I dread to think of the outrage such a punishment would provoke nowadays.
Just imagine it. It would be a breach of human rights. Parents would contact the police, who would summon the teacher for a stern interview. Social services would have to get involved.
It would provoke such a fuss because we have now gone to the other extreme where teachers live in fear of even raising their voices at troublesome youths who rule the roost these days.
But those of us who did experience either the cane or the strap, thought twice about messing about again.
If we can't get kids to obey the rules of the classroom, what hope is there that they will obey the law of the land?
Darryl Ashton, full address supplied

Stop moaning about footie coverage
With regard to people complaining about the amount of football currently on TV, this coverage of Euro 2008 lasts for just over three weeks.
I have to endure for a lifetime Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks, Neighbours, Home and Away etc (yawn).
Then The Apprentice (snore) and other rubbish such as The Bill and Big Brother and Get Me Out of The Jungle, or whatever it was.
Oh yes, and the big one... Trinny and Susannah getting their kit off! (Zzzzzzz).
I rest my case. Live and let live is what I say. Variety is a large cake – take a slice of what YOU like and enjoy it.
Mr A P Fenerty, full address supplied

We need to build nuclear stations
John Hutton has stated that in order to safeguard the UK's future power supplies we need to commence building nuclear power stations as soon as possible in order to meet our targets on carbon emissions, while catering for our future energy needs.
This is good news for British firms and jobs after years of dithering by past ministers.
The only problem I see is that it usually takes 10 years from the commissioning of any nuclear power station to them coming on stream.
We were world leaders in nuclear power construction and generation 50 years ago but that advantage has since been wasted by delays and pointless hand wringing by our resident pessimists.
John Tilley, Chorley

MPs' greed is just a sign of being human
It would be hard to turn down MP perks. There can be no defending the manner in which MPs and MEPs are allowed to cushion their lives so luxuriously at the taxpayers' expense.
But I think the people who criticise our representatives in Westminster and Brussels for taking advantage of the system should ask themselves whether they would not be tempted to do the same.
People are only human, and if the rules say you can be so cavalier with public money, then it would take a strong-willed person to turn his or her back on so many perks.
The problem is the system itself.
Name and address supplied