INSTANT OBEDIENCE
Mary Robinson had been widowed for several years and had been left to bring up her twin boys on her own. Ben and Mark were now fifteen years old and she had for some time been experiencing difficulties with the boys' behaviour.
Their conduct had gradually been deteriorating as the boys became older. Not that they had ever engaged in anything of a criminal nature, but the boys were prone to question any instructions given to them by their mother and frequently disobeyed such instructions. To put it bluntly, she felt they both needed some training in obedience.
Due to their age and their physical size, coupled with the fact that their mother was a very slight woman, Mary felt constrained in her efforts to discipline her boys. They tended to do things in their own way and their own time and really needed the firm guiding hand of a father.
It would be to their advantage to send them to a rather strict boarding school, Mary reasoned, where they would be straightened out before it was too late.
Mrs Robinson explained this to the Year 9 Division Master at Bingal Boys' College, Mr John Welham, who assured her that, if it was considered necessary, the twins would be taught very quickly to obey instructions without question. Neither she, Ben nor Mark had any idea just how quickly they would learn how instant obedience was instilled in the boys at Bingal.
Immediately their mother departed, Mr Welham sent for Joel Smith, one of the boys who had been at Bingal for three years and instructed him to show the new boys around and to see that they settled into the College. He had been playing tennis but immediately he received the message he stopped play and rushed to the office.
For the first week the twins conduct was carefully observed. Neither of them had been in any particular trouble but the Division Master considered that they were a little slow at times in following instructions, which was exactly what their mother had advised.
Mr Welham considered that it was time to call them to his office and to very firmly lay down the rules.
After dinner on Saturday evening when the boys normally had time for recreation he instructed Joel Smith, who had been appointed as their mentor, to find the Robinson twins and then to report to his office with the two boys. They were going to discuss the College rules!
Unaware of what lay in store for them, the three lads were rounded up and they reported to Mr Welham's office where they were soon ushered in.
"Well," said the boys' Division Master addressing Ben and Mark, "How have you settled in? Has young Joel here been looking after you all right?"
"Yes, Sir," the twins replied. "Everything seems to be going quite well. We're having a great time."
"I'm pleased to hear that," Mr Welham replied. "I've left you much to your own devices this past week, but now that you've had time to settle in and adjust, I think it might be a good idea if we all had a chat and explained a few of the ground rules around here. All right?"
"Fine, Sir," replied Ben, the more precocious of the two. Mark was silent, wondering where the conversation was going to lead from this point. They were invited to sit.
Mr Welham sat himself down in a large lounge chair and then added, "Rather than me detailing the College regulations, we'll let Joel tell you. When he first came here it took him some time to settle down but now he's been here for some three years, he knows them thoroughly, don't you Joel?"
"Yes, Sir, Mr Welham," Joel replied.
"So, I'll just listen to make sure he fills you in completely and then if there are any questions you can ask either Joel or me. But we are going to make certain tonight that you understand everything and that you also understand the consequences for any misdemeanours. Joel, stand over there and explain the rules of the College now to Ben and Mark, please."
For the next ten to fifteen minutes, the Division Master listened in silence as Joel told the twins of the many rules about the College. They were told first of the rules of the classroom that silence was to be observed in the classroom at all times, except when advised otherwise by their teachers; that homework must be done assiduously and that maximum effort must be made at all times by all students.
The dormitory regulations were then discussed, details such as dormitory administration, conduct in the dormitory before and after lights out and the respect that was to be shown to all teachers at all times. They were told that they should never question the instructions of their teachers, but should obey instantly. The twins asked many questions but not once did they broach the subject of sanctions for any infractions to the rules.
Eventually Mr Welham interjected. "Well," he said addressing the twins, "Do you understand the rules as Joel has told you?"
"Yes, Sir," they both replied.
"But what Joel hasn't bothered to explain to you is the penalty for breaking any of these rules. Have you, Joel?"
"I was about to do that, Sir," Joel replied.
"Well, then. Carry on."
"Once a boy has been told the rules, he is expected to follow them at all times. No second warning is given if any of the rules are broken," Joel continued. "Punishment is awarded instantly so that we learn from our mistakes and that, hopefully, they don't occur again."
