I'm not sure that was the effect. The kids may have responded in the desired fashion after being struck by a ruler, but I bet they hardened their minds against that teacher. My parents hated the nuns who ran their schools like this and took every chance they got to undermine them, because of the ruler business.

Using size and power to rule children earns fear, not respect, and I think there are a lot of studies to back that up.

Do you have data to back that up? Has the crime rate against the elderly increased?

Or does it just feel like it was better? My parents think it's much more dangerous for kids to play outside now than back when I was a kid in the 80s. Despite the fact that the crime rate is much lower.

If the only way for the old to gain "respect" (read: fear) is by hitting children barely old enough to be in school, maybe they don't deserve it.

Respecting your abusers was much more prevalent.