If you were a child back in the ’60s or ’70s, you probably remember a world that was much different than the one today, especially when it comes to discipline.
Your parents probably had a totally different set of rules and used some measures that today would be totally unacceptable. If you have grandchildren now, you are aware of how things have changed, in good and bad ways.
If you are a younger person, you might be shocked at some of these discipline methods, because yes, they were totally real, and you, as a parent, would probably never even think of using them on your kids.
Let’s check some of the shocking discipline methods that would be illegal today.
1. The Paddle Hanging Behind the Teacher’s Desk
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Imagine the terror of seeing the wooden paddle behind your teacher every day, knowing it might be used to discipline you. Getting swatted with a wooden paddle at school was a real thing, and many boomers will remember it.
Each time you did not behave, it would be used to make you regret being naughty. Sometimes, it even had holes drilled in it “for some extra speed.”
All teachers had the authority to spank students (in front of the class), and parents were even encouraging it.
Today, it would be a much greater problem that would lead to lawsuits, viral videos, and a lot of firings.
2. Soap in the Mouth for “Talking Back”
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Imagine living in a world where elders thought that soap could wash away bad language. Yup, you read that right. Back in the day, if you said a bad word or sassed your mom, you’d get a soap in the mouth!
Being a naughty child who talked back would quite literally make your mouth foam.
It was very unsafe and entirely humiliating, but it was another weird way to discipline your children that gained a lot of popularity. Luckily, now, we know the dangers of soap when ingested, so it is a thing of the past for a reason.
3. The “Go Pick a Switch” Punishment
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Not only were you getting punished, but you would also pick the branch that would punish you. This was a true mix of psychological and physical punishments that left kids scarred (literally).
The thinner the switch was, the worse the sting you had to bear, so it is no surprise this method was mostly classified as abuse later.
It was a harsh reality for many, and it was practiced almost daily.
Whether it was effective or not, it does not deny the fact that it was humiliating and cruel.
4. Public Shaming in Front of the Class
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What is privacy if you are a naughty child? In the past, if you misbehaved, you’d be called out by name and made an example of.
Sometimes, kids even had to wear signs that read: “I will not talk in class,” so everyone had to look at them.
Embarrassment was a tool for control and discipline, so those who talked too much were mostly facing the classroom, not the blackboard.
5. Standing in the Corner for What Felt Like an Eternity
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One of the most popular methods of punishment in classrooms was the good old standing in the corner. Facing the wall, no movement, and no talking, you would have to think about what you did.
Sometimes it lasted 10 minutes, sometimes an hour, and sometimes it was the entire afternoon.
Extended isolation is considered inappropriate today, but back in the day, it was the norm.
6. Slaps Across the Face or Hands
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Imagine smiling at your classmate and receiving a ruler across the knuckles. No warning, no apology, just cruelty. Yes, it was a standard practice not only in the classroom but also at home.
If you talked back, your parents or grandparents had every right to slap you across your face – and you had to take it. Today, any adult who tried this would be reported.
7. Getting Grounded for an Entire Summer
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When they wanted to ground you the old-school way, it didn’t mean you were about to spend a day in your bedroom without your phone. It usually meant weeks (or months) of no TV, no contact with friends, no nothing.
Only long-term punishment was a way to really make a point, and it quite often went to extremes.
Today, parents cannot do this without being called brutal and neglectful, but back then, it was a very normal practice.
8. Embarrassing Chores as Punishment
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If you were a naughty kid, you would be punished in the most embarrassing ways. Scrubbing the driveway with a toothbrush or washing carpets in your pajamas; there were no limits.
Embarrassment and humiliation were tactics to keep you disciplined, and it was considered quite normal. Today, it would be considered shaming, but back in the day, they saw it as character building.
9. Getting “The Belt”
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If you were a kid in the ’60s and ’70s, you knew what the phrase “Go get the belt” meant. It was enough to strike fear into any kid’s heart. And yes, it was not just a phrase; it meant parents actually spanking their children with a belt.
Leather belts were also quite visible around the home and served as a reminder that all your actions will have consequences. Today, some countries see it as a crime, and schools have banned it a long time ago.
However, it serves as a strict reminder of how times have changed.
10. Being Left in the Car or “Outside Until Dark” as a Lesson
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If you threw a tantrum at your aunt’s place, your parent might leave you in the car to “think about your behavior.”
If you were bad at a grocery store, your parents would lock you out of your home until dark to think about it. It was a scary and isolating tactic to teach kids manners.
Now, most of these tactics would involve police and social services, but back then, it was a normal way of disciplining children. Just like isolation in the classroom, this was another way of making children feel alone and ashamed.
