Oh dear. Totally relate to that style of education...in that I too went to catholic schools with those ethics of "beat it into them" or "shame them". We didn't have a paddle, but the cane and I remember getting 6 whips at various times {back of legs, back of knuckles or palms} not for any major insurgency but for things just as you mentioned Like floating - simple things trust would have corrected. They used to start the cane in kindergarten over here. Ironically the first nuns I encounted were called the Sisters of Mercy.

Photo of Dan's fountain is amazing. It seems like his garden is neverending and large.