her collection, and laid it on the desk ready for the two girls. She then stood at the window dressed in a dark blue suit, white blouse, medium brown stockings and black high heeled shoes, and watched the girls filing out of the hall. She watched for five minutes and then went to the door and opened it. Outside were two very nervous fourth year girls.
"You," she said, pointing to one of the girls. "Inside." She let the girl in and followed her to her desk, going round behind it. "Don't you ever let me see you talking in assembly again, is that clear?"
"Yes Miss," whimpered the girl.
"I intend to make an example of you," said Miss Archer, picking up the cane. "Bend over."
The girl hesitated for a moment as Miss Archer came round the desk. With a terrified look on her face, she then bent down with hands just below her knees. Miss Archer immediately pushed her right down and pulled up her skirt and slip. Then she gave the cane a swish and took aim. Then she lashed the cane down across the girl's backside. The girl let out a scream and jumped up.
"Now you can go and tell everyone what happened to you," said Miss Archer.
"Yes Miss," she replied, holding her bottom and fighting back a tear in her eye.
"Now get out and send that other girl in."
The girl turned and made a quick exit. The other girl came in and went over to the desk where Miss Archer was still standing. "What are the rules regarding jewellery?"
"It's not allowed."
"It's not allowed what?"
"Miss."
"You'd better learn to address staff properly. So why are you wearing earrings?"
The girl just shrugged her shoulders.
"Don't shrug your shoulders at me, girl," yelled Miss Archer angrily, bringing the cane crashing down on the desk, making the girl jump out of her skin. "Answer the question."
"I suppose I thought nobody would notice, Miss."
"You thought nobody would notice," repeated Miss Archer with a hint of sarcasm. "Do you think we're blind?"
"No Miss."
"Like the girl before you I intend to make an example of you, bend over."
The girl bent over and took hold of her ankles. Miss Archer then lifted the girl's skirt and slip, took aim, and gave her backside a tremendous swipe. The girl seemed to leap in the air before getting up with a scream and grabbing her backside before walking round in circles.
"Now go and show your friends what I've just done, get out."
The girl ran to the door and disappeared.
Miss Archer returned her cane to the cupboard, then went and sat down. She then pressed the button on her intercom and asked her secretary to bring in the punishment book. In fact, it was her deputy, Mrs Higgins, who brought it in.
"Deal with those two?" she asked.
"Gave them a damn good swipe they won't forget in hurry. I'm sure they'll go straight back and tell their friends what a cow I am," said Miss Archer.
"Something stronger than that," laughed Mrs Higgins.
"Let's see what effect that has on behaviour." said Miss Archer, slumping back in her chair. "Have a seat, Mavis."
Mavis sat down and the two women discussed the day ahead.
"I'm going to do a tour of the school at regular intervals," said Miss Archer.
"Shall I do one as well, we could do it alternately?" suggested Mrs Higgins.
"Good idea, on the hour every hour," said Miss Archer. "You do the first one at ten."
Ten o'clock came round and Mrs Higgins set off on her tour of the school. She looked through the glass of each classroom door and all seemed to be running smoothly. As she turned a corner she saw a girl standing outside a classroom. When she reached her, she asked the inevitable question.
"What are you doing here, girl?"
The somewhat embarrassed girl paused for a moment. "I've been sent out for talking."
"Talking what?" demanded Mrs Higgins.
"Just talking," replied the girl with a puzzled expression.
"Do the members of staff here have a title?"
"Oh, sorry, Miss."
"I should think so too. Now go and wait outside my office."
Mrs Higgins stood and watched as the girl disappeared round the corner. Then she resumed her tour of inspection. She finished her tour and returned to her office where the girl was nervously waiting.
"Inside," she said to the girl as she opened the door. The girl stepped inside and Mrs Higgins closed the door and went and sat at her desk. The girl stood in front of it nervously playing with the hem of her skirt. "So, sent out for talking. How many times were you told about it?"
The girl thought for a moment. "Twice, Miss."
"Do you normally ignore instructions given by your teacher?"
"No Miss."
"Just on this occasion then?"
"Yes Miss."
"And I'm expected to believe that, am I?"
"Yes Miss."
Mrs Higgins shook her head in disbelief. "I can see that discipline in this school has become far too lax and needs to be tightened up. The headmistress and I will not tolerate poor behaviour and as a result I shall cane you."
Colour drained from the girls face as Mrs Higgins got up, went to a cupboard and withdrew one of her canes.
"Bend over the desk please."
"Please Miss, I won't do it again."
"I'm sure you won't. Now do as I say."
The girl leaned forward over the desk.
"I said bend over it, not lean over it," said Mrs Higgins, pushing the girl right down. She then stepped back, placed the cane against the girl's skirt, and then gave it a swipe.
"Owwwch," gasped the girl.
She then gave the girl two more.
"Get up."
The girl got up and immediately rubbed her bottom, trying to hold back the tears.
"What's your name, girl?"
"Margaret Summers, Miss."
"Form?"
"C3."
"Well, Margaret Summers, I hope this has taught you a lesson. Now return to your class and tell the teacher where you've been."
"Yes, thank you, Miss."
The girl left the office and Mrs Higgins went to the secretary's office to fill in the punishment book.
It was day two at Meadow Lane School and it was now the turn of the headmistress, Miss Archer, to tour the school and see how things were going. Not only was she on the lookout for girls misbehaving, but making sure that teachers were doing their job properly. She started with the first floor classrooms. She decided to go in at random and the first one she went into was a Maths class. As she entered, all the girls stopped work and stood up. So far so good.
"Sit down, girls. How is the class behaviour, Miss Carr?"
"Very good, Headmistress."
"Have you had to discipline anybody?"
"Not so far."
"Good, carry on."
Miss Archer left the room and went further down the corridor. She stopped outside a classroom and looked through the glass panel in the door. She could see the teacher sitting at her desk and a girl standing beside her so she decided to go in and see what was happening. Again, as she entered, all the girls stopped and stood up.
"Sit down, girls."
Then she went over to the teacher, Mrs Mumford, one of the older teachers on her staff.
"Please carry on," said Miss Archer, stepping back towards the door.
"As I was saying, is this what you call homework?" demanded Mrs Mumford.
"Yes Miss," replied the girl.
"How long did it take you?"
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