When they did something wrong, they had to approach me with both of their hands held out. I would then smack their hands.
The actual smacking was so gentle, that they could barely feel it. It was the approaching Father, with your hands held out, that taught the lesson.
Believe me, there is nothing that a school can ever do, that would be more effective.
All right! I hate to say it, but fear/apprehension is a powerful tool. My mom used the "you just wait till your dad gets home" on us. Dad hated it cos he got a list of all our transgressions as soon as he walked in the door (sometimes mom was done before we started dinner, most times not!)
I learned that if I went around our small town and found him, told him the truth of my awful crime, and took the punishment with no tears, I could cut my groundings and phonelessness times in half! To him, it was all about the truth.....oh, yeah, and he used to walk up the stairs dragging his belt...the click of the buckle on wooden stairs.....hell, Freddie Kruger had nothing on my old man!