I was a teacher for over thirty years and I can say that I was not strict. It sometimes made for noisy classes since I taught French and used singing and humor in class. My students loved my classes and it is interesting to reconnect with them through Facebook. I only have one grandchild and some of my former students have more than that. :) Thank you for sharing, Connie. Love and peace,

Regis

THIS IS SOMETHING I CAN RELATE TO, CONNIE. I REMEMBER OUR 'STAR' WELL. I ATTENDED 'THE ANNUNCIATION' CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ON CONVENT AVENUE IN NEW YORK CITY AND I STILL REMEMBER...SISTER VERITAS. ODDLY ENOUGH THE PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES YOU DESCRIBED OF YOUR 'BELOVED REMEMBRANCE'(SMILE)CLOSELY RESEMBLES MINE. SHE WAS VERY TALL AND BUILT. SHE WAS THE PRINCIPAL AND SHE WOULD SHOW UP IN ANY CLASS UNEXPECTEDLY AND ASK TO SEE THE HOMEWORK OF EACH STUDENT. WHY OH WHY DID SHE ALWAYS SEEM TO SHOW UP WHEN I DIDN'T DO MINE?!. SHE WALKED UP AND DOWN THE AISLES WITH A WOODED RULER AND WHOEVER DIDN'T HAVE THEIR HOMEWORK FELT LASHES ON THEIR PALMS. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I FELT QUITE A FEW AND HAVE NEVER FORGOTTEN, STILL...THE EDUCATION THAT I RECEIVED IN PAROCHIAL SCHOOL HAS STAYED WITH ME, DESPITE THE HARD KNOCKS. I LIKE THAT TERM, THE FOOTBALL SISTER, HOWEVER I DON'T RECALL THAT WE EVER CALLED OUR 'SHINING STAR' ANYTHING BUT...'THE MEAN ONE'. THANKS FOR SHARING. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...JOYCE * HIS INSPIRATIONS

What a hoot - and a hurt, Connie!
My mean and unjust teacher was in my Sophmore year.. typing class. I was honest like you, but as a 15 yr old, I just didn't measure up to her typing standard, and she would openly embarrass me by scolding me loudly and taping a piece of paper over the keys. If I looked to see if I was doing okay she would rush over to my desk and crack my knuckles! I never understood, and my spirit was crushed. Her sister was my homeroom teacher and she and I loved each other. But enter the sister with the gray streak down the middle of her head - and it was Cruella Deville revisited! The boys and most everyone called her "Skunk" because of her hair..so I actually felt sorry for her.
Then one day at work, 20 years later, she walked in and I froze: I had to wait on her. Now, of course, I was a grown woman with a husband and children almost the age I was when she whacked me. She turned scarlet.. I said something like, "It's been years Mrs. S---- how are you?" And then I gave her the best service she could ever ask for. As she left, she turned and just gave me a long somber look. "I'm a writer now, Mrs. S----!" I called out, smiling, waving. A wisp of a smile crossed her lips, then she turned and disappeared out the door.
To this day, when my knuckles swell.. I think of her, and whisper a prayer for her.

Great rhyming write.. Sister :)
Love ya, Rhonnie

As a retired teacher, I enjoyed this tremendously. I can say, with honesty, that I was a strict teacher; however, I was not mean. And there is a difference in the two. Also, I can recall being in the sixth grade myself. One day the teacher gave us a handwriting assignment. We were to practice the lesson from our handwriting book two times before writing our final copy into our booklets. When we went to turn in our assignment, there were five of us who couldn't produce the two practice copies. So, our teacher got out her thickest ruler and whacked us on the palm of our hand five times each. It really did hurt, but it hurt my feelings as well, for I liked her a lot. But I survived and learned to listen next time. During my teaching career, there were numerous times I would like to have jerked a knot in some tails, but the law prohibited my doing so. On the other hand, I learned other techniques worked surprisingly well. For instance, I learned that a simple, long stare at a particular student worked wonders. At other times, getting eye contact with a student and shaking my head as if I were saying, "no," did the trick. Like everything else, practice and a new technique here and there got the job done. I guess I didn't really learn how to teach or run a classroom until I graduated from college. On the job training is the best education of all.

David

I can't help thinking that Football Sister may have been transsexual or gay. Discipline like this is something that everyone should learn at an early age… Sixth grade may be too late.

At Stanford, professors would administer the test and then leave the room for the duration of the test. The honor system was to be taken seriously. I'm sure there were some students, ambitious, frightened and/or corrupt, who cheated during these periods without supervision. I did not because I didn't need Football Sister to teach me right from wrong.

Ron

Those old nuns were the meanest. My knuckles still hurt.

The subtext (I discern) glows. THE TRUTH! That's the key. Too many rationalize subjective truths and not absolute Truth. Nicely written, Connie. Regards... r

As a teacher across half a century, I enjoyed this immensely. John