BEXHILL SCHOOL FOR GIRLS, Assembly Read Online Free PDF Page A

you two off with six.”
    “Now you tell
me! But we wouldn’t have sneaked on her anyway. We didn’t know we’d
have got less if she’d admitted owning the packet. If we had, we’d
have laid into her afterwards.”
    “I’ve always
rather admired the way the girls stick together when they’re in
trouble,” said Evelyn.
    “It’s part of
the school ethic,” said Marge. “But it must be damned annoying at
times when they all stand shoulder-to-shoulder and you can’t tell
which of the wretches is the most guilty!”
    “That’s why my
policy is always ‘thrash the lot and you’re bound to get the
culprit,” said ‘Three Taps, smiling. “So, Margaret, did you ever
smoke again?”
    “No. I didn’t
like it much on that occasion and so I never tried again.”
    “I’d like to
think it was the memory of that sore bottom that deterred you.”
    “Well, of
course it was that, too.”
    “So much,” said
Henry, “for all this new-fangled talk about banning corporal
punishment in schools. Typical Labour Party bosh. Short, sharp
shock and get it over with. It’s always worked in the past; always
will. What do you say, Edward?”
    “I agree. I
think banning the cane would be a great mistake. It’s hard enough
as it is to keep discipline in the classrooms nowadays.”
    “I agree,” said
Evelyn. “The Headmaster and I were discussing it just the other
day. We are even thinking of giving each of the teachers a paddle
and encouraging them to use it if the class starts getting too
unruly.”
    “Jolly good
idea,” said Marge.
    “Why don’t we
ask those on the receiving end, as it were? What do you think,
girls? Would you rather have had detention or extra prep or
something than the threat of the cane?”
    Margaret looked
at Paula. Paula spoke.
    “Oh no, I don’t
think so. Some of the teachers did give us detentions or extra
prep, and we hated that. It was boring and so demeaning: everyone
could see you sitting there in the classroom while they were having
time off. I wasn’t spanked very often, but I’d much rather have had
a good smacking and got it over with. It only lasts a few seconds,
after all!”
    “I used to hate
the wait when I knew I was going to get a thrashing,” said
Margaret, “but I agree with Paula, it’s better than detention. I
mean, there was even some status attached to getting the cane,
wasn’t there, Paula?”
    “Oh yes, the
girls used to show off their stripes quite proudly. The juniors
really admired you if you could get through a caning without making
a fuss.”
    “It wasn’t so
easy - not making a fuss,” said Margaret, looking at the Headmaster
and wondering whether she should continue. She decided to go for
it. “I mean, when Mum canes people, she just sort of gets on with
it. It’s different with ‘Three Taps’ over there!” She nodded at
Mr Masterson.
    “What do you
mean, and who’s ‘Three Taps’ anyway?” he asked, smiling, but
puzzled.
    “Don’t you know
you’re nickname is ‘Three Taps’? I’m sure the girls still call you
that,” said Paula, grinning at him.
    “Why on Earth
‘Three Taps’?” he was laughing now.
    “You tell him,
Margaret. You had more cause to know why he’s called that!”
    “Come on,
you’re keeping us in suspense,” said Marge, sitting forward. “I
want to know why you awful girls call my husband ‘Three Taps.”
    “All right,
I’ll tell you,” said Margaret, “but promise you won’t get
offended?”
    “Of course I
won’t, but if you don’t get on with it, I’ll ask Henry whether he
keeps a cane around here somewhere!”
    “It’s because
of the way you beat us. It’s always the same. You tell us to take
down our pants and bend over; you prepare us by lifting up our
skirts, and then the ritual begins. It’s the worst bit, isn’t it
Paula?”
    Paula nodded
enthusiastically.
    “You tap our
bottom with whatever you’re going to use - Stinger or the tawse or
a cane - and then start lecturing us. It’s just