[CobaltBlue]

I was born in 1952 and never experienced anything like that.

Further, my mother was born in 1935, and didn't either.

In other words, it's made up.

[RJayneJ]

[yooper]

"If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding!"

"How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat?!"

[potlatch]

MUCH better education back then!! No inkwells in any desks that I ever saw. They learned, they had respect for all authority, and they had good morals.

[Exit148]

Sounds good to me!!!!

[FlJoePa]

When will someone admit that the demise of our public schools happened with the end of corporal punishment.

We got "shots", as they were called, in the late 70's - early 80's regularly.

For general punishment (leaving campus, smoking outside of the smoking areas, skipping class, etc.), you were given the choice of running 5 miles w/ the Assistant Principal or one shot.

Every male teacher had a paddle, and if you acted up in class, you got one - right on the ass, in front of the entire class. If you were STUPID, you acted up in Gym or Shop class. Those guys hit hard, and prided themselves on their weapons. One even had raised, dried Elmer's Glue that said "Sweet Shop Special" in reverse. Once he hit you, he would allow you to go to the locker room to view his art on your ass in the mirror.

Our small school produced some pretty damn smart people, including Larry Lessig (who was such a geek that he was never in trouble), and countless others that have gone on to successful, profitable lives.

Without fear of punishment, there can be no order.

[Dan from Michigan]

He remembers fondly the day when the entire school - all 850 boys - was given two strokes of the cane after a snowball broke a window. "We didn't mind. When, at assembly, the headmaster referred to the 'exercise' he had had, a great cheer went up. But, don't worry, there will be plenty of fear."

Damn! If I didn't do anything and was about to get canned, I'd likely give it right back.