Up until 7th grade, I went to small-town schools that allowed paddling, although I only remember two or three times when anyone actually got the swat (boys only, no girls)...the threat alone was enough to keep most of us reasonably in line. I do recall that if we were acting up first thing in the morning when the whole school was standing outside saying the Pledge of Allegiance, my 4th grade teacher would sneak up behind us and thump our ears with his fingertip. On a cold morning, it'd sting like a son of a gun.
Never got the paddle, but my ears got thumped a time or two. From 8th grade on, I was in a larger school system that didn't allow corporal punishment.
At home, I was deservedly on the receiving end of a swat or a belt on the butt a fair number of times. It was never done rashly or abusively by my dad...more of a dutiful action with plenty of discussion about why I was getting what I was getting. It truly
did hurt him more than it hurt me. By my teen years, spankings were out, although I did get a knee to the butt a time or two. My folks were always very fair and even-handed with discipline, but what they said was the law. Break the law, and pay the consequences. If Mom said "Cut that out or you'll sit in the car", we cut it out, because we knew she'd drag us out to the car without hesitation. So my sisters and I toed the line, especially in public. Strangers would approach my parents at restaurants to compliment them on how well-behaved their kids were. (We had 'em buffaloed.)
Allen, I completely respect your position. In today's world, I don't think I'd be comfortable with other people disciplining my kids. (Take that with a grain of salt, since I've never had kids.) I think some of that mindset comes from having lived in a medium to huge city for the past 40 years or so. I honestly don't know if I'd spank my kids. I do know I'd try to be as even-handed and unwavering in discipline as my own parents were, though.