I had been appointed head of a newly commissioned reformatory, Abbott Hall, located within the Es_s_e_x_ countryside. The building was an old manor house, located in it's own grounds, and had a very Victorian appearance to it. I sat in the spacious room I had decided would serve as my study and again read my letter of appointment. Having done that I turned to the policy document which outlined the main aims of Abbot Hall. It's intake would consist of juveniles aged from 10 to 14 who had been in the care of local authorities. Children, in other words, who had no stable home environment. The intake was to consist of children who had been pronounced "troublesome" by the authorities and who were perceived to be in need of rigorous and firm discipline.
My appointment, I felt sure, had been helped by my belief that the only way to modify a wayward child's errant behaviour was through a sound thrashing. At my interview I had spent a great deal of time outlining my own experiences as a parent. I have 2 sons, both now grown up and successful in their own careers, who had been brought up in a manner which many would consider severe but which had, in my view, helped them achieve success and respect in later life. My approach, I had told the interview panel, would be the same with my new charges.
I sat and contemplated the arrival of the 10 children who were to be the first residents of Abbot Hall. I read the dossier on each child and realised that my staff , 2 ladies whose responsibilities were to be as housekeepers and cooks, and I would need to be on our toes at all times to keep this brood under our control. I had already told the Misses Butler and Cole that even the slightest disobedience or misbehaviour, particularly in the early days, must be reported to me at once. In preparation for my forthcoming responsibilities I had purchased a thin riding crop and 3 school canes, which lived in the cupboard behind where I sat. Misbehaviour would not be tolerated at Abbot Hall during my tenure of office.
The age range of my first intake was from 13 down to 10. All the boys who were due to arrive had had a troubled childhood and, for a variety of reasons, had ended up in care. In preparation for their transfer to Abbot Hall they had been issued with regulation uniform of t shirt and gym shorts which were to be worn at all times during residence. Also each child had his own regulation school wear of grey shorts and socks and white school shirt. Underwear would be briefs as I had decided boxer shorts would not be permitted.
As I sat in my study I again ran my eyes over the brief welcome speech I had prepared. I had decided I would address the boys as a group, rather than individually, and had decided this would be carried out in a room which I suspected had originally been a dining room but which was far too large for that use nowadays. A raised stage had been constructed, at my request, on which I would stand and address the boys when they arrived. I had decided that my speech of welcome must leave these disobedient and ill disciplined brats in no doubt as to the regime they were facing during their stay.
Some minutes later Miss Butler tapped on my study door and, after being asked to enter, told me the mini bus had arrived and that the boys had been, as I instructed, told to stand quietly in the converted dining room which was now known as the hall. I waited for a few moments and then strode, as intimidatingly as possible into the hall. Ignoring the 10 pairs of eyes which followed me as I made my way to the stage and stood facing my new charges. As I passed Miss Cole, one of the housekeepers, she lightly tapped my arm and handed me a note which I slipped into my shirt pocket.
As per my instructions the boys were dressed in regulation t shirts and white shorts. The shorts, again as I had instructed were too short for each of the boys wearing them. This was a deliberate policy decision on my part as I felt that ill disciplined children needed putting in their place and treating like children and not young adults. Shorts which revealed a large area of thigh were, I felt, appropriate. I must also confess to enjoying the site of firm young thighs. I began my address .
"Welcome to Abbot Hall, children. You all know why you have been sent here so I will not repeat the details. What I will say however is this. You will shortly be taken to your rooms where you will each be given a list of rules. You will read and learn the rules of Abbot Hall because if you step out of line I can promise you that you will regret it. While you are here you will learn to behave in a proper and sociable manner. I shall expect your behaviour at all times, here, at school, and when you are out to be of an acceptable standard. You will do as you are told at all times, is that clear."
