Civil War Stories

[Gene C]

Thank you kind sir. I like to think I was - and still am. The only problem I had was that I was good at controlling middle-schoolers, so I got most of the trouble-makers shoved into my classes when the other teachers couldn't handle them.

As I recall you've been pretty good recently at controlling some trouble making adults too! LOL

[HerbS]

Laurie,Isn't that the way it always was? If you can't handle them,ship them out to those that can!My best skills had to be applied to the "At Risk"students.But,they knew how to change my snow tires!

[Craig Hipkins]

Last year my 8 year old son would get up in front of his class and give history lessons to his fellow classmates. Everything from the Lincoln Assassination to the Battle of Waterloo. I believe that if kids are taught this stuff at an early age they will have a better appreciation of it when they become adults. When I was a kid we all collected postage stamps. This is a good way to learn history. Too bad not many kids collect them anymore. History also broadens the imagination. Just a few humble and unscientific thoughts on my part.

Craig

[L Verge]

Ain't that the truth, Herb! And it was generally the rowdy ones who came back years later and thanked you for making a difference.

If you want to hear how old I really am, one of my 8th grade students from my first year of teaching ended up working for the same government agency that I work for now. I just went to his retirement party!

He used to regale people with the story of how I quieted one talkative young man in his class. Jimmy could not stop talking. One day, he got on my nerves so badly that I whirled around from the blackboard and threw an eraser at him. I hit him square on the cheek - and he was in the back of the room! That shut everyone up for the rest of the class!

The kids wanted to know how come I could throw so well. My answer was that I was an only child, so I had to learn to throw a baseball in order to please my father.

Of course, if I tried that today in a classroom, I would end up in jail - or Jimmy would come back with an Uzi...

Are we off topic, or what???

[HerbS]

Craig,Stamps,Coins and Baseball cards! The good old days!

[J. Beckert]

I've archived the eraser story with the snake you found in your house story, Laurie. I was also joking about the free backhand. Jack & Ginger's and a few "Yes, Ma'am's" are in order I think.

[L Verge]

It takes a lot, but I do get ruffled from time to time. Play fair and respect others, and the wrath of Laurie will not be unleashed upon thee.