#14---- Evolve or become Obsolete

# 14---  Evolve or become Obsolete

What was the norm many, many years ago is no more, at least in classroom management?

Some of the consequences kids got for misbehavior would nowadays be considered

cruel, even barbaric. The strap was used on an everyday basis when I was a student. It was still

in use when I started teaching. In my first 4 years, I never used it nor witnessed it.  Thank

GOD !!   However, I didn't realize that some school rules stated that a student would get the

strap for damaging school property. 

I was teaching a split grade 2/3 class of 33 students  in a small school in Regina,

Saskatchewan.  I had taken my class to the library. There was a set routine to our visit.

When a student decided on the book they wished to take out, they lined up to the

librarian's desk and waited for their turn. Two boys started fighting over a book and

ended up tearing it in half.  I really wasn't sure what I should so I took them to the

Principal (Cliffy).  After hearing what happened,  Cliffy informed me of the "school

property rule".   He told me he wouldn't strap them, that  I must  or get another teacher to

do it.  I got the grade 6 teacher to help. He said he would be the witness and he would teach

 me how to do it.  He showed me a strap that looked like a wet noodle- no longer stiff due to

overuse. He showed me how to hold the hand and swing the strap onto the palm.  I felt sick.

I was trembling and felt sweaty. No way out of this. I was told to sound stern and tell the

boys why they were getting the strap and to keep a straight face.  I was afraid to hurt them.

As the boys left crying, I started to cry.  My witness (Terry) and I heard loud laughter.  He

opened the side door to the grade 6 classroom.  The kids had heard everything and thought

my  performance was funny. Oh GOD!  Then they told us the boys were running back to

my classroom, laughing and saying "it didn't hurt".   Great!! Terry turned on the office

intercom into my room. It was chaos with loud screaming and laughing as the two boys

were telling everyone how much of a joke it was. Terry with his big booming voice told

them to return to the office immediately and don't make him come and get them.

Terry then scared the "wrath of GOD" into them.  So you think this funny, eh!!  No sir!

Sorry sir!  Put out your hands.  They were crying before the strap touched them. He said

"think about how many times I am going to strap you" and "take their punishment like men".

It was surreal. I was a basket case. I still had to phone parents and inform them of the

 incident.  That was very scary.  Then I had to  write up the incident in the Punishment Book.

The next day their behavior was no different.  No real evidence from the day before except..

my thumb had been in the way on their palms.  It was red, very swollen and very painful.

Also as my hand holding theirs dropped down with each strap, it allowed the tip of the strap

to hit my left knee cap.  My  painful knee was swollen with a large black and blue bruise.

So who got punished , ME !! It was a horrible memory. As we know, not all memories are

happy nor fun, but it was definitely a vivid learning experience which I never forgot. 

A bit of obsolete reality !!  Till next time......

Faith always