Chapter 13

Boy’s schools usually had only one problem: that their motto was ‘spare the rod and spoil the child’. Jack Small was not against corporal punishment, every sane person knew that the occasional physical punishment would be beneficial to most children. But there did have to be some limit, when boys were sent to Matron after, or had to spend a day or two in bed lying on their fronts, or even in one case in hospital; then this was going too far. He put together a small advisory note on the subject and discussed it with Mrs Dolmaine. “Yes, I do see. It must be kept in reasonable bounds Mr Small. I notice you only address boys in this circular; might a similar one be prepared for girls’ schools? I feel there the fault may lie the other way.”

“Just so, that was one of the questions I was going to ask you, Mrs Dolmaine. Do you think girls’ schools should be encouraged to umm, physically stimulate the moral capacities of young ladies?”

“Well, not all girls are young ladies of course. Even those that notionally are may benefit from just such a regime of occasional thrashing” She was finding the thought of a good thrashing on a young female behind – or an older one – enticing. “I wonder? Now Mrs Bellingham-Pargetter has agreed to stay on the board; could we perhaps be of use in visiting some schools and offering advice on the level of corporal punishment that might be appropriate? With yourself in attendance as well, of course. I was just thinking that with two female members of the board attending as well, no possible suggestion if impropriety could be suggested; but you are the ‘professional’, we are only the unpaid amateurs with an interest in the subject” Both Jack Small and Henrietta Dolmaine realised that this interest could be education or caning female bottoms. Both were happy to leave that point unclarified.

“I think that might be useful. Will you approach Mrs Bellingham-Pargetter? It might be an easier subject to be broached by a lady”

It was rapidly arranged. A tour of the secondary girls’ schools would be undertaken to collect information and offer advice. It would be the first county wide survey of its kind in the country.

The first visit, to South Hampton State High School for Girls, was a test case. “I have read the circular Mr Small, it seems to fit well with our policies here” said the Headmistress, Madame Pinkenhole. I think you want to see some of our pupils being punished? I am glad to see you have brought two ladies with you, Mr Small. It might have been questionable otherwise. Come with me...

These three girls were caught, smoking; and not just cigarillos! They were smoking pipes and holding one another in affectionate and inappropriate friendship.” The three girls looked down at their feet. “We have a tolerant attitude to crime in the school because some of the girls do not come from the better class of family. Use of the wrong fork at lunch is punishable by only a single stroke of the ruler; and then the regulations proceed up to expelling offences –”

“What would an expelling offence be, if I might ask?” questioned Jack Small.

“A pupil called Miss Melbury-Smythe-Divan a, I am sorry, but you did ask, a ‘fucking hairy dyke’. That was an expelling offence; despite each part of the description being, technically accurate. Victoria, your giggles have earned you five more strokes!

These committed a middling offence, smoking constitutes ten strokes of a cane on the upper legs; I added two extra because it was a pipe! Victoria has earned some extra for rudeness of course.

Shall we begin?”

All three inspectors were feeling disappointed that the punishment was to upper legs. Mrs Dolmaine had been looking forward to seeing quivering female flesh again. It was something she thought of, often, when she persuaded her husband to slap her more fulsome behind. Mrs Bellingham-Pargetter had found that her husband quite enjoyed such activity – that is to say he liked being tied up and spanked. She was keener to watch than having to do it. Jack Small was slightly ashamed that he liked the idea of seeing schoolgirls being spanked; he had imagined himself having to take over a few times. Miss Havers had been the recipient of a few bare handed spanking sessions before being further punished; he liked it. She liked that he enjoyed slapping her bare bottom.