Not every girl regarded punishment as amusing.
Some former pupils remember girls being noticeably more sympathetic than boys when somebody had been slippered or caned.
Boys sometimes treated another boy’s impending punishment with a rather merciless sense of entertainment — particularly when they themselves were safely out of trouble.
Girls could be different.
A boy might emerge expecting teasing only to discover that a female classmate genuinely felt sorry for him.
Of course, there were exceptions.
One boy remembered being punished at home while a girl from next door happened to be able to see what was occurring from her own garden.
When it was over, he looked towards her hoping for a sympathetic expression.
Instead, she was grinning.
He retreated indoors feeling thoroughly indignant.
So much for feminine compassion.
