[jennyjuniper]

I grew up in a time where corporal punishment in school was legal. I was caned a few times and while it hurt at the time, I very quickly learned not to do what I had been doing to get caned in the first place.
The police at that time would give a clip round the ear and send you on your way with a warning to tell your parents if they caught you doing wrong again.
It was worse in my mothers childhood, because then schools didn't cane girls, but if a girl misbehaved, they caned that girls brothers instead (The girl usually got a punch from her brothers anyway)
I don't know if it's right or not to slap children. All I can say is it didn't do me any lasting damage.