* Caning/Whipping: Striking the child's hands, buttocks, or other parts of the body with a cane, rod, or switch. This was arguably the most prevalent form of punishment.
* Flogging: A more severe form of whipping.
* Spanking: Similar to caning, but typically with a hand or paddle.
* Slapping: A less severe physical punishment.
* Standing in a corner: A less physical, but still punitive, measure.
* Kneeling on hard surfaces: Often for extended periods.
* Detention: Keeping a child after school.
* Extra work: Assigning additional homework or tasks.
It's important to note that many of these punishments, particularly the physical ones, would be considered child abuse by modern standards. The prevailing view at the time was that strict discipline was essential for learning and moral development. There were virtually no legal protections for children against this kind of treatment.
While some schools might have used more lenient methods, corporal punishment was by far the most common and accepted form of discipline in 1872 schools across many parts of the world. The severity of the punishment was often left to the teacher's discretion.