Why do you think paddling as a punishment in schools developed in the USA, whereas in the UK it was caning?

Cane was to mark skin, so others would see marks and behave correctly

Paddle in USA was used, NOT to mark slaves, just to discipline, as a marked slave, was worth less money.

When I went to school all the way up to the eight grade students were spanked with the paddle or brush. I believe the fear of a spanking even if done in private is a great deterrent for bad behavior. I went to a Catholic school. In fifth grade a young boy was taken over the sister lap and spanked in front b of the class. The Mother Superior one day came into seventh grade called five boys to her and they had to bend over one after another for six smacks with the brush and then she started again until they received 18 smacks each. They vlcried from both the pain and humiliation. I'm sure they all hot b it worse at home.

The caning gets messy really quick while the paddling takes many numerous hits to get messy.

The cane if used properly will leave weals - the paddle will not.

Everyone here in the US thinks all Brits are the ones into kinky paddling.

Just about everything, specially the education system is run differently in the UK and the US.