Mr Welham interrupted. "Now I don't know much about the school you've both come from, Ben and Mark. But I presume you are used to punishment for disobedience. Would that be correct?"
"Yes, Sir," they replied.
"And what sort of punishment would you expect at your last school?•
"Well,• Ben replied, "most of the teachers simply told us not to do it again if we'd done the wrong thing. Occasionally, we were given pages to write or a detention."
"Yes, well things area little different here, boys. First, as Joel has explained to you, no second warning is ever given. Do you remember him telling you that?"
"Yes, Sir."
"And secondly, we don't give pages or detentions.•"
The two lads looked at each other and finally Mark asked, "Well, what does happen then, Sir?"
"I think we'd better let Joel explain that to you," Mr Welham said. "Joel knows the answer to that question well as he has had to be punished a number of times in the past and he's now a changed boy since he came here. Right, Joel?"
"Yes, Sir," Joel answered.
"But every now and then he still needs a reminder, don't you, Joel?"
"All boys need a reminder occasionally," replied Joel. "I know I certainly do and when I get it it does me good."
"Well, it's up to you Joel. Tell the boys of the consequences of any disobedience."
Joel explained the punishment for disobedience and the twins froze.
"For any type of disobedience at all, we get a dose of the strap, never less than six. Sometimes it can be fifteen or twenty, depending upon what we've done or in some cases what we haven't done that we should have done. It certainly teaches us a good lesson."
There was silence as Ben and Mark contemplated the implications of what they had been told.
"Get the strap out of the filing cabinet please Joel, and show it to them so the boys will fully understand the consequences of disobedience," Mr Welham instructed.
Joel opened the top drawer of the filing cabinet and retrieved a rather thick and lethal looking leather strap. It was a substantial piece of leather about a metre in length and eight centimetres wide. The end of the strap was split into four thin strips, so that when administered, each stroke had the effect of four separate lashes. He took the strap from the cupboard and showed it to the twins, as instructed.
"Now," said Mr Welham, "One of the best ways we can make sure you fully understand the consequences for disobedience is for you to witness the strap in action."
Addressing Joel, who had handed the strap to the twins to examine, Mr Welham continued, "Master Smith, you've had number of good strappings during your time here, haven't you? How long is it since your last reminder about instant obedience?"
"Probably about four or five months now, Sir, since you punished me. I couldn't sit down for a week," Joel replied. The boy was already in tears. "And dad whipped my bum solidly last weekend for being late home."
"Yes, well I feel it's about time you had another hiding. It certainly won't do you any harm and also it will serve as a good warning for Ben and Mark here."
"But I haven't done anything wrong at school for a long time," pleaded the boy.
"Well, you certainly have now, young man. I thought you just told Ben and Mark that you should never question instructions under any circumstances. That's just what you've done. Now hand me the strap and prepare for punishment without another word. Now this is to serve as a warning to you of the consequences of any disobedience. Do you understand?"
Ben and Mark said nothing as they were frozen with fear at the thought of what was about to occur.
Joel was already whimpering as he handed Mr Welham the leather strap and stripped to his underpants. He stood at attention until instructed to approach the desk, removed his underpants, bent over and spread his feet apart so his buttocks were fully exposed for punishment. He grasped the other side of desk to hold himself steady in readiness for his flogging.
Mr Welham rose and went around the other side of the desk. "Now," he said, addressing the twins. This will be a good lesson for both of you. Watch and learn. Right?"
"Yes, Sir."
It seemed like an eternity as Mr Welham repeatedly flexed the strap and then gently positioned the split ends across the boy's bottom, ready to take aim and to commence the beating.
He drew the strap back high over his shoulders in readiness for the first stroke. The strap flew through the air culminating in a loud thwack as the four supple thongs of leather were laid to rest across Smith's naked bottom. As it flayed across the boy's buttocks, the lad called, "One, Sir."
Again he positioned the strap, took careful aim and administered another stroke, this time even harder. "Two, Sir."
Young Ben had turned his face away. He did, however, hear the thwack as the four supple thongs of leather were laid to rest across Joel's naked bottom.
