Slippering (punishment)
Encyclopedia
A slippering is a term for the act of smacking the buttocks
, or the hands, with a slipper
as a form of corporal punishment
. A slippering on the buttocks is a form of spanking
; it is a much more common method than slippering on the hands. The verb 'to slipper' means 'to give a slippering'.
Slippering is used in three contexts: domestic punishment, school punishment, and erotic spanking
. This article is only concerned with domestic and school punishments.
There are very little data, research or evidence about the use of slippering. Information is mainly based on anecdotal reports from individuals who have given, received, or observed slipperings, or who have been in households or schools where slipperings were used.
Slipperings are particularly associated with Britain and Commonwealth countries, although not exclusively so.
as the ultimate penalty, the slipper was seen as a less severe alternative for punishing less serious misconduct. 'Slipper' is a misnomer, as the usual item of footwear used was the plimsoll
, or gymshoe or tennis shoe, with a fabric upper and a heavy rubber or synthetic sole. This could deliver a very painful stroke, depending on the force with which it was used, and the size and flexibility of the particular slipper; a size 11, well-worn, flexible slipper would deliver more sting than one that was new and stiff.
At many schools, students who committed minor classroom
offences - talking or disruption, for example - could be punished there and then in the classroom by the class teacher. Typically this would involve two or three quick, sharp swats across the seat
of the offender's trousers, with the student either bending over the teacher's desk, or standing and bending forward with hands on knees. This also served to demonstrate to the class that such behaviour would not be tolerated. Immediately after being punished, the student, closely watched by his classmates, would have to stand up, turn round and go back to his place and sit down, adding to the embarrassment and pain, both of which were seen as part of the deterrent to further misbehaviour.
The slipper was also widely used to enforce discipline outside lesson time within the boarding houses of boarding schools, especially preparatory schools for younger boys. Slipperings were commonly administered by the boarding house Matron, who was responsible not only for the welfare of the boys, but also for maintaining order in the dormitories. "Talking after lights out" was a common reason for a visit to Matron's study for the slipper, which was willingly accepted as an alternative to being sent to the headmaster for the cane.
This "informal", on-the-spot type of discipline was typically not recorded in the official punishment register, as it was not seen as sufficiently serious to be classified as real corporal punishment. Also, it could be administered by staff who were not officially authorised to administer formal corporal punishment, so were not allowed to use the cane. In fact, though, it could sometimes be just as painful as the officially recorded punishment.
A minority of schools also designated the slipper as their official punishment implement instead of the cane, for more serious misbehaviour, especially infractions committed outside the classroom, such as smoking
. In this case, slipperings were carried out as a formal ceremony
in the same way as canings at other schools, i.e. the student would be summoned to the private office of the Head Teacher (principal) or Deputy Head or of a senior teacher of the same gender as the student. The student would typically be interviewed about his offence before being told his punishment. He was then required to remove his blazer, empty his back pockets and bend over a desk or chair. Up to six powerful strokes of the slipper would then be delivered in a solemn, measured manner to the seat of the trousers. This would be recorded in the school's punishment book.
This more severe kind of slippering would typically leave the student's buttocks lightly bruised for a few days, providing a further reminder each time he sat down. However, there was no danger of superficial bleeding as there could be with a caning.
An example of a school that opted for the slipper as its formal disciplinary implement was Litherland High School in Liverpool, a mixed-sex school, although the policy there was that only boys could receive corporal discipline. The school recorded more than 1,800 official slipperings in 1980.
More typical, in that the cane was the "official" punishment, and slippering routinely used more informally, was Highbury Grove School
, a large boys' school in north London and New Parks School in Leicester, a boys school up to 1981 which then became a mixed school from 1981 onwards (only boys were given corporal punishment when it became a mixed school).
All forms of corporal punishment were banned in state schools in the UK in 1987. A ban in private schools followed in England and Wales (1999), Scotland (2000), and Northern Ireland (2003). There are frequently calls for it to be reinstated, with most polls in the media still showing the majority of the UK public in favour of its use in schools.
in domestic contexts. The second most common method in British and Commonwealth countries has probably been the slipper. In other countries it has been used, but it is less popular. The slipper is typically a gymshoe
or standard carpet slipper which is worn indoors. Types of the latter slipper include those with fabric uppers or leather uppers, and with synthetic soles, or leather soles. The severity of a slippering depends on the force with which the slipper is applied, the number of strokes, the clothing of the buttocks, and the slipper itself (more severe with a heavier gymshoe or large-sized slipper which has a fairly stiff leather sole).
