13 School Punishments from the Past That Would Be Illegal Today
Here's a look at old school punishments that are now banned for being too harsh.
- Daisy Montero
- 4 min read
Years ago, schools used punishments that would never be allowed today. These methods were once seen as normal ways to keep order but are now understood to be harmful. This list shows how much discipline in schools has changed over time.
1. Wooden Paddle Beatings
Ansgar Wernst on Wikimedia Commons
Teachers would use a large wooden paddle to strike students as punishment for misbehavior. It was often delivered in front of the class to set an example for others. Today, this is considered physical abuse and is banned in most places.
2. Birching with Birch Rods
Martin van Maële on Wikimedia Commons
Birching involved hitting students with a bundle of thin birch twigs, sometimes on bare skin. This was especially common in Europe and was believed to teach respect. Now, it is viewed as both harmful and humiliating, and it has been completely outlawed.
3. Cane or Ruler Striking
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A cane or ruler was a go-to tool for quick punishment in many schools. Students might get a sharp strike on the hands or legs for making mistakes. Such treatment is now seen as harmful and unacceptable in modern classrooms.
4. Dunce Cap Shaming
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Students who struggled with lessons or misbehaved could be made to wear a tall pointed hat labeled “dunce.” They would have to sit in a visible spot so everyone could see. This practice is now recognized as damaging to a child’s confidence.
5. Washing Mouth with Soap
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If a student used bad language or talked back, a teacher might clean their mouth with soap. It was believed to teach manners by associating foul words with an unpleasant taste. Today, it is considered abusive and unsafe.
6. Prolonged Isolation
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Some students were punished by being kept alone in a room for long periods. It was meant to make them think about their actions, but it often caused fear instead. Modern time-outs are shorter and focus on calming a child rather than scaring them.
7. Public Humiliation
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Punishments were sometimes done in front of the entire class so everyone could watch. The idea was to use embarrassment as a lesson for others. Now, we understand that this can have lasting emotional effects.
8. Leather Straps (“Leathering”)
Auckland Museum on Wikimedia Commons
Teachers in some schools used thick leather straps to strike students on the hands or body. Even small mistakes could lead to several painful hits. This is now banned and widely seen as abusive.
9. Prefect-Administered Beatings
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In some schools, older students called prefects were allowed to discipline younger ones. This often meant physical punishment without adult supervision. The practice was eventually banned due to its potential for abuse.
10. Forced Kneeling or Awkward Posture
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Students could be made to kneel on hard floors or stand in uncomfortable positions for long stretches. This was seen as a way to make them “think about what they did.” Today, it is understood to be harmful both physically and mentally.
11. Hitting with Classroom Objects
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Teachers sometimes grabbed whatever was nearby, like chalkboard erasers or books, to punish students. These objects could cause injury even if not intended. Such actions would be unacceptable in any modern school.
12. Racial Disparities in Paddling
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In places where paddling was still used, it often targeted certain groups of students more than others. Black and disabled students were punished at much higher rates. This highlighted the unfairness and bias in old disciplinary systems.
13. Today’s Compassionate Discipline
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Modern discipline focuses on understanding why a student is misbehaving. Teachers now use approaches like counseling, positive reinforcement, and conflict resolution. This shift shows how far education has moved away from the harsh punishments of the past.