Rural Missouri
2002-'03 school year, I taught Math. at Bunker High. Insubordinate behavior was dealt with by issuing "swats": being a newcomer, I was appalled by this revelation, a reversion to puritanical days? Students, regardless of age (or size), remanded to the Principal's office, were issued "swats" across the behind, while bent over a chair! This process was acceptably secured by letter sent to parents, requiring signatures of parental approval of the procedure. ALL parents signed! ('Course all parents also belonged to the local Baptist Church fold, including the Principal, who was the Pastor).
I asked my students about this. One big, hulking kid, likable, confided that he "laughed at them" when swats were directed across his backside! I never determined whether the backsides were exposed or not, so unlikely did this seem to me. imp