The slipper is normally gripped at the heel end. A slippering is usually regarded as a formal corporal punishment
for serious misconduct, particularly for teenagers of either gender. As such, it is usually carried out in private with a preliminary talk about the misconduct and the consequences. Typically the number of strokes will be in the range of one to twelve. The slipper can be administered in the so-called traditional over knee position or, usually for older recipients, bending over an item of furniture (eg. bed, back of chair).
Buttocks
The buttocks are two rounded portions of the anatomy, located on the posterior of the pelvic region of apes and humans, and many other bipeds or quadrupeds, and comprise a layer of fat superimposed on the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius muscles. Physiologically, the buttocks enable weight to...
, or the hands, with a slipper
Slipper
A slipper or houseshoe is a semi-closed type of indoor/outdoor shoe, consisting of a sole held to the wearer's foot by a strap running over the toes or instep. Slippers are soft and lightweight compared to other types of footwear. They are mostly made of soft or comforting materials that allow a...
as a form of corporal punishment
Corporal punishment
Corporal punishment is a form of physical punishment that involves the deliberate infliction of pain as retribution for an offence, or for the purpose of disciplining or reforming a wrongdoer, or to deter attitudes or behaviour deemed unacceptable...
. A slippering on the buttocks is a form of spanking
Spanking
Spanking refers to the act of striking the buttocks of another person to cause temporary pain without producing physical injury. It generally involves one person striking the buttocks of another person with an open hand. When an open hand is used, spanking is referred to in some countries as...
; it is a much more common method than slippering on the hands. The verb 'to slipper' means 'to give a slippering'.
Slippering is used in three contexts: domestic punishment, school punishment, and erotic spanking
Erotic spanking
Erotic spanking is the act of spanking another person for the sexual arousal or gratification of either or both parties...
. This article is only concerned with domestic and school punishments.
There are very little data, research or evidence about the use of slippering. Information is mainly based on anecdotal reports from individuals who have given, received, or observed slipperings, or who have been in households or schools where slipperings were used.
Slipperings are particularly associated with Britain and Commonwealth countries, although not exclusively so.
School slippering
In the United Kingdom, especially in England and Wales, the slipper was a common implement for administering corporal punishment in schools for students of both genders and all ages. In schools that used the caneCaning
Caning is a form of corporal punishment consisting of a number of hits with a single cane usually made of rattan, generally applied to the offender's bare or clothed buttocks or hand . Application of a cane to the knuckles or the shoulders has been much less common...
as the ultimate penalty, the slipper was seen as a less severe alternative for punishing less serious misconduct. 'Slipper' is a misnomer, as the usual item of footwear used was the plimsoll
Plimsoll shoe
A plimsoll shoe, plimsoll, or plimsole is a British English word for a type of athletic shoe with a canvas upper and rubber sole, developed as beachwear in the 1830s by the Liverpool Rubber Company. The shoe was originally, and often still is in parts of the United Kingdom, called a 'sand shoe' and...
, or gymshoe or tennis shoe, with a fabric upper and a heavy rubber or synthetic sole. This could deliver a very painful stroke, depending on the force with which it was used, and the size and flexibility of the particular slipper; a size 11, well-worn, flexible slipper would deliver more sting than one that was new and stiff.
At many schools, students who committed minor classroom
Classroom
A classroom is a room in which teaching or learning activities can take place. Classrooms are found in educational institutions of all kinds, including public and private schools, corporations, and religious and humanitarian organizations...
offences - talking or disruption, for example - could be punished there and then in the classroom by the class teacher. Typically this would involve two or three quick, sharp swats across the seat
Buttocks
The buttocks are two rounded portions of the anatomy, located on the posterior of the pelvic region of apes and humans, and many other bipeds or quadrupeds, and comprise a layer of fat superimposed on the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius muscles. Physiologically, the buttocks enable weight to...
of the offender's trousers, with the student either bending over the teacher's desk, or standing and bending forward with hands on knees. This also served to demonstrate to the class that such behaviour would not be tolerated. Immediately after being punished, the student, closely watched by his classmates, would have to stand up, turn round and go back to his place and sit down, adding to the embarrassment and pain, both of which were seen as part of the deterrent to further misbehaviour.
The slipper was also widely used to enforce discipline outside lesson time within the boarding houses of boarding schools, especially preparatory schools for younger boys. Slipperings were commonly administered by the boarding house Matron, who was responsible not only for the welfare of the boys, but also for maintaining order in the dormitories. "Talking after lights out" was a common reason for a visit to Matron's study for the slipper, which was willingly accepted as an alternative to being sent to the headmaster for the cane.
