The relations of the sexes are such that a Chinese mother never has the presumption to appear at the door of a schoolroom in order to acquaint herself with the progress of her child's education. Parents furnish the textbooks as a rule. They are bound into volumes and printed usually with immovable type. The pupils usually behave well. If not, the rattan stick comes promptly into use.
Chinese teachers have a peculiar method of meting out punishment.
I remember an episode in my school life which illustrates this. The fun reached its height in the explosion of some fire-crackers. As they went off, making the hall ring with the noise, the teacher came in, indignant, you may be sure. The old gentleman then seized the rattan and in a loud voice demanded who it was that had let off the crackers. He flogged the whole crowd of us, saying that he was sure to get hold of the right one and that the rest deserved a whipping for not making the real offender known.