The tawse

 

The tawse (also known as taws) was the traditional punishment instrument in the schools in Scotland from the final of the 19th century until the gradual banning of corporal punishment in the schools between 1994 and 1998. It was also used as a domestic punishment instrument at Scottish homes.

 

The tawse is basically a strap (and in Scotland the word " tawse " was used only on the laws , the instrument was known , in everyday conversation  as “the belt” or “the strap”), in which the last 10 inches were split, leaving two to four narrow “tails”.

 

At the beginning, the tawse was just cut from leather by any local saddler, but the ones made by some Philps in Lochgelly, at the north of Edinburgh became famous. The name Lochgelly became a synonym of tawse. The firm was continued by the Dick family, which operated it until its closure in 1994. Of course, they were not the only providers, just the most famous.

 

How the Lochgelly tawse was? It was a strap, 1¼ to 2 inches wide, ¼ to 3/8 inch thick and 21 to 27 inches long. They were of first quality, carefully made of the best leather. They could have two to four tails about 10 inches long. At the hands end they were a little narrower, forming kind of a handle, and they had a hole at the end for hanging from a nail in the wall.

 

 

They were marked, according to its thickness as “L” (light) “M” (“medium”), “H” (“heavy”) y “X” (“ extra heavy”). With the variations in thickness, length and number of tails, Dick had 12 different models, covering all needs of teachers according to the age and behavior of their pupils.

 

As the usual beef now comes from younger animals, with thinner hide, in his last years in business Dick had to make the more severe tawses with two leather straps sewn together, and he also imported buffalo hides from the US.

 

At schools, the tawse was usually applied to the hands. The pupil had to stand with his arms extended and the hands palm up, one over the other, and the teacher took the strap over his shoulder and moved forcefully down and to the front, hitting the child’s fingers and palm with the tails. The pain caused is sharp, but it fades away fast, leaving only a little heat one hour after. If the teacher wanted a longer lasting effect he could hit a little farther, making the point of the tails hit the wrist, leaving there bruises that, noted at home, could bring the child another dose from his/her parents.

 

Differently than the cane that was applied in England mostly by the Headmaster, the Scottish teachers had the greatest freedom in the use of the tawse. The student was just called to the front, received his/her punishment, and walked back to the seat. Sometimes the child could be made to go outside to the corridor, and was beaten there. The instrument was used as frequently in girls as it was in boys. The punishment was called "a belting".

 

At home, the tawse was applied mostly to the thighs and buttocks, in the usual punishment positions, and mostly over the naked buttocks. The instrument applied that way is severe, but the damage last less than that of the cane, leaving for the next day just some bruises where the edge or the points of the tails had bitten.  

 

Published: 01/17/03