Her sentence had hung in the air and there was simply no need for her to continue. He knew her policy well. No false promises, no empty threats.

Wilhelmsen Institute was one of the few schools that kept on using corporal punishment. Located on an island, just off the north german coast, it housed pupils from countries all around the world whose parents cherished the old-fashioned approach to discipline. In the classroom, teachers made use of a wooden ruler, applied to the pupils palms, to deal with minor infractions. For more serious things, pupils could be slippered by their form masters – or, for repeated or very serious offences, got sent to the headmistress.

Red faced before such a beautiful and impeccably attired young woman whom he had secretly admired for so long, and barely knowing how to present himself, he found his fingers nervously playing with the hem of his white cotton shirt and his bare feet fidgeted on the well worn and slightly scratchy wool carpet. That is no ordinary school-cane several had insisted, with some boys speculating it must have been treated with exotic and forbidden oils to imbue it with additional stinginess. Others took the view she had been coached by a tennis pro until her forehand swing was capable of delivering strokes of hitherto unprecedented power. Skirt length was, of course, a burning topic in the early 1960s. The tunic or dress had to cover the knees, and however much we might complain, this was non-negotiable. A girl who put up her tunic to make a mini-sldrt and wore it to school was sent straight home, and dealt with for defiance. Now, what you have done is a serious offence. I see from your file that you are generally well-behaved. It is your first time here, but know that I cannot be lenient with you. You have to learn once and for all to respect your teachers. What did Miss Williams give you?” Miss Janet Dines left the court "completely vindicated" after being accused of assaulting and beating 14-year-old Lynne. Joke

Being naturally dominant I truly enjoy taking on the persona of your most feared Punisher. Whether it’s the strict Headmistress, no-nonsense Landlady, Probation Officer, Works HR Manager, Lady of the Manor, you’re Aunt Jennifer, mummies best friend or any other figure of authority you care to mention. Rebellion over uniform was in any case looked down upon as childish. Much more sophisticated was to be politely truthful -more so than the nun might have wished, but this took nerve. I took the junior cane out of the cupboard and held it in my hands. I clearly had the boys attention. Wills, Lafleur, Goodwyn. I want you to witness what happens to those who don’t learn from their first visit here. Turn around and watch closely.” New girls were given the school rules to learn by heart in the first week. After that, you had no excuse for transgressing them.There has been adverse publicity. It has been a time of great tension and distress. She is entitled to regard this as a complete vindication." I have a feeling, Mt Mather, that you will be asking for more of these before we have finished. But let’s see…’

Taking up her cane by the inside of its perfectly rounded crook handle, she stood, gently flexing it before running her fingers along its smooth length. Cool to her fingertips, it was carefully sanded at each joint and slightly rounded at the tip. over the Easter break you will record your exam revision work in this notebook. I trust that you are a young man of honour and integrity, and after the holiday I will ask you to look me in the eye and give me a honest appraisal of your efforts. If I am not fully satisfied, be warned that I will take a very dim view. We're setting a precedent this afternoon and I will not hesitate to administer further discipline if I believe efforts in your studies have slipped. Sorry to drop another cliché on you, but- this is for your own good." My intuition tells me that you are not a bad child. However, everyone needs nudging in the right direction occasionally. What is going to follow could be thought of as just such a nudge.’ Remember: I do not offer any sexual services of any kind, and will be offended if you even mention it. So don’t! Relive your Chalk dust Memories… Lynne said that after the caning her bottom was sore for several weeks and she had been unable to sleep properly.

She remembered how he had looked downcast by her uncharacteristic outburst, his cheeks blushing pink, and she had relented, trying to be more encouraging. Mrs Seaton passed me a box of tissues and I took one and tried to dry my eyes. She warned me to behave myself in future and told me that if I didn't like the cane from her I would like it a lot less from the headmaster.

Observing her from afar, her beauty and understated power, the calm authority that Miss Sternwood exuded so effortlessly, had frequently given him butterflies in his tummy. But here and now, in such close proximity, the scent of her hair, a delicate hint of her perfume as she moved, and an inexplicable intimacy of seeing her casual handling of the terrible cane, suddenly provoked a discernable twitch below his waistline. He shifted awkwardly, self-consciously adjusting his blazer and opening his mouth to speak, but found himself at a loss for words. Lindsey was a very nice girl. Although she must have been, with good reason, as fearful as I was, but she still tried to ease my nerves a little. She told me not to worry and said that as it was my first time I would probably only get a couple of strokes and that it wouldn't hurt all that much. She said that the only thing I had to remember was to do exactly what Mrs Seaton said, as soon as she said it! Well, Marling, a caning is a serious punishment. You are here because you have persistently misbehaved over the last week. I shall now try to show you just how seriously we take your misbehaviour. The cane is supposed to hurt and I can assure you that it will hurt - a lot. Or is the idea of ‘toasty fingers’ the one that resonates with you? If so, it seems to me that you had better make your way to Headmistress sooner rather than later – and don’t forget your note!There were a few moments of total silence, as though the world had stopped. Then movement from inside, a figure on the other side of the stained glass, and the door opened. We looked at each other for a moment, before she nodded and stood to one side, opening the door more widely to let me come in. I found I was able to meet her gaze more comfortably now. I felt bigger, older, less like a child and more like an adult. I agreed. She was smiling at me. But while most of those pupils were already looking forward to a nice and enjoyable weekend, a few had other thoughts on their minds. They would have to report to the headmistress’ office right after classes – to be punished.