CORPORAL punishment in Worcester schools was very much in the spotlight 100 years ago, especially the issue of whether it should be administered solely by head teachers and confined to the cane.

Berrow's Journal for this week of 1903 reported the debate in the City Education Committee: "Mr C.E. Hopton moved that corporal punishment should be administered by the head teacher only, or by his representative in his absence. Mr F.A. Hillard accepted the arguments for limiting the infliction of punishment to headmasters.

"But Mr G.T. Watts strongly opposed the resolution. He suggested that if the committee had any practical knowledge of schools, they would not consent to give all the power to a head master. Certified teachers, many of them of long experience, should have a little more power given to them, and discipline could not be obtained without it. Teachers might be tempted to take the power if it was not given, and children's ears would be boxed.

"Mr J. Mayglothling said it was not right to make the head teacher a monster. Miss Alice Ottley asked if the committee had no other punishment than corporal.

"Canon W.R Carr was anxious to see the cane made the only punishment. The question of boxing ears was very serious, doctors having discovered that tuberculosis, lying dormant, could be so stimulated to activity.

"The committee overwhelmingly carried the resolution limiting the administration of corporal punishment to head teachers and specifying that it should be inflicted only with the cane. No striking with the hand or ruler would be permitted, and especially no striking on the head."