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It's still raining here—a lot. All the Academy boys have been ordered to wear wellies to and from school, so now teachers and parents are happy that the issue of soaked juvenile footwear has been dealt with. Meanwhile, the boys are seething; as if their new uniforms weren’t bad enough, now they reckon they look even more ridiculous.

By way of a mini protest, some of the boys have decided to stop wearing their coats—well, there's nothing in the school rules that says they must. I suppose it's fine whilst it's not raining but what's going to happen when there's a proper downpour? I don’t think this is going to end well…

The Journal, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 25th March 1978

POLICE have been called in to investigate a “mass strapping” at a Tyneside comprehensive school after a pupil-power demonstration.

Parents have complained that pupils, aged between 11 and 12, were left “black and blue” after the strapping by four teachers at Blaydon Comprehensive. A police doctor has examined some of the pupils alleged to have been thrashed.

It is claimed that about 20 pupils were lined up and given four strokes of the strap—on the hand for girls and across the backside for boys.

The punishment came after they had boycotted lessons on Monday in protest at the lack of school meals during the teachers’ dispute.

One father has officially complained to police; several parents had complained to the headmaster and one mother has demanded that her two daughters be transferred to another school.

Parents have organised a petition calling for an official inquiry.

Gateshead’s deputy education director, John McMillan said last night: “We have had a report from the headmaster and it indicates that the punishment was in accordance with regulations and no personal malice was involved. We are waiting for the results of the police investigation.”

The head, Mr Tim Cowey, was not available for comment yesterday, but chairman of the school governors, Coun. Bill Ainsworth, said: “I shall certainly be making inquiries.”

Long-distance lorry driver George Wright, aged 33, whose 12-year-old son George was strapped, said yesterday: “I expected him being punished, but not like this.”

Mr Wright, of Cowley Gardens, Winlaton, said he had made an official complaint to police.

Another of the strapped youngsters, 11-year-old David Powton, of nearby Laburnum Road, said: “I couldn't sit down afterwards, I was so sore.”

His mother, Mrs Sylvia Powton, said: “He was too frightened to tell us what happened. When I did find out what had gone on, I examined his backside. It was all black and blue.”

COMMENT

Messrs McMillan and Ainsworth there, politely saying f-off, Mr Journalist, no comment.

Hopefully Mr Cowey invited the whingeing parents to withdraw their darling offspring if they were so unhappy with the school. I’m sure their own school days would have been significantly stricter—they’d have had more than a good talking to if they bunked a whole day of lessons. Take Mr Wright, for example; he would have started secondary school in 1956 when corporal punishment was routinely dished out to boys, so I can’t see why he was making such a fuss about George being strapped. The police should have charged him with wasting their time.

Yes, Mrs Powton and David, that’s the whole point [eye roll].

The Spanking (2017) d. Carlos Uribe

Psychotic big sister Grace gets her younger brother Sam into trouble by claiming that he threw her phone in the swimming pool, but it’s all a cunning ploy to get a new phone. Plus, later she tells Sam that she’s bored and will enjoy seeing him in pain. Mom sends him his room to wait for dad to get home from work, whereupon he’s duly belted over dad’s knee. But, wait, there’s a twist—you’ll have to watch the video to find out!

The film strongly implies that corporal punishment is routine in this home, at least for Sam. Grace has come up with a crime that she knows will get her brother belted, plus she gets a new phone, so it’s a win-win for her. Sam, meanwhile, knows exactly what being sent to his room to await dad’s return means. Then, at the appointed hour, without a word being spoken, Sam pulls down his jeans and gets into position on dad’s lap. Afterwards, Sam returns to his room and with a sigh selects a pillow to sit on as his bottom is hurting, which again implies he’s done this before.

It doesn’t look as if Sam is punished privately in his bedroom. Dad belts him on the living room couch, which means Grace gets to watch and enjoy his suffering as she planned. He’s at least allowed to keep his underwear on.

I counted 13 lashes, but the sound fades out, so the implication is that poor Sam gets more (admittedly 13 is an odd number for dad to end on).

It’s a good set-up but Sam gets far too many lashes for such a young boy. Even so, afterwards he shows no signs of this; there’s no bottom rubbing or wincing when he sits down. Indeed, he’s sitting on a regular dining room chair a bit later just looking a bit dejected. In reality, I doubt he could sit down at all!

Sam is played by Zander Grable, who was 13 years old at the time. His real-life sister Alexandria Grable plays Grace—let’s hope she’s not like this to him in real life! Michael Joseph Pierce is suitably scary as the dad—be honest, you wouldn’t argue with him if he told you to bend over! It’s only Danielle Hernandez who lets the side down as mom, with acting so wooden you could chop vegetables on her.

Despite opposition from medical and social services professionals, as of 2023, spanking children at home is legal in the US. In 17 states corporal punishment is also lawful in both public and private schools.

Anyway, here’s the link to the film. No need to fast forward, it’s only three minutes long!

