I appreciate that many of your correspondents consider they had strict parents growing up – but try having a high court judge as your dad, as I did!
From what I’ve gathered over the years, the children of people involved in the law – whether as high up as my father down to the humble copper on the beat, invariably seem to be held to higher standards of accountability – and are punished more severely than many other kids when they break those boundaries. Corporal punishment appears common, as is the use of implements on bare bottoms.