I remember I got '2 of the belt' for copying another boys french 'composition' homework - word for word.That taught me a lesson.Bring it back, I say.

The problem here is that there was never a law that gave teachers the right to use the cane or whatever. Indeed, the same can be said about getting a clip round the ear by police years ago. It was just part of growing up that, importantly, the majority of parents agreed with.

I can remember getting the cane at school and when my father spotted the marks the same evening and realised what had happened I received a repeat of it from him! Likewise after the many times I was clipped round the ears by the police I always dreaded going home because I knew that the police would have already been and seen my parents and that I could expect more of the same from them when they I home.

Now that corporal punishment has been banned only legislation can get this re-introduced, but how would you define such a law and at what point would a clip round the ears become a good kicking!

No, thanks to all the doo-gooders, tree-huggers, liberals et al, those days have gone and won't be coming back ... mores the pity.

badgery, so, do you think the current lack of firm discipline is a good thing?