The almost-obligatory photos parents take of the kids on their first day back at school. You know the ones… Haircut ✓ New uniform ✓ Polished shoes ✓

Here in Academy land it’s finally stopped raining but now everywhere is flooded. Teachers at the various schools are fed up with the boys arriving in wet footwear and it seems everywhere you turn, radiators are festooned with shoes and knee socks drying out. Teen boys aren’t celebrated for their good hygiene, so as well as all the clutter, there’s the smell to contend with…

It was detentions all round for these young idiots who thought it would be a good idea to make a bad situation worse by jumping in puddles on the way to school.

Meanwhile, this lot thought they’d take it to another level. If they thought they were going to be sent home early, a painful visit to the Headmaster soon put them right.

The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp—S1, E15 Rich Man’s Son (1955) d. Frank Macdonald

This was one of the first Western TV series to air in the US and one of several that will feature in this blog. The series is loosely based on the life of frontier marshal Wyatt Earp. The half-hour, black-and-white program aired for six seasons from 1955 to 1961, with Hugh O'Brian in the title role.

In contrast to the always-ethical character portrayed in the series, the real-life Wyatt Earp was at various times on either side of the law, having been accused of horse stealing, criminal assault, and involvement with fight-fixing, gambling, prostitution, and murders. If you recognise the name, it’s probably because of his brother, Virgil Earp, of O.K. Corral renown.

In this episode, it’s 1875 and a runaway boy called Timmy Jones shows up in town and refuses to say where he’s from, which means Wyatt can’t send him home as the law requires. Timmy wants to be a gun-toting cowhand, having been enthused by the pop culture literature of the day. Then two railroad detectives turn up and attempt to kidnap him, and it turns out daddy is a rich and powerful railroad executive from New York.

Spoilt, bratty teen-with-attitude being brought to heel by a strong, moral father-figure is a common enough trope, and it’s one that’s frequently mined by the Westerns genre. A bit of sage guidance born of years of experience, coupled with an understanding of the boy’s troubles and some firm discipline, usually involving a spanked or strapped behind, soon fixes said bratty teen (and, it seems, quite a few women in the Wild West) and sets him on the right path to manhood (or motherhood lol).

Young Timmy, played by 14-year-old Lee Erikson, certainly fits the mould of the cute, mid-teen boy running away from his troubles, initially rejecting any help with lots of sass and attitude. No sooner has he crossed paths with our Marshall, though, than he’s being shown the correct way to ride a horse and rope steeds, and finds out that being a cowhand isn’t the exciting, adventurous life he thought it was. One quick, enforced bath and an overdue smacked bottom later, he’s yes sir-ing and asking to be adopted; at one point he even voluntarily bends over to be spanked again when Wyatt thinks he’s lying.

Perhaps there’s a hint of homoeroticism running beneath all the paternalism on display, but maybe that’s just my cynical modern sensibilities. Wyatt certainly seems to manhandle Timmy a lot, though—pulling him around by his collar…

Brushing him down when he gets dusty…

Swatting him encouragingly on the backside…

Washing him in a barrel of cold water…

Giving him a spanking…

Indeed, the first time they meet Wyatt threatens to spank him (although admittedly Timmy has just tried to shoot him) and then hoists him backwards over a six-foot fence with a hand firmly planted in his groin (although fair play to Hugh O’Brian, that can’t have been an easy stunt to lift a teenaged lad like that). The other man also gets his hand between Timmy's legs for some reason... Welcome to the Wild West, son, I guess.

There’s a link to the episode below but if you’re disappointed with the brevity of Master Erikson’s spanking, don’t worry, he’ll be back on the blog soon over Bob Hope’s knee (still aged 14).

I create the pictures using Bing Image Creator (see the link below). It’s completely free. There’s no guarantee how busy the service will be, so there might be a long wait, but you get 15 boosts a day which are very quick.

In terms of prompts, the format I use is: location—subject—clothing—activity—type. It’s an Americanised programme and the results can be very hit-and-miss, so try to include as much detail as possible. Be aware that results are censored, so it won’t generate violent or sexual images. Even people pointing or arguing can set it off. Too many censored images can result in a ban.

Here’s a second link that might be helpful, with some ideas for prompt formats and the type of images Bing can create; everything from photorealistic 3D renders to paintings and line drawings.

Let's catch up with our Academy boys to see how they got on with Storm Ciarán.

His Mother's Lover (2012) d. Nica Noelle

This film is set in the early 1930s and follows an American boy struggling with his homosexuality while attending boarding school in England. When Robert is caught in a passionate tryst with another lad, he’s beaten by the Headmaster with his own belt and given a four-week suspension. Back at home Robert meets his mother’s new fiancée, the older, nurturing Daniel. Feeling an instant, mutual attraction, the two look for ways to get closer, while dark family secrets begin to emerge.

