We now think of Victorian children as being polite and well behaved, but it's clear from some entries in the log books that one or two were nothing of the kind! Bad behaviour was rewarded with severe punishment, though, as you can see:
Richard M. severely punished for inattention, disobediance and insubordination. He was inattentive in Geography lesson and he was stood out and punished with pointer by the teacher. He was told the answer to the question previously asked but refused to repeat it. When sent to Master he refused to go, and started home. His teacher told Master but boy refused to raise his hand for punishment. As master had been kicked by boy on similar occasions previously he called Mr Knight and took boy into cloak-room and gave him about a dozen cuts on buttocks with the cane. The boy did not cry at school, but did at home about half an hour later. Father called this afternoon and complained ...
