What does the narrator's father do for a living, and how does it relate to his views on punishment?

The narrator's father is an elementary school principal who paddles children as part of his job. His profession influences his views on punishment, as he has developed whipping into a "high art form" and even has nightmares about it.

The narrator's father works as an elementary school principal, a position where he is responsible for disciplining students, including paddling them. This role has shaped his views on punishment, as he takes pride in his expertise in whipping and has nightmares about disciplining an endless line of misbehaving boys. His professional experience with punishment seems to influence how he approaches discipline at home, where he schedules and administers whippings to his own children.