I now think a paddling I received in middle school 50 years ago had sexual overtones

[Anonymous]

I was pretty well behaved in school but once I was taken out into the hallway for a paddling. I forget for what. It was just three relatively-mild but loud swats. I'm a guy and it was a male teacher. Thinking back on the teacher, he was kind of weird. My offense, I suspect, was mild. He was kind of grabby before the paddling -- on my upper arm. He was breathing a bit more heavily than usual. I wonder if perversion entered into his interest in me that day. I suppose it is too late but something inside of me says I should raise hell with the school -- the teacher is deceased. I probably won't do anything, but wanted to throw this out for comment, encouragement, discouragement.

[Anonymous]

You have no way to know or prove what his intent or feeling was.

All you can know or prove is based on actions; the action was over-the-top by today's standards, but was probably fairly consistent with approved discipline sanctioned by schools at the time.

I'm sorry this happened to you. I don't know how paddling ever lasted in schools as long as it did.

I think it may be helpful for you to talk to a therapist.

[Anonymous]

Oh ffs. Go back to work.

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry that happened to you, but what would "raising hell" with the school now accomplish?
You say the teacher is deceased, likely the principal and any other administrators that could have done anything are also deceased.
Would you really go "raise hell" with the current administration? If it happened 50 years ago, it's possible they weren't even BORN yet when this happened.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have no way to know or prove what his intent or feeling was.

All you can know or prove is based on actions; the action was over-the-top by today's standards, but was probably fairly consistent with approved discipline sanctioned by schools at the time.

I'm sorry this happened to you. I don't know how paddling ever lasted in schools as long as it did.

I think it may be helpful for you to talk to a therapist.

It still happens. Paddling in school is still legal in 19 states.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5766273/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have no way to know or prove what his intent or feeling was.

All you can know or prove is based on actions; the action was over-the-top by today's standards, but was probably fairly consistent with approved discipline sanctioned by schools at the time.

I'm sorry this happened to you. I don't know how paddling ever lasted in schools as long as it did.

I think it may be helpful for you to talk to a therapist.

I am 58 and nothing remotely like this was done in schools where I grew up.

[Anonymous]

I think all of the something "might" have happened 20, 30, 40 + years ago crap being spewed both men and women now is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have no way to know or prove what his intent or feeling was.

All you can know or prove is based on actions; the action was over-the-top by today's standards, but was probably fairly consistent with approved discipline sanctioned by schools at the time.

I'm sorry this happened to you. I don't know how paddling ever lasted in schools as long as it did.

I think it may be helpful for you to talk to a therapist.

I am 58 and nothing remotely like this was done in schools where I grew up.

Fantastic for you. I am 39 and paddling was still alive and well when I was in elementary school in the 80s/early 90s.

[Anonymous]

I'm 54. When I was a kid, the teacher would give you a smack across the palm with a ruler if you misbehaved.

For more serious offenses, kids would be bent over and caned in front of the entire school.

If you misbehaved in an assembly, and there were no rulers or canes handy, the teacher would wade in and grab you, then smack you on the ass with the palm of their hand.

At the time this was considered unremarkable.

Don't remember any of them getting off on it, but then as now most teachers were female.

[Anonymous]

The dean of boys at my public high school had a wooden paddle hanging on the wall in his office. It wasn't for decoration. Yes, it hurt like hell, and there was nothing sexual about it at all. Early 1980's.

[Anonymous]

You or the teacher?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have no way to know or prove what his intent or feeling was.

All you can know or prove is based on actions; the action was over-the-top by today's standards, but was probably fairly consistent with approved discipline sanctioned by schools at the time.

I'm sorry this happened to you. I don't know how paddling ever lasted in schools as long as it did.

I think it may be helpful for you to talk to a therapist.

I am 58 and nothing remotely like this was done in schools where I grew up.

I grew up in NY and we had nothing like this either, but I think it was more common in the south.

OP, I agree with the therapist idea. Maybe go find someone to talk it through with.

[Anonymous]

Raise hell for what - teacher is dead, it was how many years ago and no one who worked there is probably at the school? It sounds like it was nothing out of the ordinary for the time. It was in an open area with clothing on (not that I agree with it but still). What reaction do you want?

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry that happened to you. I would tell the school, if you want to, and say "I hope you are no longer paddling students".

[Anonymous]

50 years ago, how could your memory be accurate. I would let this go.