"Ben," said Mr Welham in a stern voice. Didn't you listen to what Joel has told you about the penalty for any disobedience? I told you to witness the punishment, not to turn away. This was just to be a demonstration for you and your brother but now you can be part of it. Strip and take Joel's place at the desk. Now, let's find out how carefully you have listened. What did Joel tell you was the minimum punishment?"
"Six, Sir."
"Right. Joel, stand up! "
Ben removed his shirt, shorts and underpants and assumed the punishment position across the desk which Joel had just temporarily vacated.
He counted aloud the six solid lashes with the strap, just as Joel had been counting the strokes. Ben was terrified but determined to take his punishment without showing any signs of weakness. He did not flinch a muscle!
"Now," said Mr Welham, "get up and do as you are told and face Joel while he takes the rest of his beating or you'll get some more." Young Ben was petrified at the thought of more and obeyed the direction without hesitation.
Once again Joel spreadeagled himself over the desk in readiness for the remainder of his strapping. The punishment was slow and drawn out. At least five to ten seconds lapsed between each stroke. Whilst the Division Master considered that a "drawn out" punishment served to be more of a deterrent nature, Joel was pleased that the interval between each stroke allowed him to regain his breath and to steady himself for the next stroke.
"Three, Sir."
And then came the fourth stroke. But as the fourth stroke cut across his bottom, the lad jumped.
"Explain to the boys the consequences of moving about during punishment, Smith."
"It not only means that the stroke is not counted but also when the strapping is completed, you get two cuts of the cane for each time you move . . . and the cane is even worse."
And so the punishment continued.
"Four, Sir . . . . Five, Sir . . . . Six, Sir."
Joel was now sent to get the cane from the cupboard and two very hard cuts with a very thick cane, were laid across his bare bottom. The lad's raw, bruised and battered buttocks, not to mention Ben's own beating, were a salutary lesson to the twins of what lay in store for them at Bingal if there was any further sign of disobedience.
"Well, Joel. What have you got to say for yourself, young man?" enquired Mr Welham.
"Thank you, Sir," the boy replied. Apart from being a good warning to Ben and Mark of the consequences of disobedience, as you said, and dad would agree, it certainly won't do me any harm and will help keep me out of trouble for another four or five months at least."
All was not finished, however as Mr Welham now turned his attention to Mark. "I didn't intend to punish you two boys tonight but as your brother has already had a taste of the strap, then you can have a turn at it too, Mark. Strip and get yourself over the desk."
If his brother Ben could take the thrashing without moving, Mark was determined to show that he could do likewise. He stripped naked and took the punishment position.
The strap lashed solidly across his buttocks. He had never before experienced such a severe punishment. But his determination to remain still was unsuccessful. He flinched twice, resulting in a further two strokes of the strap.
He knew what was coming next. Joel was told to hand Mr Welham the cane and he administered four solid cuts to Mark's bare buttocks. The boy screamed in agony!
Punishments completed the three boys were told to get dressed and to stand in front of him. Mr Welham resumed his position in his lounge chair.
"Now," asked Mr Welham, addressing the twins. What have you learned tonight?"
Ben was the first to answer. "Thank you for the punishments tonight, Sir. We'll treat them as a warning and I promise I'll do my best to keep out of trouble at all times, Sir. I don't want the strap again, Sir."
Mark summed it up well with his answer: "Instant obedience, Sir. I'll certainly change my attitude from now on and I'm sure my brother will, too, Sir. Like Ben, I hope it'll be a long time, if ever, before I need another thrashing."
"Well with any luck, at least it will keep you out of trouble for some time. But I am sure Joel will agree with me that it is highly likely it'll only be a matter of time before both the bruises and your memory fails and you'll be back for another dose. Right, Joel?"
"Yes, Sir," Smith replied. "Most boys need a reminder every now and then, Sir. It certainly has given me another good reminder tonight."
Needless to say, the twins' behaviour improved remarkably whilst they were at the College. Mary Robinson found her boys to be much more obedient than they had in the past. She was more than satisfied that she had done the correct thing in sending her sons to Bingal Boys' College for the change in the attitude had been remarkable!