John Surratt Jr. as a teacher

[Laurie Verge]

Corporal punishment in schools was alive and well into at least the 1970s. When I was teaching, the principal and vice principal were permitted to paddle, but they seldom did.

As for John, Jr., I can see where he might take his anger and frustrations with life out on unruly students. It is also logical that Catholic schools would be the first place that he would seek and get employment. The church supports its people - even sinners in the hope of redemption, and there was a severe lack of male teachers after the war killed off so many. That's how women got their feet firmly into the education field after generations of it being a male-oriented occupation.

I believe it was while John was teaching that he met his future wife. And, we have a handkerchief on display at Surratt House embroidered with "Surratt," that came from a former student of his.