12 Punishments Teachers Used in the ’70s That Would Be Banned Now
A wild look back at the shocking punishments teachers dished out in the 1970s—when discipline meant pain, shame, and a paddle with holes.
- Alyana Aguja
- 4 min read
During the 1970s, discipline in the classroom regularly crossed lines that would get someone fired or arrested today and was punished from being paddled to being humiliated in public. These measures were not merely legal—they were mainstream, considered tough love or control necessary for order. Here are 12 true and astonishing punishments from the past, and the ways in which they show us how far our conception of education and student rights has come.
1. Paddle Beatings
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Corporal punishment was legal and common during the 1970s, and most school teachers maintained a wooden paddle in their possession. Teachers would hit students—typically on the buttocks—for backtalk, tardiness, or even missing homework. Some paddles even had holes drilled into them for reduced air resistance and greater sting.
2. Ruler on the Knuckles
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Teachers, particularly in Catholic schools, wielded wooden rulers to slap students’ knuckles for writing mistakes or disobedience. The stinging pain was designed as a deterrent, particularly among left-handed students—who were frequently “corrected” to use their right. Bruising and swelling were not unfamiliar side effects.
3. Standing in the Trash Can
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Misbehaving students were sometimes required to stand in a trash can at the front of the class. It was intended to “teach them how to act like trash” if they were “behaving like it.” The humiliation component was high, particularly before peers.
4. Writing Lines—Hundreds of Them
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A frequent punishment was to be made to write the same sentence hundreds of times, e.g., “I will not talk without raising my hand.” Some pupils were made to write until their hands ached or they had no more paper. It was not so much reflection as sheer mental and physical weariness.
5. Isolation in a Closet or Storage Room
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Some educators would lock bad-behaved children into closets or empty rooms as a means of “cooling off.” They were dark, dusty, and unsupervised. The students sometimes stayed there for hours. This would be deemed illegal confinement or even abuse today.
6. Ear Pulling or Flicking
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Teachers may grab a student around the ear and pull them up from the seat or drag them around the room. Others would flick ears or foreheads for minor misconduct. Though it may seem minimal, it was hurtful and humiliating, usually conducted in front of giggling peers.
7. Being Sent to Wear a Dunce Cap
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Even though more prevalent during earlier decades, a few schools in the 1970s—particularly parochial or rural ones—continued to use dunce caps. The conical hat designated a child as “stupid” and condemned them to stand or sit for long periods of time in the corner. Humiliation in front of others was the whole point of the ritual.
8. Soaping the Mouth
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Pupils who swear or “speak back” could be required to wash their mouths with soap, sometimes literally rubbed in the teeth and on the tongue. This hygienically bad and humiliating habit could make the student sick or cause allergic reactions.
9. Forcing the Children to Kneel on Hard Floors
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Some students were forced to kneel on hard surfaces—occasionally even on rice or pencils—for long periods. The idea was to cause pain without leaving marks. Such punishment was particularly prevalent in rigorous religious or military-style schools.
10. Slapping or Face Smacking
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Teachers sometimes automatically responded with a slap across the face or a head slap to instant compliance. Although never “official policy,” they were seldom reported and often merely thought of as “getting the job done.” These physical intimidations left emotional as well as physical scars.
11. Hair Pulling
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Teachers—particularly female teachers—would sometimes pull students by their hair to bring them forward from the room or out of class. It was instantaneous, unpleasant, and humiliating. Girls who had long hair were especially susceptible to this type of punishment.
12. Public Ridicule of Academic Mistakes
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Rather than assisting a struggling pupil, some teachers ridiculed incorrect responses or held up poor work in front of the class. Being made to laugh at by classmates was included in the punishment. Fear of embarrassment often prevented participation or innovation.