The Times Argus reports a recent visit from 21 Mississippi school students to Cabot School in Vermont.

The southern guests explained that they “can be paddled for a list of offenses that include talking back, picking up a piece of paper without permission and being tardy three times… The assistant principal administers the paddling, which is done in the presence of a teacher.”

No particular surprise there. But I was taken aback when the article explained that:

The wooden paddles are about 1 inch thick, 5 inches wide and 18 inches long – excluding the handle – and have 24 holes. They are often made by students in the building trades classes, sometimes in exchange for privileges such as hall passes.

Made by students?! I wonder whether “go and fetch the paddle” ever morphs into “go and make a paddle”? (Haron: did you do woodwork at school, my dear?).

Do students facing punishment ever recognise the paddle that’s about to make its mark (”hey, I made that”)? Do they do mail order? What would happen to a group of girls caught deliberately making a batch of paddles out of lighter wood, cutting it thinner, maybe even scoring a fault into the wood to make sure it broke when used?

And was the Mississippi group polite enough to bring a hand-crafted gift with them, to be presented to the Vermont principal? Made of especially thick, extra-dense wood…

By the way. it is said that, “When the Mississippi students first met their Vermont counterparts last year, they were amazed to learn that Vermont students are not given paddlings.” Indeed. But apparently the Vermont group will be on their very best behaviour when undertaking a return visit to their new friends in Mississippi.

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