My school had any number of petty classroom diktats, and there were severe penalties for naughty children. But one day our nature study teacher decided to break free
My primary school, in the 1950s, was incredibly strict. We lined up when the bell rang for the start of the school day and marched in smartly, swinging our arms. Anyone who swung their arms a little too wildly was severely punished.
You were always punished for breaking the rules. In the infants, you were simply smacked on the back of your legs, but in the juniors there was a cane in every classroom. It was seldom used, but it was an ever-present menace in the corner.