Anecdote – Terry and the public caning – bullying in public – backfiring!

Terry and the public caning

If caning made me sullen, disdainful and confrontational that was nothing to what it did to some of my fellow students. To a number of them it became a badge of honour. It gave them status and power.

Their disdain for being caned took all the school’s power away. These miscreants learnt to cope with the pain and their insolence merely undermined the authority of the teachers. Their attitude was ‘Is that the best you can do?’

They were immune. There was nothing the school could do.

This was exemplified by Terry. He was the class hardnut. He’d been caned so much that I was sure that his arse had become leather. He also had a pain threshold that was extraordinary.

I can’t remember what terrible crime Terry had carried out. I know he was capable of just about anything. He was a big bully and a thug at times. He was confrontational and he’d once pushed our English teacher through the glass of a bookcase cabinet. Looking back it is hard to believe that he wasn’t expelled. But they had decided to make a public example of him. We were in Year 10. Regardless of anything else it was a bit late. He was far too entrenched to change.

A full school special assembly was called. Trevor, who must have known what was going on, was sitting with the rest of us on the floor in the big hall. When we were all settled, Terry was called up.

I think that the whole idea was to create a public spectacle that would show any miscreants what happened if you stepped out of line.

It failed miserably in all respects.

Right from the start it was clear that the venture was a failure.

Instead of looking frightened and apprehensive Terry looked as if he was going up for a prize. He was centre stage and he loved it. He stood up slowly grinning round at everyone and, with hands in pockets, slouched up the central aisle towards the stage, a knowing smile on his face.

All eyes were on him. They knew how much this was going to hurt. They had no doubt as to the viciousness of what was about to happen. The school wanted to break Terry. They were going to do their utmost.

Terry was equally adamant. This was his big chance. He knew the procedure and he was determined to milk it.

The gym teacher, the biggest bully on the staff, had been deployed to apply the punishment. He stood to one side of the stage.

Terry looked round at the hushed hall. All eyes were fixed on him. I can still see his smiling face. This wasn’t a brave mask. He seemed to be enjoying it.

I cannot remember a word being spoken though I’m sure we were lectured on Terry’s crimes and what happened to people who stepped out of line.

Terry was motioned to the table on the stage. He was calm and compliant. He bent over, gripped the edges of the table and laid his head down looking out at us.

Then he winked at us and grinned widely.

The gym teacher actually bounded across and jumped into the air to bring that cane down with all the force he could muster.

I watched Terry intently. There was no discernible tightening of his grip on that table, his eyes did not blink, and the smile never left his mouth or eyes. It was an act that was almost beyond belief. He took that huge blow without flinching.

I knew the unbelievable pain that had to be shrieking from his buttocks. I could imagine the welt it produced and the blood trickling down his legs. Yet Terry did not show the slightest indication of that excruciating pain. It was more than impressive.

When all six blows had been delivered, Terry rose majestically, looked the Head straight in the eyes, turned and grinned insolently at the Gym teacher who looked far more agitated by the experience than Terry did, and then strolled back down from the stage.

Terry swaggered back down the aisle like a hero with the whole school fixed on him. He returned to his place and looked around, as if taking a bow, and then sat down on the hard floor as if nothing had happened.