That's called a switch, which is a stick from a tree/bush. It was pretty common in families decades ago, at least where I'm from in the southern US. Just like in school the teachers would spank students with a wood board, called a paddle. At my middle school, the gym teachers would paddle kids (3 times) who wasn't dressed for PE and then make them walk around in the back of the school campus for the entire class period. Which was dark blue shorts & a white t-shirt (for boys) & the girls wore dark blue shorts and a sleeveless top with blue & white stripes. Some kids didn't want to wear that when it was wintertime and rather got the spanking instead. My fourth grade teacher was old and didn't use a paddle, she would hit students on the hand with a wooden spoon, which actually hurt more than the board. Some parents would spank with an electric cord or their hand, but leather belts were probably the most common thing to use.