I was a real chatterbox in school, particularly during my primary years, and my talking in class frequently got me into trouble with teachers. One day, when I was in the second year of primary (so six years old), I got told off several times by Miss Moore, my teacher, but kept whispering to my […]
Back To Common Sense – Chapter I (incomplete)
DISCIPLINE, THE RIGHTFUL HERITAGE OF THE CHILD ‘Rejoice Not in Ungodly Children’ We Americans are justly proud of what our forefathers so dearly purchased, the “right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” We are appreciative, yes. But are we safeguarding these priceless gifts for posterity? Only in so far as we are seeing […]
My school spankings
Who remembers their school spankings? I recently passed by the site of one of my old schools in Tyne and Wear UK (houses have been built there now) and memories of corporal punishment there came flooding back. I thought I’d share my memories of my school spankings. For the sake of privacy, I’ll only use the […]
Music class
By the time we were in the fifth grade, we were taught music in a very formal way in the private school I attended. I recall sitting through class after class, where we had to listen as the music teacher, with legs like the piano’s, played pieces for us and then did lengthy explanations and […]
That’s torn it
This story happened when I was in the third grade. We had just moved from Atlanta to south Georgia, and Mrs Dixon was my new teacher. We were at recess playing tag. I had been tagged, so it was my turn to be the person to tag people. I was chasing the other boys and […]
The piano
When I was in the fourth grade, I became close friends with two fifth graders. We all were musical, played several instruments, and were confident around just about any instrument. One day it was raining. The headmistress announced that we would be indoors today, and since Finals would be coming soon, we might want to […]
A slip of the tongue
I was enrolled in a small private day school in New England in the 40s, when physical discipline was fairly common, or at least acceptable. In my class there was a lively bunch that particular year and the teacher – a middle-aged women who always wore the same pink dress to school – presided over […]