This "informal", on-the-spot type of discipline was typically not recorded in the official punishment register, as it was not seen as sufficiently serious to be classified as real corporal punishment. Also, it could be administered by staff who were not officially authorised to administer formal corporal punishment, so were not allowed to use the cane. In fact, though, it could sometimes be just as painful as the officially recorded punishment.
A minority of schools also designated the slipper as their official punishment implement instead of the cane, for more serious misbehaviour, especially infractions committed outside the classroom, such as smoking
Smoking
Smoking is a practice in which a substance, most commonly tobacco or cannabis, is burned and the smoke is tasted or inhaled. This is primarily practised as a route of administration for recreational drug use, as combustion releases the active substances in drugs such as nicotine and makes them...
. In this case, slipperings were carried out as a formal ceremony
Ceremony
A ceremony is an event of ritual significance, performed on a special occasion. The word may be of Etruscan origin.-Ceremonial occasions:A ceremony may mark a rite of passage in a human life, marking the significance of, for example:* birth...
in the same way as canings at other schools, i.e. the student would be summoned to the private office of the Head Teacher (principal) or Deputy Head or of a senior teacher of the same gender as the student. The student would typically be interviewed about his offence before being told his punishment. He was then required to remove his blazer, empty his back pockets and bend over a desk or chair. Up to six powerful strokes of the slipper would then be delivered in a solemn, measured manner to the seat of the trousers. This would be recorded in the school's punishment book.
This more severe kind of slippering would typically leave the student's buttocks lightly bruised for a few days, providing a further reminder each time he sat down. However, there was no danger of superficial bleeding as there could be with a caning.
An example of a school that opted for the slipper as its formal disciplinary implement was Litherland High School in Liverpool, a mixed-sex school, although the policy there was that only boys could receive corporal discipline. The school recorded more than 1,800 official slipperings in 1980.
More typical, in that the cane was the "official" punishment, and slippering routinely used more informally, was Highbury Grove School
Highbury Grove School
Highbury Grove School is a co-educational comprehensive secondary school in the London Borough of Islington. It covers the age range 11 to 18 inclusive and currently has about 1,100 pupils. It is classified as a Community School, specialising in business, enterprise studies and music . The head...
, a large boys' school in north London and New Parks School in Leicester, a boys school up to 1981 which then became a mixed school from 1981 onwards (only boys were given corporal punishment when it became a mixed school).
All forms of corporal punishment were banned in state schools in the UK in 1987. A ban in private schools followed in England and Wales (1999), Scotland (2000), and Northern Ireland (2003). There are frequently calls for it to be reinstated, with most polls in the media still showing the majority of the UK public in favour of its use in schools.
Domestic slippering
A hand has been the most common method of spankingSpanking
Spanking refers to the act of striking the buttocks of another person to cause temporary pain without producing physical injury. It generally involves one person striking the buttocks of another person with an open hand. When an open hand is used, spanking is referred to in some countries as...
in domestic contexts. The second most common method in British and Commonwealth countries has probably been the slipper. In other countries it has been used, but it is less popular. The slipper is typically a gymshoe
Athletic shoe
Athletic shoe is a generic name for the footwear primarily designed for sports or other forms of physical exercise but in recent years has come to be used for casual everyday activities....
or standard carpet slipper which is worn indoors. Types of the latter slipper include those with fabric uppers or leather uppers, and with synthetic soles, or leather soles. The severity of a slippering depends on the force with which the slipper is applied, the number of strokes, the clothing of the buttocks, and the slipper itself (more severe with a heavier gymshoe or large-sized slipper which has a fairly stiff leather sole).
The slipper is normally gripped at the heel end. A slippering is usually regarded as a formal corporal punishment
Corporal punishment
Corporal punishment is a form of physical punishment that involves the deliberate infliction of pain as retribution for an offence, or for the purpose of disciplining or reforming a wrongdoer, or to deter attitudes or behaviour deemed unacceptable...
for serious misconduct, particularly for teenagers of either gender. As such, it is usually carried out in private with a preliminary talk about the misconduct and the consequences. Typically the number of strokes will be in the range of one to twelve. The slipper can be administered in the so-called traditional over knee position or, usually for older recipients, bending over an item of furniture (eg. bed, back of chair).
External links
- Overview of corporal punishment in British schools at World Corporal Punishment Research