Well, where to start with this… It’s basically a gay soft porn film with delusions of grandeur (it’s even got a mournful score)—but you’re probably well ahead of me and worked that out from the synopsis. The fact that the director is feted as a trend-setter and "the most important adult film director of her era" says it all really, although all the hyperbole is undermined somewhat when you find out she works for Lust Cinema.

Obviously, the main thrust (ho, ho) of the movie isn’t the corporal punishment, but that’s what we’re here for. It’s an American production, so of course they get British schools totally wrong (I’m not sure what Sting Pictures’ excuse is lol).

In this scene Robert finds out he’s going to get a flogging (sic) and a suspension, and must take off his own belt and give it the Head, who surprisingly doesn’t seem to have any suitable implements of his own tucked away. Robert is told to drop his trousers and bend over the desk to be belted, at which point the Head removes his jacket, loosens his tie and rolls up his sleeves to show us He Means Business. I was caned and slippered at school and none of my teachers felt the need to turn into Bruce Willis, so I kind of feel like I missed out. Anyway, he’s belted for real eight times (does that count as a flogging?) and then off he goes to meet mum’s fiancée, who I’m certain will turn out to be a top bloke (sorry).

Not much is known about youthful lead Chase Austin other than he’s clearly over 18. This was his first big break, and he went on to feature in such cinematic masterpieces as He’s Tempted by Cock and For Your Eyes Only (no, not that one). The Head should probably be on a list somewhere and Ian Whitcomb, who plays him, delivers his lines like he’s recovering from a stroke. Meanwhile, whilst Chase looks young enough to play a convincing schoolboy, Travis Irons, who plays his young lover at school, is anything but. I’m reminded of that bloke Brian McKinney who sneaked back into his old high school in his 30s to resit his exams.

Here’s the clip for your eyes only (sorry, Chase):

Time to meet some more boys from that new Academy with the smart uniform.

You two! Where are your blazers? I'll see you in detention after school.

You are not a Peaky Blinder, boy; take it off. And why are two wearing odd socks? I should have thought by Year 11 you'd know how to dress yourselves...

Ah, yes, you must be the boys doing the BTEC Hair and Beauty course.

The almost-obligatory photos parents take of the kids on their first day back at school. You know the ones… Haircut ✓ New uniform ✓ Polished shoes ✓

Daily Mail, London, 3 June 1959

THREE 18-year-old schoolboys have been punished for freeing three baby rabbits which were due to be killed and dissected.

One of the boys lost his prefect's rank. The other two received three strokes of the cane each.

It happened at the Varndean Grammar School For Boys at Brighton, where the rabbits were being kept in the biology laboratory. They were to have been dissected this week by boys taking the G.C.E. biology exam.

The three boys, all sixth-formers, are Clive Ashworth, a 6ft. prefect, of West Hill Road, Brighton; deputy prefect Paul Rayment, of Bates Road, Brighton; and Roger Cox, of Woodingdean.

Owned up

After they owned up to the "offence" the headmaster, Mr. E.J. Hutchins, told Clive and Paul: "You can either hand in your prefects' ties or have three strokes of the cane." Roger Cox was not offered a choice.

Clive said last night: "I thought it was beneath my dignity to bend over, so I handed in my tie."

He added: "We saw the rabbits in a glass fronted cage in the lab and decided to set them free. After school we put them in a bag and released them in a copse. It was all done on the spur of the moment. We just felt sorry for them.

We all knew we had done wrong and we have no complaints about our punishment. I think the head has been very fair."

Mr. Hutchins who has 750 boys at his school, said: "We use rabbits in ordinary routine scientific studies and buy them as we need them. I have no other comment."

TAILPIECE: Mr. Hutchins told Clive yesterday that he will consider reinstating him as a prefect in the near future if he behaves.

COMMENT: Imagine being an 18-year-old lad and having to bend over for the cane. Well, I'm sure some of you reading this do more than imagine lol, but you get my point. The UK school leaving age was 15 in 1959, so it's likely these boys had family/friends of a similar age who'd been out at work for the past three years.

Poor Roger, though! Not having that coveted prefect's tie meant he was touching his toes the moment he stepped into the Head's study; Paul obviously enjoyed his prefect status and reckoned three strokes was a fair trade off; but big respect to Clive—basically tells the head to f-off, avoids a caning and then gets offered his prefect's job back! Paul must have been furious lol!

Just think, there are probably rabbits hopping around Brighton that can trace their ancestry back to these three lads. Well, assuming the tame ones they released didn't get immediately eaten by foxes.

The boys weren’t bothered when their failing school was taken over to become an Academy—well, until they saw the new uniform…

Unluckily for these lads, their Academy seems to have opted for particularly short short trousers for its new uniform!

None of the boys in this post are real and were AI generated using Bing Image Creator. It’s a lot of fun once you’ve got the hang of wording the prompts to get the best results. You get 15 free images per day. There is a censor, though, so there are limits to what you can create.

I don’t know if anybody will be interested in these or not, so drop me a comment.

Also, get in touch if you want to have a go yourself (and why not if it’s free!) and need a hand with the prompts.