10 heads bobbed in agreement and the occasional muffled "Yes Sir" could be heard. I was about to ask Miss Cole and Miss Butler to show the children to their rooms when I remembered the note which had been passed to me. I took it from my pocket and was furious. The driver of the minibus which had brought the children here had told Miss Cole that one of the boys, a lad by the name of Ian Johnson, had stuck chewing gum on the back of one of the seats. Once my fury had subsided however I realised this was an opportunity to demonstrate to everyone just how misbehaviour would be dealt with here at Abbot Hall.
"Which of you is Johnson ?" I demanded to know and a small, dark haired boy nervously raised his hand. "Come here Johnson" I ordered, and the young lad shuffled towards the steps at the side of the stage, mounted them, and stood facing me. "Do you think it is funny to stick chewing gum onto seats Johnson ?" I demanded to know and the young boy dropped his eyes and shook his head. "Look at me and answer my question, boy" I ordered and Johnson timidly mouthed a quiet "no sir".
I then turned my attention to the nine remaining boys who were anxiously watching the drama unfold in front of them. "I am going to teach Johnson a sharp lesson, and I want it to be a lesson each of you will remember as well. Wait here all of you" With that I strode from the stage and headed towards my study. I entered my room and made for the cupboard where I kept the instruments of discipline I had contemplated caning Johnson but decided instead to select the long, thin riding crop which I flexed and swished. I decided a whipping would show these brats I meant business. I walked purposefully back to the hall and again felt the children's eyes staring at me and the fearsome whip which I was carrying. I stepped onto the stage and faced Johnson. "How old are you Johnson" I asked and the lad replied that he was 12. "You need to learn that chewing gum is not for sticking onto seats Johnson. You are twelve years of age and should know better. I hope you will learn your lesson." I turned to face the other children "I expect you to learn from this as well" I said before turning to face Johnson again. "STRIP NAKED" I ordered.
For a moment I thought the child was about to plead and argue. He stood facing me, tears welling up in his eyes . All the children were standing in their socks as one of the rules was that footwear would be removed upon entering the building. Johnson looked vulnerable as he removed his t shirt, I stood watching slowly flexing the whip for the benefit of my audience. Next off came his tiny shorts revealing a tight pair of crimson briefs. He looked at me pleadingly before moving to remove the briefs, clearly hoping he would be allowed to retain some modesty. I said nothing but my glare must have got the message to him because he next stepped out of his briefs. Johnson stood facing me, now clad only in white ankle socks. "When I say naked Johnson I mean every stitch. SOCKS TOO". He balanced precariously on his left leg and removed his right sock before repeating the process with the left sock. He was now totally nude. "Face the front" I ordered and, so as to ensure the boy's humiliation was complete, "and put your hands on your head".
The other children were totally silent as they watched the stage. I decided to play out the drama a little more by making a little speech before carrying out the punishment. "You have to learn Johnson that I consider sticking chewing gum onto coach seats is misbehaviour and, as I have said, I will not tolerate misbehaviour. You are 12 years old and therefore you will receive 12 strokes of the whip. Bend over and touch your toes". Johnson bent over facing the other children. I wanted to ensure they saw the pain on his face as the whip did it's job. Before commencing, however, I had a few more words to say. "As I said you will get 12. However if you put your hand across your bottom, or if you get up before I tell you I will increase the number of strokes. Is that clear ?" Johnson sniffed that he understood and I stepped back to take aim.
I thrashed the 12 year old child 12 times. He screamed and howled for leniency but to his credit he remained in place until I ordered him to stand and place his hands back on to his head. I asked if he had learnt his lesson and the contrite child sniffled that he had. I ordered him to pick up his clothing but not to put it back on. I then told him to join the other children. He stood sobbing and naked. I felt a lesson had been properly administered and, hopefully, learned. "Miss Cole and Miss Butler will now show you to your rooms children. Remember to read the rules as I do not wish to have to repeat what you have just seen". 10 children, one of them naked with a dozen stripes across his backside, turned and followed the housekeepers to their rooms. I went back to my study, replaced the whip in the cupboard, and sat at my desk to read in full the case histories of the 10 boys for whom I was now responsible. I decided first to select the file marked Johnson, Ian.