Before, when it had been known there was to be a birching, it varied from time to time as to which, and how many, of the teachers would divert themselves by attending.
Up to a certain period of history, a boy in a reformatory dropped his trousers and was birched, whereas later, in similar circumstances, he would wear trousers or shorts and be caned across them.
Sollte es einmal zu kalt sein und man hat gerade nur eine normale Strumpfhose zur Hand, bevorzuge ich es, unter diese noch eine dickere Leggings zu ziehen.
The fundamental point being underlined by the ritual was that the girl had disgraced her uniform, which was removed from her until her sin had been expiated by flogging.
